1967 Elected Knight of Mark Twain by Cyril Clemons, Editor of the Mark Twain Journal, for “Bears in the Ladies Room and Other Beastly Pursuits”.Recognized for his contributions to American humor and satire.
1974 Columbia University School of Journalism, National Magazine Award.
1976 Penney-Missouri Magazine Award, for "My Country 'Tis of Thee" which appeared in Sports Illustrated, December 20, 1976 issue.
1977 Penney-Missouri Magazine Award, for a two-part article in Sports Illustrated on high school football in November, 1977.
1978 Penney-Missouri Magazine Award, for excellence in Lifestyle Journalism. First prize in the contemporary living category. For "Journey Into Spring" in May, 1978, an article about a canoe journey down the West Branch of the Susquehanna River with Lyn. At the time, Bil was the only person to win the Penney Missouri magazine award three years in a row.
1980-81 Visiting Professor of Journalism at the University of Missouri.
1983Christopher Award, Best Nonfiction of the Year, American Commentary, for Westering Man: The Biography of Joseph Walker.
1984Westerners International Cofounders Award, Nonfiction, for Westering Man: The Biography of Joseph Walker.
1984 University of Missouri Medal for Distinguished Career Service to Journalism, in recognition of a body of writing so distinct and personal that the style is unmistakeable.
1986, Society of Midland Authors Award, Biography, for Westering Man: The Biography of Joseph Walker.
1989 National Book Critics Circle Nomination for “God Gave us This Country: Tekamthi and the First American Civil War." (One of five finalists considered by the National Critics Circle as Best Biography of the Year. It was also judged Outstanding Book of the Year by the Gustavus Myers Center for the Study of Human Rights in the United States.)
2008 Adams County Sports Hall of Fame – Inducted for his contributions in the area of sports journalism.
American Society for Crows and Ravens (ASCAR), Bil was the founder and creative force behind this organization and its publication, The Corvi Chronicle.