Bill Black, Jr. is a regional leader in the field of building preservation and recently retired from Ray Black & Son, Inc., a family owned construction firm in Paducah, Kentucky that excels in both new construction and the preservation of historic buildings.

Mr. Black holds a history degree from Princeton and is the recipient of numerous professional and civic awards, including the Ida Lee Willis Award for Service to Historic Preservation in Kentucky. He has remained active in preservation and development issues throughout his career.

His project experience includes numerous buildings in Paducah, such as the River Heritage Museum, the Mosko Building, Whitehaven Welcome Center, and Market House. He also assisted with the restoration of Riverlore Mansion in nearby Cairo, Illinois. Mr. Black continues to find time to work in the field of preservation, and is donating both time and expertise to the Cairo project, outside of the actual hands-on workshop.