William "Wild Bill" Nankervis was my big brother.

Bill grew up in Grafton and Worcester, Mass. As a young man, he drove cement mixers and dump trucks for Dallphinee's. He drove Jimmys for Dubrey’s, hauling freight. He hauled gas from Rhode Island to Worcester for Lou Desy, and while there, married Lou’s daughter Doris. Wild Bill also drove for a thrill show called Les Rodgers Hell Drivers which traveled around New England fairs and events.

As an owner/operator, his first truck was an R-190 International that read "Moving On" on the bumper. He then moved up to diesels. Bill was a Cummins man — 200s, 220s, and 250s. I remember a 9000 White with an integral sleeper. I rode with him when we loaded frozen ducks. He also had a big Autocar daycab that he used for hauling out of Nova Scotia. He once brought me a sword off a swordfish! Later, when the Canadians started a ferry from Yarmouth to Bar Harbor, Maine, Bill's new 1962 integral sleeper was the first truck on dry land. 

About 1956, the last truck I remember of his was an H-63. He semi-retired to Maine, and enjoyed hunting and salmon fishing, but continued to run cable shovels and hoes. He also bought a GMC "gas wheeler" and hauled pulpwood. There were a couple of dirt race tracks around Cherryfield and Ellsworth where Wild Bill performed very well, winning many races. 

I trucked locally at night and eventually retired due to health reasons. But Bill's legacy lives on with his nephew Teddy who is still going strong — operating Peterbilts and Western Stars on local construction projects.

Submitted by Sam Nankervis, ATHS Member