As a retired Army Major General and aviator, Bill Page has lived in more than a dozen places around the world, including Vietnam, Germany and Korea, as well as on numerous army bases around the U.S. But when it came time to retire in 1993, Bill and his wife and high school sweetheart, Gayle, chose to move to Arkansas to be closer to family.

“Both sets of parents were elderly and were in Arkansas,” Bill said, “so we came to Little Rock to take care of the family. Then we stayed here, and we haven’t regretted it.”

The couple – who have two children, three grandchildren and one great-grandchild – made their home in Maumelle, a community of around 16,000 residents, located only 18 miles from the capital city.

“I always wanted to retire on the golf course because I love to play golf,” Bill said, so he and Gayle chose to live in Maumelle Country Club’s Masters Place, looking out over the third fairway of the club’s 18-hole championship golf course.

Self-described “joiners,” the Pages are active in the community and love to meet new people. Bill serves as a trustee for Pulaski Technical College, and Gayle volunteers with Central Arkansas Radiation Therapy Institute (CARTI), Arkansas Children’s Hospital and Ronald McDonald House.

One of the Pages’ favorite things about Maumelle is the Maumelle Veteran’s Memorial at Lake Willastein, for which Bill served as general contractor (the Renaissance man also has an engineering degree) and lead fundraiser. “It’s been declared the best veteran’s memorial in Arkansas,” he said, and it’s a touching dedication to the men and women who have protected and continue to protect our country.

Local Flavor
Some of the Pages’ favorites

Where to eat:
Capers (Little Rock) - "Try the pork tenderloin with pearl onion jam and Manchego cheese grits."
Carino’s Italian Restaurant (Little Rock) - "Best curbside service."

What to do:
Arkansas Repertory Theatre (Little Rock) - 2012 performances include “To Kill a Mockingbird,” “The Wiz” and “Next to Normal.”
Maumelle Country Club - 18-hole, semi-private golf course has a driving range and putting green area and a club house; members have access to a pro shop, pool and tennis courts.
Maumelle Trail System - 26 miles of walking/biking trails within the Maumelle city limits.