William Larry Land

William "Bill" Larry Land, a resident of Dothan, passed away on Monday, January 30, 2023 at his residence following an extended illness. He was 80 years old.

A celebration of Bill's life will be held at 4 pm on Thursday, February 2, 2023 in Sunset Funeral Home Chapel with Minister Bradley Price from Slocomb First Baptist Church officiating and Houston County Sheriff, Donald Valenza as the guest speaker, followed by military honors in the Sunset Memorial Park Pavilion. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Thursday from 3-4 pm. Bill will be laid to rest in Alabama State Veteran's Memorial Cemetery in Spanish Fort, Alabama on Friday, February 3, 2023 at 11 am. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to St. Jude Hospital, www.stjude.org.

Bill was born on June 24, 1942 in Columbus, Georgia to the late William and Lydia Ramage Land. He proudly served in the United States Air Force for twelve years, six years of which he served as a Photo Journalist and Photographer and the other six he served as Special Agent in the Office of Special Investigations. Bill graduated from Troy University with a Master of Science Degree in Criminal Justice and Police Administration, he graduated from University of Tampa with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Behavioral Sciences, and had countless hours of law enforcement topics, skills and organizational management courses. Bill began working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 1973, and would move several times including Mobile, Gadsden, Baltimore, and Washington DC, until being assigned as Senior Resident Agent for six counties in Dothan. He was selected by Veterans of Foreign Wars for Law Enforcement Officer of the Year, he received 11 letters of commendation from various Directors of the FBI, he received 4 meritorious promotions, and during his entire FBI career, achieved an almost 100% conviction rate in federal courts.

Bill was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Diane Lynn Land who passed away in 2020.

Survivors include his children, David (Gayla) Land, Joseph Land, and Leslie (Jason) Blount; his four grandchildren, Lydia (Andrew) Paton, Ashlyn Blount, Brodie Blount, and John David Land; his brother, James (Phyllis) Land; and several nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to express their deep gratitude for the caregivers who took excellent care of Bill during his time of need, Kathy Harrelson, Tracie Shelton, Keli Allen, Teresa Standford, and Bobby Green.