What's Your Story with Jaime & Stan

What’s Your Story, Bill Crawford? From $400 and a Dream to a Family Empire Built on Grit

Episode Summary

In this unforgettable episode, we sit down with the legendary Bill Crawford, founder of Wilmar Leasing, whose 80 years of life have been a masterclass in resilience, relationships, and relentless optimism. From scraping through college on a high-jump scholarship, to narrowly avoiding combat during the Vietnam War, to building a multi-million-dollar family business out of his daughter’s bedroom, Bill’s story proves that grit beats grades, and that C students might just run the world. Get ready for laughs, life lessons, and a celebration of love, loyalty, and Southern charm.

Episode Notes

In this unforgettable episode, we sit down with the legendary Bill Crawford, founder of Wilmar Leasing, whose 80 years of life have been a masterclass in resilience, relationships, and relentless optimism. From scraping through college on a high-jump scholarship, to narrowly avoiding combat during the Vietnam War, to building a multi-million-dollar family business out of his daughter’s bedroom, Bill’s story proves that grit beats grades, and that C students might just run the world. Get ready for laughs, life lessons, and a celebration of love, loyalty, and Southern charm.

Key Topics Discussed

• Growing up in Savannah and moving to Florida
• Why he chose the Navy over the Army (and how he almost became a pilot)
• Founding Wilmar Leasing with $400 and a phone in his daughter's bedroom
• How a family friend’s ranch empire sparked his passion for generational business
• The real story behind nearly losing everything—and why he doesn’t regret a thing
• Leadership, legacy, and letting go: building a business his sons now run
• How a love letter at 19 turned into a 60-year marriage and lifelong partnership
• The mindset shift from insecurity to unstoppable
• His advice to all the C students out there (spoiler: work ethic wins)
   

Memorable Quotes

"We all go through life with forks in the road… and you just have to decide which way to go."
"You build the relationship, you do what you say, and the money will follow."
"C students run the world, but you better have a hell of a work ethic."
"At 80, every day is a good day."
"If tomorrow never comes, I want my family to know—I’ve had a marvelous life."

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Where to listen & watch:
YouTube: https://youtu.be/hLDOjFzTPfk
Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/mtkxjcez
Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/yhkw24v7
Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/2hnfynpm

Connect with Bill Crawford
Website: https://www.wilmarinc.com/
 

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