William H. "Bill" Lacy Jr.
January 2, 1945 - August 28, 2016
        

William “Bill” Howard Lacy Jr., former chairman and chief executive of Milwaukee based Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Company (MGIC) and former president and chief executive officer of MGIC Investment Corporation, its parent company, died from respiratory failure on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016 surrounded by family.  He was 71.

Mr. Lacy began his career at MGIC in 1971 in the company’s secondary mortgage group.  In 1974, he was named vice president of secondary market operations and national accounts sales.  He later established MGIC’s operations in the Northeast United States.  In 1979, Bill returned to Milwaukee to head national sales support, marketing, secondary market operations and the national accounts group.

Named president of MGIC in 1982, Bill focused the company on developing strong customer relations and risk management.  The 1980s brought a volatile mortgage market and a change in company ownership in 1985, during which Bill assumed the duties of chief executive officer.  He was appointed president and chief executive officer of MGIC Investment Corporation in 1987.  When Bill retired in 1999, MGIC was the nation’s leading provider of private mortgage insurance with insurance-in-force of over $145 billion, covering 1.4 million mortgages. 

Bill was born on Jan. 2, 1945 in Chicago, IL, and raised in Port Washington, WI.  Bill’s father, William H. Lacy Sr., worked as a barman and union rep for the Boilermakers Union Local 107.  His mother, Catherine, raised Bill and his older sister, the late Marge Carlson while working on the assembly line for Briggs & Stratton.  Bill started his working career at age 12, picking beans for 3 cents a pound.

Bill thrived in times of uncertainty, personifying a strong work ethic and a positive attitude as a natural leader who could see solutions others might miss.  He leveraged keen instincts, passionate leadership skills, and sheer force-of-will to navigate obstacles and make a positive impact everywhere in his life.

Excelling at athletics from a young age, Bill lettered in football, track and baseball at Port Washington High School before graduating in 1962.  He was voted senior class president and elected Governor of Badger Boys State.  Bill was recruited to play football at UW – Madison and spent his freshman year on a full scholarship.  He later was offered the opportunity to attend the U.S. Air Force Academy, where he played football for two years.  Bill received his bachelor’s degree in Business from the UW - Milwaukee in 1968. In addition to his love of sports, Bill was an avid outdoorsman with a passion for hunting and fishing.  He was very much at peace sitting in a freezing tree stand at 5 a.m. 

Bill married his high school sweetheart, Mary Elizabeth Pauly, in 1969.  They moved to the East Coast while Bill rose through the ranks at MGIC, eventually settling in Glendale, WI where they raised their four children.  The marriage with Mary ended in divorce after 29 years. 

Bill served on several private and public company boards of directors over his career.  Most recently, he served as non-executive independent director for Johnson Controls, Inc., a role he held since 1997.  Bill had also served as a director of Ocwen Financial Corp, IMX Exchange, Inc., Total Logistics Control, ACA Capital, Firstar Corporation and Manifold Capital Corp. 

Bill also served on several industry committees, including the National Association of Home Builders Roundtable, Lender’s Services Inc Advisory Board, and the Fannie Mae Advisory Board.  He also is the past president of the Mortgage Insurance Companies of America (MICA), an industry trade association. 

Bill was actively involved in the Milwaukee community in the late 90s.  Bill served as a member of the Leadership Committee of Neighborhood Housing Services in Milwaukee, which supported neighborhood revitalization and affordable housing, and on the UWM Business Advisory Council.  Bill also served on the board of the Pettit National Ice Center and was a member of the Greater Milwaukee Committee.

Bill moved to Sedona, AZ, in 2000.  He loved living in Sedona and sharing time with Linda Goldenstein, his dear friend and business partner in the Goldenstein Gallery.  He took great pleasure in supporting arts, culture and community, including the Sedona International Film Festival, Chamber Music Sedona, the Verde Valley Sanctuary women's shelter, the local food bank and many children's charities.  Many people were touched by his kindness and generosity, often without knowing from where it came.  He leaves behind two beloved dogs, Snoopy and Sammy, and dozens of friends throughout Northern Arizona.

Bill is survived by his four children, Tom Lacy (Jane Scripp), Sara Kate Knight (Colin), David Lacy (Tricia Eyster), and Margaret Lacy Meyer (Jacob).  He has 11 grandchildren including, Catherine and Marcus Lacy; Will, George, and Henry Knight; Eva, Charlotte, and Anna Lacy; and Nathaniel, Owen, and Elliott Meyer.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10 at St. Eugene’s Catholic Church (7600 N. Port Washington Rd, Fox Point, WI).  There will be a casual visitation starting 8 a.m. 

A Celebration of Life memorial service will be held at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre (2030 W. Arizona 89A, Sedona, AZ 86336) on Oct. 1, 2016 at  11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers and donation requests, Bill asked that you spend ten minutes reflecting on the specific ways you can express gratitude in your life today.