Raised in Pennsylvania, Bill Hand has lived in the New Bern area since 1995. The fascinating past of this small town awakened his interest in history, and he has spent the years there digging into New Bern's past. Over the past three years, Hand has enjoyed sharing historical events and personalities with the community through a weekly column in the New Bern Sun-Journal. Bill also writes, directs and performs in plays through his theatrical company, Athens of the South Productions, and dabbles in creative video as well. He graduated from Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, in 1981 with a degree in literature and theater. He lives just outside of New Bern with his wife, Roberta, and his daughter, Rachel, with another daughter, Sara, residing nearby.