W.T. Atkinson

W.T. "Bill" Atkinson, long time Prescott resident died Tuesday, March 14, 2006. Bill was 81 years old. He was born February 23, 1923 in Towbridge Township, Allegan County Michigan; the son of William and Anne (Thomas) Atkinson. Bill proudly served during WWII in the 603 Tank Destroyer Battallion in Europe and the South Pacific, receiving a Bronze Star Medal for heroic service to his country. Bill was nationally known as a premier rifle barrel maker and expert gunsmith. His barrels were used by target shooters and the U.S. Olympic Team. He also did work for Ft. Benning, GA, the United States Marine Corp. Sniper Program and made accuracy test barrels for Winchester. In 1986 he was hired by Bill Ruger to manage the Prescott facility of Ruger Firearms. He was especially valuable member of the staff and chiefly resonsible for the success of the P-series handguns manfactured there. Bill retired in 2002 and still enjoyed gunsmithing. He was a lifetime member of the NRA and Prescott Gun Club. Bill had been State Champanion Small-bore and Trap Shooter. Bill will be missed by his wife, Dorothy, three children, Dorothy mCGovern Jon and Mike Atkinson and his five step-children.