Sigma Chi - University of Kansas

For William Farmer '75, Sigma Chi is a legacy affair; his father served as chapter president in the 1940s. But the motivation to join came from some Alpha Xi members he met at a summer party in 1971. "I could sense the quality of the guys and the friendships they had," he recalled. "It took away the fear of the unknown that accompanied moving to Lawrence from the small town of Pratt, Kansas." After arriving on campus, Sigma Chi soon provided Bill with numerous opportunities to demonstrate a unique set of talents. "I had a propensity for doing comedy and imitating voices," he said. "During events when the band took a break, someone would say, 'Farmer, get up and do something!'" Acquiescing soon secured Bill a job at KJHK, the campus radio station, where he worked as a DJ. In 1975, Bill graduated with a bachelor's degree in journalism and began his career as a chief engineer at radio stations in the Dallas area. From there, he transitioned to stand-up comedy, and after 12 years in Texas, moved to Hollywood. "I had honed my talent for mimicry and doing celebrity impressions and decided it would be worth pursuing as a career." Bill auditioned with Disney Animation in late '86 and was cast as the voice of beloved Mickey Mouse Club members Goofy and Pluto. Bill celebrated 37 years of bringing these characters to life in January 2024. His favorite part of the job? Getting out of the recording booth and connecting with fans in person! "I don't get a sense of how my work plays with people until I go to conventions and hear stories about what they love and why," he said. "In 1995, after the release of The Goofy Movie, people came up to me and said the film had changed their relationship with their dad. Others just say, 'Thanks for my childhood.'" Due to the nostalgic connections so many have for these beloved characters, Bill knows his legacy is well-secured. "Goofy and Pluto will be around a lot longer than me. Voicing them is my little taste of immortality." He encourages anyone interested in voice acting to give it a try if they're prepared to work hard and stay committed. "It took me a long time to go for my dreams, but I knew I was going to kick myself down the road if I didn't try. The key is making something your career because you love it. That's more important than just earning a paycheck." Bill lives in Southern California with Jennifer, his wife of 39 years. Jennifer owns and operates Jenni Fleurs, a custom floral design company. At 71 years old, Bill is still voice acting using a home studio, which allows him to work with his son, Austin, a sound engineer. "I could have retired a long time ago, but I have one of the most fun jobs you could have! Why would I give that up?" K A N S A S S I G Spring 2024 A P u b l i c a t i o n o f S i g m a C h i F r a t e r n i t y a t t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f K a n s a s From Sigma Chi to Toontown A Goofy Interview with William Farmer '75 Image Credit: Friends of Woking Way "You can never ensure success in anything in life, but you can always ensure failure by not trying or by not putting yourself out there." "It took me a long time to go for my dreams, but I knew I was going to kick myself down the road if I didn't try. The key is making something your career because you love it. That's more important than just earning a paycheck."

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