About Us

Tribute for William F. Birge, Sr.
June 25, 1938 - May 21, 1999

Excerpt from "The Friesian" Magazine, May, 2000 as a thank you to the membership who has been so kind. Updated for website December, 2003 .

Bill on Mirage wearing the coat used in the movie 'Dracula'

When it came to the one-year anniversary of my husband’s death, I had a strong desire to write about him and to thank all those who were so supportive in May, 1999. Many of you who knew Bill (William Birge, Sr.), remember him as the quiet man behind the scenes. He was the man at the gate during several LA Friesian Extravaganzas. He was the gentle host at our show barn, always making sure there were treats for folks. He set up the stall drapes and reception area. He took the time to have Kinko’s print extra cards or flyers. He made those extra trips back home to retrieve something we forgot to bring. He was the prince of “hospitality” at all times. When I was too busy or distracted to think of the extra nice things that could be done to make people feel welcome, he had already done them – and more. You may have met him at the Equitana booth in 1998 – he threw himself into the spirit of raffle tickets and sharing Friesian info – and you may have seen him dragging me out of the exhibition hall in time to make our plane. He had a passion for being on time or early.

There is not time and space to list all of his many accomplishments. I do think you might like to know that he was an Air Force Veteran and a retired Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Sergeant who spent many years working undercover in vice, narcotics and intelligence. He has held the attention of many of the Friesian “spouses” with his stories of those days on the force and had many interesting stories to tell. After taking an early retirement from the Sheriff’s Dept., Bill spent ten years in Northern California, working in areas of internal auditing, management and became the Director of a small state agency specializing in job development.

Bill and I had known each other many years ago, in 1974, when we both worked in the same unit for the LA County Sheriff’s Department. Although a romance developed, we did go our separate ways, and the most unique fate caused us to reconnect in 1989. I was traveling with a business partner who had just written a self-help book and she was doing a publicity appearance on Good Morning America. At the last minute, they needed a “case history” to discuss the effects of early parenting on current relationships and I was recruited. As I bared my sole on national television (a segment lasting four minutes), Bill was in a shower in a hotel room, trying to listen for the weather report and heard my voice. He had not forgotten me all those years and searched all over Southern California until he found me. Months later, he chose to move down south and we were married a year later. We had ten very fulfilling years together and Bill shared much of the horse activities as well as theater and enjoyed his martial arts those past years.

From management, Bill looked for his next career and ended up with a license as a private investigator and utilized his expertise in police policies. During the days after the Rodney King incident, he testified on many cases – always strongly principled on the side of justice. The last several years, Bill worked as a Commissioner for a local Indian casino, which utilized much of his talents developed throughout the years.

Bill had a fierce loyalty for family values and loved his three grown sons, his then nineteen-year-old daughter and his grand daughter deeply. He had more extended family than I could count and if you saw them all together, they were quite overwhelming! His sons are successful, married and have established themselves in stable careers. His daughter Adrienne had had plans to live with us this past year and we decided to do that anyway. She and I have had a busy and growing year together as she was thrown head-first into the grooming and exercising horse thing and I think her dad would be very proud at how hard she has worked this past year.

Bill died from a sudden and treacherous brain aneurysm on May 21, 1999. I am told that the night before, at a training seminar, he was sharing all about the Friesians and our ranch and his eyes shown with pride. He collapsed the next morning during the meeting in San Diego, was rushed to the hospital and was soon put on life support. We had time to gather as much of his family as possible and to say our good- byes, but he was never conscious again. We did make the decision to make his organs available and are warmed by the people he has helped even through his death.

I need to let you all know that immediately, as word of his death spread, I could not have asked for stronger support. From all areas of my life but unbelievably strong from the members of the Friesian Horse Association of North America, there was an outpouring of messages, flowers, donations, and physical help such as cleaning up our place for the funeral gathering. John Mellott, Elainna Carter and Jack and Tillie Tuls were beyond generous in helping to organize and to make their carriages and horses available for Bill’s funeral. He loved the horses so much and I very much wanted his family and friends to see “in person” what had captured his heart. Folks shared in our good-byes from so many walks of life: Bill’s and my families, his friends and colleagues from the Sheriff’s Department, private investigators, the Indian Casino staff, my psychotherapist colleagues, Andalusian friends and my Friesian friends. It filled my heart to see all those who wanted to say good-bye to him. His oldest son wrote a classical guitar offering, his youngest son and daughter prepared a collage of still photos on video orchestrated with his favorite music. My dearest friend delivered a personal and heart-felt eulogy. The wealth of friendship there that day made it bearable.

One my most profound memories of this time came from a wise decision I made the night Bill died. We were in San Diego, several hours from our home in Norco. Bill’s oldest son and his daughter were with me. We had to go back to the hotel where Bill had stayed and retrieve his things. We decided to spend the night there, where he had spent his last night, and feel his presence. And his presence was there. As we suspected, his things were neatly laid out – in the closet, in the bathroom, on the bed. He was so organized. His smell was in the room and in his bed. We all cuddled up together and slept soundly. My first thought in the morning as I awoke, was of his beating heart. He had given his heart to a sixty-year old woman. I felt it beating and it was a comfort. However my next thought was how this dear woman was ever going to understand her sudden urge to clean her house and buy a small tractor!!!

Even years later, I cannot thank all of you enough for you kindness and continued support. That need doesn’t go away after one year or four years and you have continued to let me know you are there. I am looking forward to many future years of friendship and our shared love of our special horses. Thank you and bless you deeply from my heart.

~ Nina C. Miller, Checkerboard Farms~