William ‘Bill’ Lipe ~ In Memory

May 1935-April 2025

Bill Lipe

Our esteemed colleague and friend, Dr. William D. Lipe – ‘Bill’ – passed away April 9th, 2025.

He is fondly remembered and will be deeply missed.

With too many accomplishments to list, it would be accurate to say Bill was an icon and authority in the field of SW Archaeology.

A scholar, a researcher, a mentor and friend, he set his personal bar at excellence and could easily be defined as such.

Bill attributed much of his success to the exceptional work carried out by the colleagues and graduate students he collaborated or worked with across his career.

Bill joined WSU in 1976 and continued to work as Professor Emeritus in the department well beyond his official retirement in 2001. In recognition of Bill and his legacy, the “William D. Lipe Visiting Scholar in Archaeological Method and Theory” was established in 2001 by friends, former students and colleagues. This endowment is used to support bringing a prominent archaeological practitioner to Pullman to present in our method and theory in archaeology graduate course and to present a public talk.

In 2021 Bill established the “Bill Lipe Graduate Student Archeological Research Fund”.  With his generosity this gift provides support for costs related to archaeological research by graduate students at Washington State University. Bill has inspired a legacy of excellence in the field of archaeology and archaeological research. His impact is immeasurable.

Bill Lipe
William “Bill” Lipe

Tributes to Bill Lipe

Bill Lipe above and left, was awarded Washington State University’s honorary doctoral degree.

Bill joined a distinguished roster that includes journalist Edward R. Murrow, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Carolyn Kizer, and former Spelman College president and WSU faculty member Johnnetta Cole.

WSU President Kirk Schulz presented Bill with this prestigious award during fall 2021 commencement.

View Video starting at – 1:11:34 (YouTube)

Tributes to Bill from his family and colleagues highlight his life and tremendous impact – please visit the links below to learn more about his contributions. We will add to these as additional stories appear:

https://www.dnews.com/obituaries/william-david-bill-lipe-19417172
In Memoriam: Bill Lipe

You can find more information related to funds established honoring Bill’s legacy
on the Anthropology “I want to give” page and the WSU/CAS Foundation.

If you have any pictures of Bill that you would like to add/share please email them to jobonner@wsu.edu

We will share as space allows.

Photos and memories

Dr. Tushingham &  Lipe, 2018 Colloquium (see flyer below)
Pictured above – Dr. Tushingham &  Lipe, 2018

Colloquium (see flyer:)

“The Economics of Raising Turkeys in the Northern US Southwest, AD 100-1600”

More photos

Left to right~ June and Bill Lipe, Biddy and Bill Andrefsky circa 2001
Left to right~ June and Bill Lipe, Biddy and Bill Andrefsky circa 2001
Bill with Andrew Duff.
Bill Lipe Left standing next to Andrew Duff, 2001
Bill with student wearing cap and gown
Anthropology Graduate Student Thanik Lertrit in Cap and Gown standing next to Bill Lipe in the late 1990s.
Bill with former student Sawang Lertrit holding a gift in his office.
Above – Dr. Sawang Lertrit returning as Fulbright Visiting Scholar with Bill Lipe in Bill’s office. The photo was taken in late 2016. Dr. Lertrit had Bill as both his MA and PhD advisor. “He’s the best mentor in my life”.