The former Reno-Sparks NAACP
president left this plane on Sunday, June 25, 2017, after a short illness.
He was 85. His family says that he passed away peacefully of natural
causes at his Reno home. Bill Moon served two years as President
of NAACP Reno-Sparks Branch No. 1112 in 1991-92. His wife, Jane
Moon, is the longtime branch scholarship committee chair and has served
as branch treasurer and secretary. Both are NAACP life members and sit
on the Branch executive committee.
Mr. and Mrs. Moon were awarded the Reno-Sparks NAACP Dedication and
Service Award at the 2015 Freedom
Fund Banquet.
His memorial service will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. PDT on Saturday,
July 8, 2017, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Reno
North Stake, 2505 Kings Row, 89503. Mr. Moon was an elder in the LDS
Church. Visitation is scheduled from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. PDT Friday, July
8, at Walton's Funeral Home, 875 W. 2nd Street, Reno. Remembrances may
be posted at WaltonsFuneralHomes.com/
Among his numerous civic activities, he was appointed to the Reno Planning
Commission in 1980 by Reno Mayor Barbara Bennett. He was the first person
of color to serve on that body. From 1996 to 2001, he served as chair
and vice-chair of the City of Reno Civil Service Commission. He also
chaired the Northeast Reno Outreach Council during that time. He was
a member of Toastmasters International and a local area Lions Club.
In 2013 he was honored with
the inaugural Onie Cooper Humanitarian Award at the annual Martin Luther
King., Jr., Interfaith Community Memorial Service at Reno's Second Baptist
Church. He received a lifetime achievement award from the NAACP in 2005.
In 1985, he was given a Community Service Award from the Reno/Sparks
Business and Professional Women's Club. In 1984, the NAACP gave him
the prestigious Roy Wilkins Award in recognition of his services to
minorities and mankind.
William Nathaniel Moon was
born to Jesse James Moon and the former Edith Law in Savannah, Georgia,
April 14, 1932. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, the former Jane
Jenkins, and daughters Edith B. Moore and Irene E. Joan, both of Reno.
He leaves 6 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and 8 great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, one grandson,
two sisters and two nephews.
He graduated from Beach Cuyler
High School and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1948. He was posted
to Okinawa during the Korean War. After his honorable discharge, he
attended the University of California at Berkeley for peace officer
training. In 1954, he was licensed as a professional middleweight boxer
by the California Athletic Commission. In 1973, he earned a degree in
business management from the Scranton, Penn., Center for Management
Studies.
His professional career included
Schwabacher Frey Inc., where he started in 1952. In 1969, he became
the first black manager with Diamond International Corp. in Reno.
In 1979, he was hired as a Civil Rights Officer for the Nevada Department
of Transportation (NDOT). In 1983, he became Equal Employment Manager
for the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. He retired from the BLM in 2005.
In 1973, he organized Boy
Scouts of America Troop 20 for black and other disadvantaged youth.
He was given scouting's highest honor, the Silver Beaver Award, in 1981.
In the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter Day Saints, he held positions as High Priest, High Priest
Group Leader, Temple Preparation Instructor and Home Teacher. He also
served on the church's High Council.
Please monitor this website for additional information as it becomes
available. Our sincere condolences go out to his wife and family.
