Basketball
William Rayder grew up in Rockaway Beach, NY, and attended Saint Francis De Sales Elementary School. He started his basketball career at St. Francis while in the sixth grade. William (Bill) entered Monsignor McClancy Memorial High School for the first time in September of 1966, the first of four Rayder brothers to do so. William’s brothers Daniel, Class of 1975, Peter, Class of 1977, and Gerard, Class of 1982, would later follow in his footsteps.
Bill was a starter on the varsity basketball team for both his junior and senior years. As a senior, Bill was a co-captain of the varsity team. After an outstanding senior season, Bill was named as a member of the All-Queens team and received an honorable mention for the All-City team.
After graduating from McClancy High School, Bill attended the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs for one year. The following year, Bill enrolled in the University of Bridgeport on a basketball scholarship.
Bill now resides in Old Saybrook, Connecticut with his wife and three daughters. He has been a physical education teacher at Old Lyme High School for thirty three years and has coached that school’s varsity cross country team for thirty years.