An extraordinary life filled with adventure and unique opportunities are just two ways to describe the late William “Bill” Farley, 79, of Mount Pleasant. In honor of his memory, the following is an account of a man who has lived many lives and worn many hats.
ACT I
Born in New York on July 11, 1944, Farley grew up attending public, private and boarding schools. He earned a degree in English from Cornell University and began working in the newspaper business, writing cutting-edge and breaking news stories in Westchester County, an area in the Hudson Valley just north of NYC. From there, he moved into the radio business and started working as a DJ. These formative experiences helped prepare him for the journey to come.
ACT II
In 1969, Farley was hired by American Broadcast Company (ABC) for their news radio. This job afforded him many once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. Among his many adventures, he was able to attend the democratic and republican conventions of the 1972 election and the launches of Apollo 11,12 and 13 at Cape Canaveral.
During this time, he was also taking on public relations tasks. The sports department caught wind of Farley’s accomplishments and decided to have him start reporting for them as well. This led to significant travel and the chance to attend events like the Daytona 500, major golf tournaments and the 1984 Summer Olympics.
After getting a taste of life in the fast lane, Farley later moved to Los Angeles to work in the entertainment industry. He was able to work on shows like “Barney Miller,” “The Red Fox Show” and specials. Deciding that he had a knack for public relations, he started his own PR firm with a partner in 1981. Little did he know what was next in store.
ACT III
Out of this budding company, he was given the opportunity to help promote and work on the new risqué Playboy channel as an outside contractor. Due to his track record of success and seasoned experience, he was hired in the PR department of Playboy in 1985 and became the “LA guy in charge.” For the next five-plus years, he accompanied Playboy founder Hugh Hefner everywhere he went. He transitioned to the position of vice president of marketing and joined Hefner on all his late-night show appearances and orchestrated charity events at the famous Playboy Mansion in Beverly Hills, California.
true writer at heart, Farley took time to pen several books. “Apollo 11: Man’s Greatest Adventure,” examines NASA’s space program and the developments that led to the 1969 moon landing. “The Unofficial Guide to the 1984 Summer Games” shares experiences and accounts gleaned from his time covering the Olympics. His fiction novel “Sex…in the Crosshairs” provides a satirical approach to the entertainment industry and a compelling storyline following Michael Montgomery, a “soldier of fortune, renegade publisher and hedonist extraordinaire.” And “Team Player: A Bobby McRae Mystery,” is a crime mystery set in a rustic cabin outside of Charleston, South Carolina. McRae is pulled back into the life he was trying to escape when a former business associate from Los Angeles shows up on McRae’s doorstep “quite uninvited and very dead.” All four books are works of art and offer a glimpse into Farley’s writing prowess.
ACT IV
Leaving his former life behind and moving to Mount Pleasant allowed Farley to write articles for Mount Pleasant Magazine and finish work on the book that he started in LA. Farley was known to many because of his packed social calendar and his morning walks with his beloved dog, Pal. A member of the cocktail club, the martini club and a frequent trivia attendee, Farley loved to chat about his escapades and socialize with friends.
“I was his agent. I was always flaunting him,” recalled his wife, Judy Farley. “When we moved to South Carolina, I would tell people he worked for Playboy and they would be speechless. I loved promoting him. We were a comedy team at times and used to play off of each other. We were just connected and we always kept on rolling.”
Judy said that Farley lived a “beautiful life” and that he was the “smartest, most intellectual and witty person” she had ever known.” She wants everyone to remember him for the impact he made on the world and the experiences he had.
“Bill would meet everyone on the block due to Pal,” Judy continued. “He would meet people, introduce them and then come home and tell me all about them. He loved being around people and he and Pal, they were the kings of Heathland Way. Anywhere we would go, they would be recognized. Bill was congenial and loved talking to people. I had to start the stories and he would go from there.”
Farley left a legacy of adventure and dynamism and for that among other things, he will be truly missed.
Editor’s Note: A special thanks and debt of gratitude from your friends at Mount Pleasant Magazine.
By Cari Lawson
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