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It is with great sadness that Wizard International, Inc., Mukilteo, Wash., announces the passing of Wilbur (Bill) Wridge, at the age of 71 from respiratory failure in complication with Myeloma. Along with Lloyd Everard, Bill founded Wizard in 1994. He is survived by his wife, Barbara, and his beloved family and friends.
A proud U.S. Navy Veteran, Bill served in the 1960s aboard the USS Daniel Boone as a submariner. He worked for several years as an engineer and was also a pilot. An avid sailor, Bill built his own sailboat and sailed the South Pacific before returning to help Lloyd computerize the US Mat company in the early 1990s.
According to the company, Bill's design of the Wizard Computerized Mat Cutter (CMC) represents one of the greatest advances in picture framing over the past 20 years. Following the successful sale of US Mat to the Crescent Cardboard Company, Bill and Lloyd's leadership in technology and knowledge of the industry has resulted in Wizard placing over 10,000 CMCs across the globe.
Bill was the holder of numerous patents, including the process for printing images and designs on matboard. His “MacGyver-like” engineering approach had always been his trademark, with colleagues referring to him as “The Wizard”. “Bill could always see a better or easier way to accomplish a task;” Lloyd shared at Bill's memorial service, “we will never be able to replace him.”
Employees remember his favorite Albert Einstein quote: “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” A forward-thinking engineer, innovator, free spirit and dear friend, Bill will be forever missed by everyone at Wizard.
In lieu of flowers, etc., Bill's family has requested that donations be made to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) in his name.
A proud U.S. Navy Veteran, Bill served in the 1960s aboard the USS Daniel Boone as a submariner. He worked for several years as an engineer and was also a pilot. An avid sailor, Bill built his own sailboat and sailed the South Pacific before returning to help Lloyd computerize the US Mat company in the early 1990s.
According to the company, Bill's design of the Wizard Computerized Mat Cutter (CMC) represents one of the greatest advances in picture framing over the past 20 years. Following the successful sale of US Mat to the Crescent Cardboard Company, Bill and Lloyd's leadership in technology and knowledge of the industry has resulted in Wizard placing over 10,000 CMCs across the globe.
Bill was the holder of numerous patents, including the process for printing images and designs on matboard. His “MacGyver-like” engineering approach had always been his trademark, with colleagues referring to him as “The Wizard”. “Bill could always see a better or easier way to accomplish a task;” Lloyd shared at Bill's memorial service, “we will never be able to replace him.”
Employees remember his favorite Albert Einstein quote: “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” A forward-thinking engineer, innovator, free spirit and dear friend, Bill will be forever missed by everyone at Wizard.
In lieu of flowers, etc., Bill's family has requested that donations be made to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) in his name.
