Bill Ferguson ‘69

Bill Ferguson was born in NYC in 1951 to William and Margaret Ferguson. He was the oldest of six children. The family moved to Malverne, NY in 1959 where he attended Our Lady of Lourdes Grammar School. Bill attended Monsignor McClancy from 1965 to 1969. During his tenure at McClancy, Bill was a track and field stand out and he captained the Varsity Cross Country Team during his Junior and Senior years. As a Senior, Bill was the Queens CHSAA Cross Country champion and ran the 4×800 m in the Milrose Games Olympic Invitational at Madison Square Garden.

Bill held the school record in the 1600 meter run for fifteen years with a time of 4:17 and is currently second in school history in the mile run.

After graduating from McClancy, Bill continued his athletic career with a partial track scholarship from LIU-CW Post. Bill continued his college education at CUNY Queens, graduating in 1975, summa cum laude, with a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management. In 1976, against all odds, Bill at the age 24, became the owner of the Coral House Restaurant and Caterers in Baldwin, Long Island. During his ownership of the Coral House, he was also the beach and pool concessionaire for both Nassau County and the Town of Hempstead. Bill was involved with Interfaith Nutrition Network helping the homeless resettle in new homes with various household supplies and the Coral House was part of feeding the less fortunate. Bill was the recipient of numerous citations and commendations from various local organizations including the Teddy Roosevelt Humanitarian Award presented by the Boy Scouts of America.

Bill’s industry memberships include the Baldwin Chamber of Commerce, Nassau Restaurant Association and the New York State Restaurant Association. Bill was an adjunct lecturer at NYC Technical College in the Hotel Restaurant Management department.

In December 2012, Bill sold the Coral House Restaurant, however he remains the owner of the property.

Bill now resides in Ormond Beach, FL. and is the proud father of his daughter, Christine. Bill is grateful for his teachers and track coaches at Monsignor McClancy, especially Brother Robert, Brother Maurus, Brother Brian and Brother Albert.