William James Pelle Jr (Bill) was the first federal civil service executive to come out when it was not cool to be gay. This single act gave Bill the freedom and courage to challenge conventional thought and to create a better common good. The book is primarily about the power of openness and being true to oneself. Bill experienced himself as an underdog during much of his life. He suggests that there is an underdog in all of us just waiting to be tapped and propelled.

 

Bill holds degrees from both Dartmouth College and Harvard University. He did post graduate work in social psychology at the University of Chicago. He was the Director of Civil Rights for the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.  In this role he successfully investigated both banks and insurance companies for redlining and communities for zoning violations.  He developed national policy on how to investigate community and state expenditures of federal funds for compliance with federal civil rights legislation.  

 

Bill undertook special assignments for the White House to restructure national housing and community development policies. He has been a consultant on a range of housing and community planning and development issues. He has held several positions relating to both psychotherapy and human rights.

 

He was a Commissioned Officer in the United States Public Health Service.

 

He resides in Haverford PA.