William “Bill” Mickler Memorial Reef

In reviewing how to describe Bill Mickler to those who didn’t know him we would defer to his obit, to show what those who knew Bill would say about his life…

“Throughout Bill’s lifetime, he built meaningful relationships and long-time friendships across Tallahassee and the Panhandle. With the gift of storytelling, a passion for reading, and an excellent prankster, Bill was a convener of people who could often be found sharing stories, telling inappropriate jokes, or helping others throughout Tallahassee and the Forgotten Coast. He was a man who was knowledgeable about most things (just ask him) and a tinkerer who could fix or rig just about anything. In fact, his ability to “rebuild” or “fix” something and have left-over parts was unmatched. Armed with a solution-oriented mindset and a natural problem solver, Bill was a constant source of support for his family and friends; one of his most cherished attributes—he loved helping others and there was no “ask” for help too big.

Bill’s professional and storytelling reputation was surpassed by his passion for volunteering for various philanthropic organizations and initiatives. His love of saltwater fishing led to his focus on saltwater habitat creation and restoration efforts. As a former President of the Big Bend Chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) Florida, Bill was a tireless advocate for Florida’s marine environment to sustain recreational anglers and outdoor enthusiasts’ affection for Florida’s fisheries and marine life for generations to come. This involvement led to Bill’s participation with the Organization for Artificial Reefs (OAR) where he helped OAR create numerous artificial reefs in coastal waters around the Forgotten Coast. Additionally, Bill was an active member of the Tallahassee community and a member of Springtime Tallahassee on the War Reconstruction Crew.”

Because of Bill’s active role in our organization and with CCA, we were honored that CCA decided to commemorate Bill with their contribution toward construction!  We are hopeful that this will be a productive site for years to come for added habitat and fishing opportunities for the Big Bend Gulf.  The quote that was printed on the shirts that we ordered for this event say “I’m fishing, Everything’s Good” was the message he would send to his children when he was headed offshore, and we all feel that everything is good with Bill.

-OAR Board 8-15-25