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Charlie Summers is a former Maine secretary of state and state senator.
“Nothing astonishes men so much as common sense and plain dealing.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
I first met Bill Diamond when I was a freshman state senator and he was then serving as Maine’s secretary of state. From the very first handshake, it was clear to me — and to anyone who encountered him — that Bill was the embodiment of Emerson’s words. He looked you in the eye, spoke with clarity and conviction, and most importantly, his word was his bond.
That rare mix of plain-dealing honesty and steadfast public service marked every chapter of Bill’s long and meaningful life. When I later became Maine’s 48th secretary of state, Bill, by then a state senator and the ranking member of the Legislature’s Joint Standing Committee on Transportation, was one of the first to reach out with congratulations. His gesture was heartfelt and sincere, a moment of grace I won’t forget.
Despite coming from different political parties — Bill a Democrat, myself a Republican — we found immediate common ground, the safety of Maine’s young drivers. Working together on motor vehicle policies, especially those related to teen driving safety, we were guided not by partisanship, but by purpose. Bill had no use for political games when there was a chance to make life better and safer for Mainers.
In recent years, Bill turned his energy and attention to one of the most heartbreaking challenges facing our state: the crisis in Maine’s child protective services. Through his nonprofit initiative, Walk A Mile in Their Shoes, he sounded the alarm with passion and precision, shining a bright light on a broken system in need of urgent reform. His tireless advocacy wasn’t driven by headlines or legacy. It was driven by love for Maine’s most vulnerable.
Bill Diamond never stopped serving. In his 80 years, he wore many hats — teacher, principal, legislator, secretary of state — but what never changed was his deep and abiding commitment to doing what he felt was right. Whether it was a child in danger, a constituent in need, or a colleague across the aisle, Bill met them all with respect, resolve, and an unwavering sense of duty. He was, simply, a good and decent man.
Bill will be sorely missed by his beloved wife, Jane, their family, and all of us who were fortunate enough to call him a colleague and friend. Maine is a better place because of him — and we are all better for having known him.
Rest well, Bill. Your service endures.
