Growing up in the shadow of two famous uncles, Fred Hutchinson and Dr. William Hutchinson, William A. Crosetto, or Bill as his friends called him, never thought he could make a difference in anyone’s lives. When Bill passed through Othello during a field trip from Bellevue High School, he never imagined he would one day make “dusty old” Othello his home. But, after returning from Viet Nam, the quaint farming community won him over. By 1967, he was breaking soil at his own Othello cattle ranch, launching a legacy of giving back to the community he came to love.
A true outdoorsman, Bill loved to share his passion for the beauty of the region, teaching children to fish and make duck calls. Upon retiring, Bill committed a portion of his wealth to health, rural community and wildlife—arenas that impact quality of life across the region.
Bill’s generosity is opening new opportunities in rural communities like the one Bill grew to know and love. His donations established a mobile primary care clinic and support rural medical residencies. A generous gift to the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust enabled the organization to purchase land for the 1000-acre Sage Grouse preserve on Spiva Butte. Within the preserve, visitors can enjoy public hiking trails and the serenity of Lake Crosetto, named in honor of Bill—a man who wanted to improve the way his neighbors lived.
