William Currier Atkinson Jr., the first elected mayor of Carlsbad and a former member of the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce board of directors, died last month at the age of 76.
His cause of death has not been released. However, Atkinson had been fighting an illness for a long time.
Atkinson, who went by Bill, was elected to the Carlsbad City Council in 1964. He became the city's first elected mayor in 1966. Prior to 1966, the mayor of Carlsbad was elected only by the City Council.
Atkinson resigned as mayor in January 1968 due to an overload of work at the Army and Navy Academy in Carlsbad, according to a story published in the Blade-Tribune newspaper, a precursor to the North County Times.
“Bill was the first mayor elected directly by the citizens of Carlsbad, but I remember him more for the outstanding work he did for the Army and Navy Academy,” said Mayor Bud Lewis. “His commitment to the school was exemplary.”
Atkinson's lifelong affiliation with the school began with his father, who served as longtime president of the academy. The younger Atkinson was a cadet at the academy; he graduated in 1948.
He attended MiraCosta College and San Diego State University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree, “with distinction in music,” in 1958. The Air Force veteran followed in his father's footsteps, serving as vice president of the academy from 1959 to 1972, and as president from 1972 to 1974.
Atkinson brought several improvements to the academy in his two years as president, including establishing the first salary scale, the introduction of international students and designing the organ in the chapel that is still used in weekly services.
“He was an excellent person to work for. He would assign you a job, and let you do it. He never micromanaged,” said Coach John Maffucci, the academy's current athletic director and longtime employee. “He was very supportive of his people.”
Gen. Stephen Bliss, the current president of the academy, said he was saddened to learn that Atkinson passed away after a long illness.
“He has been a distinguished member of the Army Navy family for many years. We appreciate all he did for our school and mourn his loss. Our condolences go out to his family at this difficult time,” Bliss said.
Atkinson most recently lived in Vista with his wife, Charlotte, who is the organist for the first Presbyterian Church in Oceanside. The couple gave flute and organ concerts throughout the United States, according to a story published Aug. 16, 1973 in the Blade-Tribune newspaper.
Atkinson also served the Lions Club, North County Concert Association and San Diego Symphony Association. He was the director of music at the Community Church of Vista from 1959 to 1969 and at First Presbyterian Church in Oceanside from 1969 to 1993, when he retired.
His cause of death has not been released. However, Atkinson had been fighting an illness for a long time.
Atkinson, who went by Bill, was elected to the Carlsbad City Council in 1964. He became the city's first elected mayor in 1966. Prior to 1966, the mayor of Carlsbad was elected only by the City Council.
Atkinson resigned as mayor in January 1968 due to an overload of work at the Army and Navy Academy in Carlsbad, according to a story published in the Blade-Tribune newspaper, a precursor to the North County Times.
“Bill was the first mayor elected directly by the citizens of Carlsbad, but I remember him more for the outstanding work he did for the Army and Navy Academy,” said Mayor Bud Lewis. “His commitment to the school was exemplary.”
Atkinson's lifelong affiliation with the school began with his father, who served as longtime president of the academy. The younger Atkinson was a cadet at the academy; he graduated in 1948.
He attended MiraCosta College and San Diego State University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree, “with distinction in music,” in 1958. The Air Force veteran followed in his father's footsteps, serving as vice president of the academy from 1959 to 1972, and as president from 1972 to 1974.
Atkinson brought several improvements to the academy in his two years as president, including establishing the first salary scale, the introduction of international students and designing the organ in the chapel that is still used in weekly services.
“He was an excellent person to work for. He would assign you a job, and let you do it. He never micromanaged,” said Coach John Maffucci, the academy's current athletic director and longtime employee. “He was very supportive of his people.”
Gen. Stephen Bliss, the current president of the academy, said he was saddened to learn that Atkinson passed away after a long illness.
“He has been a distinguished member of the Army Navy family for many years. We appreciate all he did for our school and mourn his loss. Our condolences go out to his family at this difficult time,” Bliss said.
Atkinson most recently lived in Vista with his wife, Charlotte, who is the organist for the first Presbyterian Church in Oceanside. The couple gave flute and organ concerts throughout the United States, according to a story published Aug. 16, 1973 in the Blade-Tribune newspaper.
Atkinson also served the Lions Club, North County Concert Association and San Diego Symphony Association. He was the director of music at the Community Church of Vista from 1959 to 1969 and at First Presbyterian Church in Oceanside from 1969 to 1993, when he retired.