Bill Doran was a stand-out runner at North Syracuse Central High School, holding a school record in the intermediate hurdles for many years. But during his freshman year, he was "encouraged" to join his high school's wrestling team when two of his best friends - then members of the team - began a habit of kidnapping him after track practice, tossing him in the showers and refusing to let him exit unless and until he acquiesced to their demands that he join them in the wrestling room.

The extortion worked.

Bill's wrestling journey officially began after he was "persuaded' by the same two pals to attend a Lake George wrestling camp in the summer of 1973.

Bill went on to wrestle three years on the varsity for North Syracuse, then known as the Northmen (before that high school recombined with Cicero High to form the CNS Northstars). He graduated in 1976 as a tri-captain of the wrestling team - together with those same two friends.

Bill continued his wrestling career with two years at Morrisville Community College and completed his run as a participant for Region 5 in the 1979 Empire Games. During the early 198O's, he became the first North Area Wrestling Club Coach, a program which drew hundreds of youth wrestlers from North Syracuse, Cicero and Liverpool, many of whom went on to enjoy highly successful high school wrestling careers.

At this time, Ron Roch, Bill's high school wrestling coach and friend Gene ("Butch") Meyle both suggested that Bill consider joining the Syracuse Wrestling Officials Association (SWOA) and the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Officials Association (EIWGA). Doran ended up officiating for both associations for more than forty-three years and, during his time with SWOA, served that organization variously as president, vice-president, member-at-large and rules interpreter.

Bill was selected many times to officiate the class tournaments, sectional finals and the dual meet finals. He was also chosen to officiate the New York State Championships four times and was ranked as that tournament's top official in 1999 - an outstanding achievement.

As a college official, Doran officiated no fewer than five national championships. Major highlights of his officiating career included being selected to officiate a Division I tournament, three Division II and one Division III tournament. In addition, during his officiating career, Bill worked seventeen Division I national qualifying tournaments, thirty-five Division III qualifying tournaments, two Division II qualifying tournaments and twenty-eight New York State college championship tournaments.

Bill was also selected to officiate the first ever collegiate wrestling matches held at Madison Square Garden for the Beat the Streets' "Grapple at The Garden" dual between Cornell University and Oklahoma State. He was an active member of the EIWOA Executive Board for fifteen years and the assignor for the New York State SUNY schools and Ithaca College wrestling teams.

In 2022, Bill capped his officiating career by being chosen for induction into the Hall of Fame for both the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Officials Association and Section III Wrestling. He continues to remain involved in our sport as the SWOA rules interpreter, organizing training programs for new officials and as assessor for the New York State weight certifications.

Bill's professional career included working as a business analyst for the Kimberly-Clark Corporation for nearly thirty years. During his spare time, he enjoys golfing. Bill currently serves as vice-president on the Kanon Valley Golf Course Executive Board.

Bill states his involvement in officiating would not have been possible without the love, support and understanding of Roxanne (Rocky), his wife of over thirty years, his son Nicholas, a Federal Bank Examiner for the United States Treasury and his daughter Jessica (ex-wrestling scorekeeper), a physical therapist assistant for SOS and personal trainer. And, of course, without the "encouragement" associated with being tossed in the showers by his North Syracuse High School buddies.