Bill Horton, Class of 1961
Bill was born, raised and continues to be a resident of Oak Cliff and the Duncanville area, never straying far from his roots and the halls of Kimball. It is there at Kimball that Bill developed a keen insight and curiosity of people. He developed a strong set of social skills and built lifetime friendships along the way. His deep interest in people comes from that curiosity and that everyone has a wonderful life story to tell. Bill has also believed that everyone should be accepted at face value. Bill has constantly strived to seek the best in all that he encounters and has done so throughout his life.
His education took him from grade school, Sunset High School, Kimball and North Texas State University where he earned a BBA degree in 1965. While at NTSU, Bill was a member of Theta Chi fraternity and participated in intramural sports. While at Kimball, Bill was a member of and lettered with the Kimball baseball team playing second base. Physical Education instructor, LaVonne Boyette, was a favorite faculty member for Bill strengthening his ties to athletics.
Bill went through grade school until his senior year alongside a young girl destined to become his lifelong love and partner. They never met nor spoke until that senior year when Bill called her up and introduced himself as a friend of Ford Hawkins (61). Bill notes that after that call, Margie Holman (61) checked his references and once satisfied they double dated with Ford . Their relationship grew during their senior year together and after graduating they married on December 23, 1961 at Southwood Methodist Church. Their marriage together has lasted 4o years and they reared three wonderful children…Natalea, Jill and Michael. Jill has given them two grandchildren, Chad and Dalton.
The greatest contribution Bill has made to his community has been his business career. He has been a State Farm Agent for over 25 years and that has allowed him to continue and serve his clients many of whom are Kimball classmates. His office has never moved from its original location at the corner of Illinois Avenue and Cockrell Hill Road. His insurance practice has grown from a lean beginning to one of his company’s outstanding agencies being honored by State Farm over a dozen times. Bill has accomplished this and demonstrated an exceptional code of service to his clients. This is especially true whenever families face loss of property or life. It is at those times that Bill has applied himself to a high sense and call to duty and service. Making sure clients are properly protected requires an unselfish approach, and Bill has always put his clients first. That approach is ingrained as a part of Bill’s character and the employees at his practice.
Bill is an avid golfer sporting a single digit handicap and is a member of Sleepy Hollow Country Club where he has won his club’s championship. If retirement is in the plans of Bill and Margie, they will travel to their favorite spots of Biloxi, MS and Myrtle Beach, NC. We wish them well as those days approach.
There is always a rare individual that enters our lives where we feel instantly at ease with and like from the beginning. They are easy talking to, being with and make us comfortable to be around. Bill Horton is a unique individual that personifies that quality. For that reason and many more to numerous to mention here, the Justin F. Kimball Alumni Association is honored to recognize his life achievements as the newest member of the Hall of Fame.
Our congratulations to Bill and may he continue to be a part of our family for a very long time.
Ron Sills 60