William Neely was an American actor and writer, most famous for his book Stand on It by Stroker Ace. He was born in Jane Lew, West Virginia, August 18, 1930, the son of Walter and Madge Neely. After high school, Neely attended West Virginia Wesleyan College

West Virginia Wesleyan College

West Virginia Wesleyan College is a regionally accredited private, coeducational, liberal arts college in Buckhannon, West Virginia, United States. It has an enrollment of about 1,400 students from 35 U.S. states and 26 countries. The school was founded in 1890 by the West Virginia Conference of...

, completing an A.B. degree in 1952. He spent a year (1952–53) pursuing graduate work at West Virginia University

West Virginia University

West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...

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Neely went to work for the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, serving as manager of racing public relations from 1961-1966. In 1966 he left Goodyear to work as public relations manager of central region for Humble Oil Company, a position he held until 1970. Neely retired in 1970 to concentrate on writing full time. His first book, Spirit of America, was published in 1971.

Bill Neely's best-known work was published in 1974, Stand on It by Stroker Ace, co-written by Bob Ottum. The novel, based in part on Neely's own experiences as a professional auto racer and on his experiences in the racing world with Goodyear and in part on NASCAR

NASCAR

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...

 legend Curtis Turner

Curtis Turner

Curtis Turner was an early NASCAR driver. In addition to his success in racing, he made a fortune, lost it, and remade it buying and selling timberlands. Throughout his life he developed a reputation for drinking and partying...

, became quite popular for its gritty humor and its pull-no-punches depictions of the world of professional stock car racing. The novel was made into a 1983 motion picture, Stroker Ace

Stroker Ace

Stroker Ace is a 1983 action comedy film, filmed in North Carolina and Georgia, about a NASCAR driver, the eponymous Stroker Ace, played by Burt Reynolds....

, starring Burt Reynolds

Burt Reynolds

Burton Leon "Burt" Reynolds, Jr. is an American actor. Some of his memorable roles include Bo 'Bandit' Darville in Smokey and the Bandit, Lewis Medlock in Deliverance, Bobby "Gator" McCluskey in White Lightning and sequel Gator, Paul Crewe and Coach Nate Scarborough in The Longest Yard and its...

 and Loni Anderson

Loni Anderson

Loni Kaye Anderson is an American actress who played the role of Jennifer Marlowe on the television sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati.- Early life :...

. It also inspired a song, "Stoker's Theme", by country legend Charlie Daniels

Charlie Daniels

Charles Edward "Charlie" Daniels is an American musician known for his contributions to country and southern rock music. He is known primarily for his number one country hit "The Devil Went Down to Georgia", and multiple other songs he has performed and written. Daniels has been active as a singer...

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Neely has continued to write, particularly about the world of American stock car racing. Notable works include biographies of two of the sports founding pioneers — Cale: The Hazardous Life and Times of America's Greatest Stock Car Driver (Cale Yarborough

Cale Yarborough

William Caleb "Cale" Yarborough , is a farmer, businessman and former NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver and owner. He is one of only two drivers in NASCAR history to win three consecutive championships...

) and King Richard I (Richard Petty

Richard Petty

Richard Lee Petty is a former NASCAR driver who raced in the Strictly Stock/Grand National Era and the NASCAR Winston Cup Series...

). He has also served as a contributor to both Playboy

Playboy

Playboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...

and Sports Illustrated

Sports Illustrated

Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...

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He died March 27, 2008 in Wilmington, NC of heart complications.

Works Published

• Spirit of America
• Grand National
• A Closer Walk
• Country Gentleman
• Drag Racing
• Stand On It
• Cars to Remember
• Playboy Book of Racing
• Daytona U.S.A.
• Official Chili Cookbook
• Roy Acuff's Nashville
• A.J.
• Automobile Questions
• Cale: The Hazardous Life and Times of America's Greatest Stock Car Driver
• King Richard I
• Alone in the Crowd

He also starred in I Know What You Did Last Summer

I Know What You Did Last Summer

I Know What You Did Last Summer is a 1997 American horror film. The film stars Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe and Freddie Prinze Jr. The screenplay was written by Kevin Williamson, writer of Scream, and very loosely based on Lois Duncan's popular novel of the same title...

, ESPN Sports Center, Matlock

Matlock (TV series)

Matlock is an American television legal drama, starring Andy Griffith in the title role of attorney Ben Matlock. The show originally aired from September 23, 1986 to May 8, 1992 on NBC, where it replaced The A-Team, then from November 5, 1992 until May 7, 1995 on ABC.The show's format was similar...

, and The Night Flier

The Night Flier

"The Night Flier" is a horror short story by Stephen King, first published in the anthology Prime Evil: New Stories by the Masters of Modern Horror, and then in King's own 1993 Nightmares and Dreamscapes collection....

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