“And then, on January 3, 1521, Martin Luther was excommunicated by Pope Leo X for accusing the Catholic Church of nepotism and corruption, such as the unfair practice of selling indulgences.”

Yet another date in history that nobody seems to remember, but historians never seem to forget.

But can history actually be interesting? Just ask World History teacher, Mr. Bill Lloyd. Mr. Lloyd has dedicated his life to understanding the world’s past, and how to use the past to interpret the present. With his wide range of knowledge and fun sense of humor, Mr. Lloyd makes every class enjoyable for his students. And although he’s been teaching at Central since 2001, it’s never quite felt like work to him.

For as long as he can remember, Mr. Lloyd has been captivated by history. “I remember as a young kid, I got a book for Christmas called The Boys Book of Seabattles. I was just so fascinated by the stories in that book.” Attending the great Sacred Heart Elementary School, and eventually graduating from Central in 1964, Mr. Lloyd’s interest in history only grew stronger: “At Central, Brother Dominic was my AP European History teacher, and he really made history come alive.” Now, many years after he first opened The Boys Book of Seabattles, Mr. Lloyd’s passion for history has not diminished.

Mr. Lloyd’s unique teaching style is one of the reasons he is so well liked here at Central. With classroom signatures such as the Miscreant Pencil and the Groom of the Stool cap, he connects with the students in a way unlike most teachers: “I enjoy putting together interesting material that attracts students to want to hear the story. One thing I’ve learned is that deep down, most students really do want to learn. If you get them excited, you light a spark. In history, I emphasize the stories, because they are absolutely incredible.”

As many of his current and former students know, Erasmus of Rotterdam is Mr. Lloyd’s favorite historical figure. When asked why, he responded, “Erasmus followed his conscience. He wasn’t afraid to speak out. He represents the ultimate scholar who digs into the material and works very hard to understand it. He and Thomas More I have great admiration for. They were flawed men, but they stood up for what they believed in.”

Not unlike Erasmus of Rotterdam, Mr. Lloyd has dedicated himself to his craft. In being a wonderful storyteller, he makes World and European History edge-of-your-seat interesting. He has transformed history class from dates and names to fascinating tales. All in all, Mr. Lloyd truly makes history come alive. In the words of the great Mr. Lloyd, “More to come.”