Major General William ’54 and Marjorie Gossell
Major General William Gossell ’54 led a successful career in the aviation industry and in the United States armed forces, proudly serving his country as a pilot for nearly three decades, both on active duty and in the reserves. Bill earned four letters in three sports at North Central College. After graduation, he began flight training as a naval aviation cadet. He was commissioned in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1955 and received his wings in 1956. Bill was on active duty for four years, including service in the Far East. He continued to serve in the military reserves and was honored to be named a general by the Marine Corps in 1981. He also pursued a civilian career in aviation insurance and was president of Southern Aviation Consultants.
In his spare time, Bill was an active member of several professional organizations including Marine Corps Aviation Association, Navy League of the United States, Reserve Officers Association and the Dallas-Fort Worth Marine Metroplex Council. After retirement, Bill continued to work long hours in the community, taking on the challenge of collecting and distributing toys to thousands of children as chair of the Dallas-Fort Worth Marine Toys for Tots Program. He was also an organizer of the charity Dallas Military Ball and an elder at his church.
Bill stayed connected to North Central College through his generosity and return visits to campus over the years. He and his wife Marjorie created the Gossell Endowed Scholarship at North Central College.
Marjorie was born 1932 in Chicago and raised in small town Libertyville, Illinois. She received a Bachelor of Science in Education from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.
She married her childhood friend, Bill Gossell, in 1956. They lived in California and Illinois before settling in Farmers Branch, Texas in 1964 at Brookhaven Country Club where they raised their two sons (Robert and Steve). Working full time, she continued to advance her education at night and pursued a masters in education at North Texas State University.
She excelled at her desire to be a special education teacher and helped many children from Illinois, California, and Texas for 25 years. She traveled extensively in the country and throughout the world with her husband.