Columbus, OH — William J. Perkins III, 77, better known by all as Billy or Perk, died at Allied Services Inpatient Hospice on Aug. 22, 2023, after an illness.

Mr. Perkins was born at the family homestead in Tanners Falls on May 16, 1946, to the late Robert “Cy” Perkins and Berna Artman Perkins.

Because of constant flooding of the greater Honesdale area, the Jadwin Dam was constructed spurring the abandonment of the upstream village of Tanners Falls and along with that the relocation of his family to Dr. W.J. Perkins’ sprawling Cold Springs Farm. Mr. Perkins spent his formative years on the farm where his love of horses, in particular Standardbreds, developed.

Mr. Perkins was a proud graduate of Honesdale High School, class of 1964, having previously completed six years of elementary schooling in the one room schoolhouse at Rileyville.

During the summers of his high school years, Mr. Perkins worked for legendary Honesdale trainer Russell Dunn at the Wayne County Fairgrounds. After an abbreviated college stint at Delhi Tech in New York State, the call of harness racing beckoned a grand career that took Mr. Perkins across the country.

For a time Mr. Perkins worked as a second trainer/groom for Uncle Don Perkins at Vernon Downs. While working for his Uncle Don, his race announcing career started at the age of 19, working under his father’s and Uncle Al’s watchful eyes calling races on the Keystone Colt Stakes Association fair circuit, debuting at the Lycoming Fair in Hughesville, and as they say the “rest is history.”

Moving on to upstate New York’s Batavia Raceway was one of his first pari-mutuel stops soon after landing a job at Ocean Downs and spending many enjoyable summers at the Maryland Eastern Shore. From New England to Michigan and all points in between, if there was a harness racetrack Mr. Perkins probably worked at it either as an announcer or race secretary or both.

During harness racing’s golden era Mr. Perkins was an integral part of Rosecroft Raceway. Located outside Washington D.C., Mr. Perkins had a 25 year career highlighted by large on track crowds, appearances on the fledgling cable channel ESPN announcing Breeders Crown races, and going viral with his legendary “Come On Fred” race calls.

Other favorite stops in his career included Freestate Raceway, Hawthorne Race Course in Chicago, and Sports Creek in Michigan.

His last stop in his professional career was in the Commonwealth of Kentucky working at his beloved Red Mile, particularly as Grand Circuit Race Secretary. Mr. Perkins also thoroughly enjoyed his stints at Kentucky’s other tracks including Thunder Ridge and Blue Grass Downs.

Regardless of the size or stature of the racetrack Mr. Perkins was always happiest when he was around racing people and horses.

He also loved to entertain and cook/grill for his friends and family; his crab cakes were legendary amongst his family as well as his St. Patrick’s Day corned beef dinner.

Mr. Perkins often said he considered himself fortunate by being involved in harness racing, he never felt like he worked a day in his life. The lifelong friends he made in the sport of harness racing remained at the core of his heart until his passing.

Mr. Perkins was a past president of the American Harness Racing Secretaries Association, was a licensed auctioneer, including being part of the team that developed a Standardbred auction at Rosecroft Raceway and a member of the Wayne Area Sports Hall of Fame.

In retirement, Mr. Perkins enjoyed the Wayne County Fair in Honesdale every August, of course in particular the harness racing and the horse pull, time spent at Elk Lake with his family, and taking in his grandnieces/nephews’ sporting events, always sporting a cap from the proper school or college team.

Mr. Perkins leaves behind an adoring family, including sister, Susan Firmstone; nephews, Jeffrey (Polly) Firmstone and George (Katie) Firmstone; niece, Carrie (Bob) Campen; grandnieces and nephews, Morganne (Brian) Dudzinski, Justine Firmstone (Kyle Lebrecht), Abby Firmstone, Emma Firmstone, Julia Firmstone, Jack Firmstone, Robbie Campen and Claire Campen; and a great-grandniece and nephew, Carson Dudzinski and Sawyer Dudzinski. He was preceded in death by a brother-in-law, John Firmstone.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions may be made to the Wayne County Fair, 270 Miller Drive, Honesdale, PA 18431, St. Jude Children’s Hospital, or to the donor’s favorite charity.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday (Aug. 26) at St. Mary Magdalen Church, Honesdale, at 11 a.m. Interment will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery. Friends may visit Hessling Murray Funeral Home, 428 Main St., Honesdale, on Friday (Aug. 25) from 6-8 p.m. All attending are asked to use the 5th St. entrance.