Bill Halls, longtime PBWA secretary-treasurer and former Pistons beat writer, dies at 86

By K.C. Johnson

The Professional Basketball Writers Association would like to recognize the life of William “Bill” Halls, who passed away Thursday at 86.

Halls was one of the founding members of the PBWA in 1973 and served as our second-longest-tenured secretary-treasurer from 1986-96. Halls worked at The Detroit News from 1968-98 and covered the Pistons for part of that time. He also served a stint working for the Associated Press.

When he turned 80, Halls received a note from former NBA commissioner David Stern that read in part: “There aren’t many who can say they watched the Pistons from the days of Earl Lloyd and Ray Scott, through Dave Bing and Bob Lanier, and into the Chuck Daly- and Isiah Thomas-led championship teams.” Stern also noted Halls’ involvement with the founding of the PBWA and wrote: “Our league and team PR people aren’t sure if you should be thanked or blamed for that!”

The PBWA will honor Halls for his influential service to our association.