Bill Farr had a distinguished record in the field of fire fighting and public service, as well as having the distinction of being one of the first twelve officers in the U.S. Army to receive the Expert Infantry Badge. He rose from Staff Sergeant to Infantry Officer in the U.S. Army, earning the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Presidential Citation, and other honors.
He was a member of the Fire Department of the City of Sparks and Washoe County for 30 years, joining as a volunteer in 1946 at Sparks, regular in 1947, Captain in 1949, Chief in 1951 through his retirement in 1976.
He was elected to the Nevada State Senate in 1966, Washoe County Commission in 1976, named Chairman in 1980. He also served during this period as a member of the Fire Commission. He resigned from the Board to take a position as Northern Nevada Administrator for U.S. Senator Chic Hecht in 1983.
He received the "Outstanding Fireman of the Year" award in Sparks in 1970 and the Lions Club "Outstanding Fireman of the Year" award in 1971. Both were given by a unanimous vote by the officers and men of the Sparks Fire Department. He was appointed by the Governor of Nevada in 1980 to serve on the Governor's Commission to investigate Codes and Ordinances after the tragic MGM fire in Las Vegas.
He was a First Aid Instructor and Training Instructor for 21 years, a member of the Advisory Board to the State Fire Marshal, Past President of the Nevada Fire Chiefs Association, Past President of the Nevada State Firemen's Association, Past President of the Western Fire Chief's Association, and Past Vice-Chairman of the Governor's Fire Marshal's Advisory Board.
He attended Sparks schools, leaving Sparks High School to enter the U.S. Army during World War II. He also had an extensive list of advanced education in the fire fighting field and received the State of Nevada Fire Teaching Certificate No. 5.