PLACERVILLE, Calif. — William “Bill” Schultz, a U.S. Navy veteran and longtime public servant who helped guide El Dorado County’s elections into the modern era, passed away on Nov. 28 at age 92 surrounded by family and friends. He was widely known in county offices, veterans’ circles, and on the tennis courts he loved, where his competitive spirit endured well into his later years.
Born with a quiet steadiness that would become his hallmark, Bill served in the United States Navy before beginning a decades-long career in public service. In El Dorado County he held several key roles, including Recorder-Clerk and Registrar of Voters, positions in which he became instrumental to the evolution of the county’s voting systems. Colleagues recall that during his tenure the county implemented updated, auditable paper ballot procedures and expanded access for voters overseas, including active-duty military personnel serving abroad — a mission close to his heart.
Friends say Bill’s leadership style was calm, pragmatic, and marked by an unwavering belief that government should work reliably for the people it serves. Election observers often remembered him as the official with “the steady hand,” guiding the system through technical upgrades and unexpected hiccups with professionalism and a touch of dry humor.
Bill was also deeply committed to veterans’ causes. He was a supporter of the El Dorado County Veterans Monument and was known for reminding the community that honoring service members was not symbolic — it was personal.
“Today we are here to deliver two simple words to veterans: Thank you,”
he said at the monument’s dedication, a line that community members still recall.
Outside his roles in service and administration, Bill found joy in the simple rhythm of the tennis court. Even as the years advanced, he kept a racket in his hand and a determined spark in his eye, never losing the sense of competition and camaraderie the sport brought him.
Bill Schultz served in the county in roles including Recorder-Clerk and Registrar of Voters; county documents list his name in official elections planning materials during the late 2000s and early 2010s as the county moved to modern, paper-based optical-scan systems and strengthened canvass procedures. By 2016 he was publicly identified in news coverage as the county’s Registrar when the office investigated a mis-mailed vote-by-mail ballot. “We had no idea,” Schultz told reporters at the time as county staff worked with the U.S. Postal Service to trace the errant ballot.
County election plans and oversight documents from the period show El Dorado participating in state and regional efforts to update voting technology and procedures — including measures to improve the integrity and accessibility of ballots and to support the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) processes that help service members vote from abroad. Those documents form part of the public record that historians and election officials point to when tracing the county’s shift to modern, auditable paper systems. Regional grant programs and county election planning at the time also referenced electronic or web-based ballot delivery and military absentee assistance that counties used to increase access for overseas voters.
Veterans leadership and community service. Beyond elections, Schultz was active in veterans affairs in El Dorado County. He spoke at the El Dorado County Veterans Monument dedication and was listed among founders and leaders who helped bring the monument and veterans’ events to life.
On personal life and community recollections
Family and community posts supplied to local outlets say Schultz remained active into his later years; the user who provided material for this story notes he was an avid tennis player even in his later years. His failing eyesight did not keep him from the court.
Death notices and records –
“He died very peacefully,” widow Mary Ann Kirk told the Mountain Democrat Monday. They had been married for 30 years. She shared that Schultz suffered a stroke on Nov. 26 and passed mid-morning Friday at a Roseville hospital.
What colleagues say
County election observers and veterans’ leaders who worked with Schultz point to steady, practical leadership during periods of technical transition.
Why it matters to Local voters
Modern election systems and reliable absentee and overseas voting procedures directly affect turnout and voter confidence. Local officials who oversaw those transitions — and who worked to preserve both accessibility and auditability — left tools behind that current election officials still rely on when conducting votes and canvasses. Documents related to the county’s Elections Operations Plan and Registrar’s office procedures provide an accessible record of those institutional changes.
Bill leaves behind a legacy defined by integrity, civic duty, and a lifelong commitment to those who served. His imprint on El Dorado County’s election systems will continue to shape how residents vote, and his dedication to veterans will continue to resonate at community gatherings and ceremonies for years to come.
He will be missed by family, friends, colleagues, the veterans whose service he honored, and the many residents who cast ballots through the systems he helped build.
A memorial service will be announced by the family. In lieu of flowers, they ask that donations be made to local veterans organizations — a cause Bill spent his life supporting.
