Auctioneer performs final cry after 63-year career

“$84 bid, now 85, now $86, will ya give me 87? $87 bid, now 88, 88 bills. Sold!”

Since 1953, Iowa residents have heard William “Bill” Shields utter this rhythmic repetition of numbers at hundreds of auctions across the state. But on Tuesday, the local livestock community lost that famous auctioneer’s cry.

Before his death on this week, Shields announced he would be retiring from the auctioneering business due to his health and age. After 63 years of fast-talking, Shields had only two words left to say to the community: “thank you.”

“Thanks for the many good years,” Shields said in an interview Jan. 6.

Throughout his career, the bid caller covered auctions at more than five counties across the Hawkeye State.

“I’m already 87 years old, but I regret having to retire,” he said. “I love my job. I love the people I worked with.”

As a third generation auctioneer, Shields grew up watching his father, Earl, perform the cattle rattle at the Colfax Livestock Sales Co. Shields’ father held the livestock auctions starting in 1939. Shields continued bid calling at the barn until 1991.

He said working with his father helped him master the craft of bid calling and understand the importance of the relationship between auctioneers and the people they serve.

“Well, my dad was always fair and honest with our customers, naturally, and expected me to be,” Shields said. “He was certainly above and beyond.”

As his career in auctioneering progressed, these qualities Shields learned from his father earned him the respect of his customers, colleagues and fellow auction criers.

“People knew (Bill), trusted him and liked everything about the way he performed. I guess, I kind of patterned myself after him — being honest,” auctioneer Melvin Montgomery said. “He was just a great auctioneer, as far as I’m concerned.”

In 1953, Shields attended the Reppert School of Auctioneering in Indiana. He said the school’s rigorous program helped him develop his chant and voice.

“He is so at ease with people and the words just come. He has a wonderful way with people,” Shields’ wife, Nancy said. “Bill had a beautiful singing voice.”

Shields also graduated from Newton High School in 1947 and the University of Iowa in 1953.

Shields cried his last auction on June 4. He said the sale lasted from 10:30 a.m. to around 3 p.m., and more than 100 people attended.

“It was a household sale at somebody’s yard. It was a good sale. I sold everything the woman owned,” he said. “Health-wise, I knew I was done.”

Shields said he cherished the long nights, relationships and fun times he had over his accomplished career.

“There was a mortician down in Monroe. He also had livestock on the side and I went down to see him,” Shields said. “I went into his house, a very big house. He told me to sit down in the living room. My God, right over there on the sofa was a corpse. I went right through the roof.”

Shields also made a lasting impression on the people he crossed paths with during his 63-year-long career.

“I remember Bill Shields got here all the time. He’d auctioneer usually the pig sales,” current owner of Colfax Livestock Sales, Sean Cogley said. “He has command of the crowd. Just kind of knows how much things are worth and starts things when they need to be started.”

To many in the community, he will be remembered as one of the best auctioneers in the state.

“He certainly was among the top, if not the No. 1, in his auctioneering profession,” longtime friend, Larry Hurto said. “He may have been, for a period of years, the No. 1 auctioneer people could turn to.”

​Shields was known for his endurance behind the auctioneer’s podium. His work in livestock sales would some times keep him away from home until the early morning hours. Before Shield’s death, his wife Nancy was glad he was finally home.

“He would auction for six to seven hours, without taking a break. He would stay out sometimes until 2 a.m.,” Nancy Shields said.

Shields said there are not that many “traditional” auctioneers nowadays. He encouraged aspiring bid callers to attend auctioneering school and “tie up” with an experienced auction crier.

“He will leave shoes that are going to be really hard to fill,” Hurto said.

Contact Anthony Victor Reyes at areyes@jaspercountytribune.com