Former pro football player serves the community

By Phoebe MuthartStaff WriterOn a recent hot sunny day, Bill Pipp was enjoying the end of the work week. What would be the start of a rather hot, humid day in northern Indiana, Pipp was ready for the weekend at his house located on Lake Wawasee.His lake house is strewn with many memorable photos, including tubing and skiing, on a lake he fondly remembers as a young boy. Pipp left his hometown for college, a football career and a job, but moved back to Syracuse, something he had always wanted to do. Today, Pipp is a full-time resident, who enjoys serving his community.Born in Chicago, Pipp grew up in Syracuse; his father was a firefighter. His early memories are from summers spent at Syracuse Lake going swimming with friends and having fun.A Syracuse native, Pipp attended Wawasee High School, graduating in 1969. He played football in high school and “pretty much every other sport.”“Back then you played them all,” he smiled.Pipp was a member of the first Warrior high school football team.“We played three games,” Pipp said of Wawasee’s first season. “One of those was against Warsaw’s JV, I don’t think they wanted us to get killed by the varsity team.”After high school, Pipp attended Indiana University earning a bachelor’s degree in marketing. He played football for IU, earning a scholarship to play for the Hoosiers.Pipp spent 1969 playing on the freshman squad. A freshman could not play in varsity sports at that time, he said. He earned a scholarship from the team following his sophomore campaign and took over as starting defensive end in the first game of the 1971 season following an injury to the player in front of him. Pipp started every game from that time forward.Later, Pipp had an opportunity to play professional football for the Dallas Cowboys. Pipp was on the training camp roster for the Cowboys in 1973. After his senior season, Pipp signed with the Cowboys for training camp. He later played for the Chicago Fire of the short-lived World Football League. He left football to pursue a full-time career.Pipp spent 18 years living in Indianapolis, but returned to Syracuse where he now lives full time. Pipp was chief sales officer and partner of Australian Gold, a company he helped start with an ex-fraternity brother.Pipp likes to stay active in his community. He is a big supporter of the Syracuse-Wawasee Trail Committee stating he is excited about the Conklin Bay project. He also serves in the Wawasee Property Owners Association, among other organizations.Pipp, a WPOA board member, also frequents Syracuse Town Council meetings. He often comments and gives suggestions on issues the town council is facing.“People need to get involved,” he said. “It’s a really nice community and the lake is not just for lakers.”He also supports the Wawasee Yacht Club and its junior sailing program. “That’s a really good program,” he stated. “We want to expand the WYC.”Pipp lives on the north shore of Lake Wawasee. He is married to wife, Terry, and the couple has three grown daughters.In his spare time, he enjoys working out, sailing and taking their boat on the lake.