William L. “Bill” Slout, 93, professor emeritus in the Theatre Arts department in the College of Arts and Letters, passed away on February 4, 2017. He was born in 1923 in a theatrical family.  His father, L. Verne Slout, owned a tent show which traveled the U.S. in the early years of the 20th century.  He spent a number of years working in theatre and early television in New York City in the 1950s and 1960s.  He would share stories of former roommates like John Astin or Rip Torn with his students, and they also remembered the black and white glossies from various points in his own performing career, which hung in his office. He published a number of books, many on the subject of the circus. He was married to his wife, Marte Boyle Slout, for 58 years.