1982: Alan Spaulding struck a deal with Billy Lewis: Alan would sell Lewis Oil back to Billy if he would help push aside Amanda — who was running Spaulding Enterprises.

1983: Billy (Jordan Clarke) moved to town permanently with his daughter Mindy. He courted and eventually became engaged to Vanessa. Alan was determined to win Vanessa for himself, so he paid Billy's ex Reva (Kim Zimmer) to come to town and announce that her divorce from Billy was invalid.

1984: At Alan's masquerade ball, Billy threw Vanessa over his shoulder and declared, "No one leaves until this woman is my wife." A minister was summoned and they married on the spot. Later that year, their son, Bill, was born.

1985: Kyle Sampson came to town, intent on stealing Billy's Alaskan oil leases for Sampson Industries. Billy learned that he and Kyle were half brothers. Billy became addicted to gambling.

1986: Billy discovered that his father, H.B., wasn't Kyle's father, but that his mother, Sally, was Kyle's mother. The two decided to put aside their differences and be brothers. Billy later found out that Vanessa (Maeve Kinkead) and Ross had a daughter together.

1987: Jealous of Ross and Vanessa's new bond, Billy divorced Vanessa and left for Venezuela.

1989: Billy returned to town and opened a bar called Heartbreaker's, named after Reva. Reva married Billy's brother Josh, then admitted that she and Billy had a son whom she had given up for adoption. Billy was in love with Reva, but decided not to pursue her for Josh's sake. Their son, Dylan (Morgan Englund, l.), later learned of his parentage, and Vanessa and Billy got back together.

1990: Billy's rivalry with Roger heated up. Vanessa and Billy were about to remarry, but he got drunk and woke up on their wedding day in bed with Nadine. Billy vacillated between the two women and continued drinking heavily.

1991: Alexandra blabbed to Billy that Mindy was having an affair with Roger. He beat up his rival and disowned Mindy. Billy's drinking got worse and Vanessa wanted him away from Little Billy. An inebriated Billy married Nadine (Jean Carol) in Las Vegas.