Born in Los Angeles in 1923, he attended Topanga Elementary and then University High School while growing up in the Pacific Palisades.  Bill spent a year at Washington State University before entering the Coast Guard from 1941 to 1945.  While stationed at Moffett Field Bill would patrol the Northern California beaches on horseback watching for enemy submarines.  Later Bill was stationed off the coast of Japan as harbor patrol.  Bill also spent much of his time cutting hair as the ship's barber.  Bill then returned to school at UC Davis and with a group of friends started the UC Davis rodeo team and graduated with a B.S. degree in Animal Science in 1949.  Bill spent a few months on the rodeo circuit being a cowboy and eventually returned home to Santa Monica.  Bill’s love for animals teased at his passion for becoming a vet, but due to the times he worked with his father, William C. Carter Sr. developing property and selling homes throughout the Westside.  Bill was introduced to his future wife, Marion Bruck by one of her sisters shortly after WWII.  Bill married Marion in 1952 and they had two children, Gail Ellen and Phillip Elliot.  Bill’s wife Marion had a daughter from a previous marriage, Linda, which Bill raised as well.  Bill enjoyed doing many things with his family: fishing, camping, waterskiing and going to horseshows.  Bill owned Carter Realty and sold residential and horse ranch property into his 70’s and never actually retired.  He was president of the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce and sat on the Topanga City Council for many years.  When Bill found himself at Will Rogers one day trying to sell a horse to those "polo people, cause they don't know anything about horses" someone handed him a mallet and he was hooked.  Bill with his son, Phil and granddaughter, Megan often played polo at Will Rogers and took many pack trips to the Sierra’s together.  One of Bill’s other past times was spent flying his Cessna 182 airplane around southern California viewing properties and going to family parties.  Occasionally he would land his plane on the polo field at Eldorado Polo Club in Indio.  Bill was best known for being a member of the Will Rogers Polo Club from the early 60's through 2002.  Bill was a great friend and was always around for a good laugh, a good trail ride, and to tack a shoe on a horse.