Bill F. Breeding, Jr.

Bill Breeding has experienced life at East Tennessee State University both as a traditional and non-traditional student. He left the university for active duty in the U.S. Air Force, serving from 1966-1970.

Upon his return to Johnson City, he joined Clyce Distributing Company, and today he is its president and owner. Coming back to ETSU to complete his bachelor’s degree in history, Mr. Breeding graduated in 1990.

His tenure at Clyce Distributing has seen the company flourish. The business is the first in the eastern part of the United States and the only distributor in Tennessee to be recognized for excellence by Adolph Coors Company with a Founders Award. Earlier, Stroh Brewing Company presented Clyce Distributing the Stroh Golden Lion Award for outstanding achievement.

During his career, Mr. Breeding has been active in civic and charitable concerns, and he has been an especially good friend of ETSU. He has served Johnson City as a city commissioner, vice mayor, and mayor, as well as accepting an appointment to the Johnson City Regional Planning Commission. A member of the board for the Greeneville and Kingsport Chambers of Commerce, he is past president of the Johnson City/Washington County Area Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Breeding is a member of Munsey Memorial United Methodist Church.

He served nine years as a member of the board of directors of Johnson City Medical Center. In 1994, he was appointed by then Governor Don Sundquist to the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission, on which he served three years.

After accepting an appointment to the Johnson City Development Authority, Mr. Breeding acted as chairman, overseeing the group when it initiated building Millennium Centre and establishing the cultural district.

As 1990 campaign chairman for the Johnson City United Way, he saw the fund raise over $1 million for the first time, while he was also serving as director of the Tennessee Municipal League. Currently, he is chairman of the board of the Tennessee Malt Beverage Association, a member of the SunTrust Bank of Northeast Tennessee board, and a member and past president of the Johnson City Kiwanis Club.

Mr. Breeding helped establish ETSU PRIDE Week and served as co-chairman of the first PRIDE Week celebration. He has worked on the campus Alcohol Awareness Task Force, is a member of the Distinguished President’s Trust, is a former director of the ETSU Foundation, and has served as an officer in the ETSU Alumni Association.

Among his many honors, Mr. Breeding can count the Distinguished Past President Award and Kiwanian of the Year designation from the Johnson City Kiwanis Club and the Distinguished Service Award from the Johnson City Jaycees. He was also declared Man of the Year by Kappa Sigma Fraternity, and the Tennessee Professional Golfers Association made him an honorary member.

Mr. Breeding is the father of two adult sons, Bryan and Bradley.