Lt. William M. (Bill) Cason was born in McAlester, OK, graduated from McAlester High School and later earned his college degree from his beloved University of Oklahoma. Upon graduation from OU, he joined the USAF in early summer, 1951.
After basic training at Lackland AFB, he completed Basic Pilot Training as an Aviation Cadet at Vance AFB and Hondo AFB. He later took Advanced Pilot Training (jet fighters) at Williams AFB, where he received his Commission and Pilot Wings. He then took all-weather training and air-to-air gunnery training at Moody AFB and Tyndall AFB, respectively.
His training complete, Lt. Cason was deployed with the 26th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, based at Yontan AFB, Okinawa. Later, the 26th was re-deployed to Naha AFB, also on the island of Okinawa.
Following his service in the Pacific Theater, he returned to Nellis AFB, married his high school sweetheart, Bennye Westbrook in 1954. He received an Honorable Discharge from the United States Air Force on October 24th, 1955.
He accepted a staff position with the University of Oklahoma Press, where he served with distinction until 1995. His civilian career includes numerous local, state and national honors on behalf of the OU Press, as well as many other individual awards and accolades for his book designs. Books featuring his design work and cover art have been displayed in the Oklahoma Historical Society and in libraries and museums around the nation.