At an age when many people are encouraged to slow down, Bill Jackson is leaning in — carefully, patiently, and one intricate piece at a time.
A resident of Morning Pointe of Hardin Valley, 96-year-old Bill is known throughout the community for building complex wooden 3D puzzles that challenge both the hands and the mind. His creations include working locomotives, architectural models, mechanical designs, and even a fully functioning pinball machine complete with sensors, sound, and a miniature computer chip.
Each project demands precision, perseverance, and comfort with complexity — qualities Bill embraces.
“I’ve always told my children, if you’re going to sign your name to it, be proud of it,” Bill said. “When I see something that looks difficult, I want to know — can I do it? And then I stick with it until I get it done.”
Bill’s passion for puzzles deepened during the COVID-19 pandemic. While living in Middle Tennessee, he had been volunteering at a museum, teaching visitors how to make jewelry in a studio. When the pandemic shut everything down and his wife lost her eyesight, Bill stepped away from many of his usual activities. Jigsaw puzzles became a way to fill the quiet — until they no longer felt challenging enough.
That curiosity led him to intricate 3D builds, and what started as a pastime quickly became a weekly routine and a renewed sense of purpose. Today, his desk is stacked with projects waiting their turn — some completed in an afternoon, others taking months. One of his most ambitious builds required 75 pages of instructions and embedded electronics.
“These puzzles are tactically irresistible,” Bill said with a smile.
For Bill, the challenge is more than enjoyment — it’s essential.
“If you don’t exercise the brain, it’s like a muscle — it starts deteriorating,” he said. “I’m trying to get people involved in thinking and doing things, rather than just sitting and doing nothing. That’s the worst thing you can do.”
Among his most challenging creations was a wooden pinball machine — one so complex that he built three versions: one for his grandson, one for his son-in-law, and one for himself. He isn’t sure there will be a fourth.
“Now it’s familiar,” he said. “And if it’s not challenging, it’s not the same.”
Some of Bill’s smaller builds — which he affectionately calls his “critters” — are made from recycled cardboard produced by a company in New Zealand. Many of his finished puzzles are displayed outside his apartment or throughout the community, while others are given away to fellow residents, associates, visitors, and family members.
Videos of Bill and his completed builds have also drawn attention online, where viewers are captivated not just by the craftsmanship, but by the fact that he’s still learning, experimenting, and pushing himself at 96. For Bill, puzzle-building has become both meditation and therapy — and a way to spark joy in others.
“When you get it done, you take a deep breath and say, ‘Oh gosh, it works!’” he said. “That sense of accomplishment is so important, especially as you get older. It’s like running a marathon — not physically, but mentally.”
A Navy veteran, devoted husband of nearly 70 years, father of four, and grandfather of seven, Bill Jackson has spent a lifetime in education, broadcasting, and service. Today, he measures time not by years, but by the next challenge waiting on his desk.
For Bill, each finished puzzle is more than an object — it’s proof that creativity, curiosity, and purpose don’t have an expiration date.
