William Thomas Archey (Bill), died on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017 after suffering a stroke. He was 74.
Bill is survived by his wife of 30 years, Barbara (Powers) Archey; his son, John Clifford Archey; his daughter-in-law Jackie Mader; his grandson Lucas Archey; and his brothers Tommy and Jimmy Archey.
Born on Feb. 6, 1943 and raised in Pittsfield, Mass., Bill grew up as the ninth of 11 children. He graduated from Providence College in 1964 and began his career at New England Telephone and Telegraph before moving to Detroit, Mich. to work for the Ford Motor Company. Among his highpoints at Ford, Bill was responsible for Elvis Presley’s F-150 account, paying multiple visits to Graceland to personally ensure “The King” was taken care of. Bill moved to Boston in the late 1960s to attend Northeastern Business School, which is where he met his future wife, Barbara. It was Barbara who brought Bill to the Washington D.C. area in the mid 1970s. He remained a resident of the D.C. area until his death.
Bill had a long career in Washington in both the public and private sectors. He became Deputy Commissioner, and then Acting Commissioner of Customs in the early 1980s, after prior roles at the Treasury and the Department of Justice. His last position in government was as Acting Assistant Secretary for Trade Administration in the Department of Commerce. He then joined the U.S. Chamber of Commerce first as the International Vice President in 1987 and then as the Senior Vice President for Policy and Congressional Affairs. A long-time registered Democrat, Bill was known for his non-partisan, blunt and no-nonsense approach to policymaking during his career. His willingness to work with both sides of the aisle led to his ouster at the U.S. Chamber in 1994, after he collaborated closely with the Clinton Administration on healthcare reform. Bill soon started a new role as President and CEO of the American Electronics Association (now AeA), a non-partisan lobbying firm for the tech industry. He spent the last 14 years of his career with AeA before retiring in 2008.
Bill and Barbara were married in Alexandria in 1986 after your typical, run-of-the-mill 18-year courtship, and their son, Clifford, was born in 1987. Bill’s dog Dustin, named after Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia, was the only thing in the world he loved more than his wife and son. Bill was known for being a great storyteller, mixing his trademark wit, candor, and unique life experiences to regale his friends and family over many a gathering at their home. A true presence, Bill will be missed by all who knew and loved him.
A memorial service will be held on Oct. 16, 2017 at 11:30 am at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Alexandria. Friends and family are welcome.