About Bill Rericker

Roughly 30 years ago, Bill decided he wanted to get out of town for a few days and enjoy a simple weekend golf trip with friends. He rounded up a group of eight guys and headed down to The Rail in Springfield. What started as a small getaway turned into something much bigger — decades of friendships, stories, laughs, and memories that would last a lifetime.

Over the next 25 years, men from all across the St. Louis metro area came together every year for this trip. Golf was always the centerpiece, but it became about much more than that. There were dinners, drinks, card games in the hotel, and countless moments in between that created lifelong bonds. Many of these guys had never known each other before the trip. The group was made up of friends from Bill’s childhood, coworkers, clients, bowling buddies, and friends of friends — all connected through one person.

In 2020, Bill caught COVID and unfortunately never recovered. His passing left a void that can never truly be filled, but the impact he had on everyone around him continues to live on through this tradition.

In 2021, Brian Koch and Dustin Boice got together and agreed that this weekend couldn’t end. It deserved to continue in Bill’s honor.

What used to be a trip of 40–48 guys has now grown to 96 golfers this year. New friendships will be formed, old memories will be relived, and new stories will be created for years to come. That’s the legacy Bill unknowingly started all those years ago with a simple golf weekend.

As everyone gathers this year, take a moment to remember that tomorrow is never guaranteed. The time we spend with friends, the laughs we share, and the memories we make matter more than we sometimes realize.

Please take a moment during the weekend to stop by Bill’s Memorial Rock and Plaque located along the right side of the fairway on Hole 1, roughly 150 yards from the tee box, and say thank you to a terrific golfer — and an even better friend.