| Bill St's Page |
Note from Jan: I didn't know Bill in high school, as he was a
quiet boy who wasn't in many of my classes. It's such a
pleasure to learn how his life has evolved. His service is
inspiring, and makes me feel I should do more for my
community. I'm sure I'll like him when I see him at our
reunion!
Let's start off on a light note: how Bill met his wife Diane:
"I was working at the H.E.B. Food Store in Temple while
attending Temple College. One day I was taking groceries
out to a car for a couple. I was putting the groceries in the
trunk, when the gentleman closed the deck lid too quickly
and hit me in the head. It almost knocked me out. In the back
seat of the car was the gentleman's daughter, Diane. That is
how I met my future wife." They were married on September
19, 1964, and have three daughters, Lisa, Paula, and
Suzanne, and five grandchildren. They belong to First United
Methodist Church in Belton, and make their home in Belton.
But we're getting ahead of ourselves. Born one October 6
at Scott and White Hospital in Temple, Bill attended both
Southwest and Tyler Elementary Schools. After graduation,
he went on to Temple College and finished at Mary
Hardin-Baylor. He enlisted in the Army in 1963, mustering out
as a Staff Sergeant (Supply) in 1969. He served at Ft. Polk,
LA; Ft. Leonard Wood, MO (Heavy Equipment School); Ft.
Carson, CO; and Ft. Sill, OK. Then he went into the Reserves
at Waco.
His career began at H.E.B. in 1958, where he ended up as
Store Director in 1974. By 1976, he was on his way in human
resources, serving as Director of Human Resources at the
Susquehanna Corporation from 1976 to 1980; Temple
Products, Inc., from 1980 to 1989; Vice President of King's
Daughters Hospital from 1989 to 2004 (retired); then Central
Texas 4C, Inc, since 2006, where he still works full-time.
Central Texas 4C, Inc., is the agency that administers the
Head Start and Early Head Start Programs in the Temple,
Belton, and Killeen Independent School Districts.
Diane substitute teaches in the Belton School District.
Bill has held high offices in many community organizations
and received many honors and awards for his devoted
service. Among others, he's been honored by the Belton
Rotary Club, the Belton Jaycees, the United Way of Texas,
the Central Texas Workforce, the Reach Day Care Center,
the Governor of Texas (Rick Perry), and the Bell County
Republican Party.
Bill says, "Having never achieved great wealth, I made a
decision many years ago to give back to my community by
volunteering my time to give others the same opportunities
that I have been given. I remember when I was President of
the Belton Independent School District Board of Trustees at
a year-end party for all the teachers, I had the opportunity to
give service awards to teachers and plaques to retiring
teachers. Mr. Ed Franklin was one of those retiring teachers.
When we were in high school I enrolled in Distributive
Education and Mr. Franklin was the teacher. During the year
he had a great influence on me and changed the direction
my life was headed. I was given the opportunity during that
party to tell all the people in attendance that Mr. Franklin
was one of three people who most influenced my life. Then
both of us cried. Mr. Franklin always told me that I could
achieve all that I wanted, if I would only try. He was a great
man.
"During my tenure as president of the Belton School Board
we built new schools, remodeled all the older schools,
air-conditioned all school buildings and built gyms in all the
schools to include the elementary schools. I am most proud
of the fact that the planning during the eighties has made
the Belton School System the best school district in Bell
County today.
"I have always believed that if you are going to participate in
something, you should be dedicated to the choice. Having
served 17 years on the Belton School Board and Belton City
Council, I only missed two meetings during that period of
time. I guess I am most proud of that achievement.
"My current hobbies are my grandchildren. I help coach my
two grandsons in baseball. We are professional
grandchildren sports watchers. Our two oldest grandsons
play baseball and basketball. My oldest granddaughter plays
volleyball, basketball, cross country, and softball, and my
youngest granddaughter plays soccer. Our youngest
grandson is too young for sports. Diane and I like to take
short trips but most of all we just like to be around the kids. I
do play golf and collect movies. I have 2,300 movies. (NOTE
from Jan: This will make a great trivia question at our
reunion.)
quiet boy who wasn't in many of my classes. It's such a
pleasure to learn how his life has evolved. His service is
inspiring, and makes me feel I should do more for my
community. I'm sure I'll like him when I see him at our
reunion!
Let's start off on a light note: how Bill met his wife Diane:
"I was working at the H.E.B. Food Store in Temple while
attending Temple College. One day I was taking groceries
out to a car for a couple. I was putting the groceries in the
trunk, when the gentleman closed the deck lid too quickly
and hit me in the head. It almost knocked me out. In the back
seat of the car was the gentleman's daughter, Diane. That is
how I met my future wife." They were married on September
19, 1964, and have three daughters, Lisa, Paula, and
Suzanne, and five grandchildren. They belong to First United
Methodist Church in Belton, and make their home in Belton.
But we're getting ahead of ourselves. Born one October 6
at Scott and White Hospital in Temple, Bill attended both
Southwest and Tyler Elementary Schools. After graduation,
he went on to Temple College and finished at Mary
Hardin-Baylor. He enlisted in the Army in 1963, mustering out
as a Staff Sergeant (Supply) in 1969. He served at Ft. Polk,
LA; Ft. Leonard Wood, MO (Heavy Equipment School); Ft.
Carson, CO; and Ft. Sill, OK. Then he went into the Reserves
at Waco.
His career began at H.E.B. in 1958, where he ended up as
Store Director in 1974. By 1976, he was on his way in human
resources, serving as Director of Human Resources at the
Susquehanna Corporation from 1976 to 1980; Temple
Products, Inc., from 1980 to 1989; Vice President of King's
Daughters Hospital from 1989 to 2004 (retired); then Central
Texas 4C, Inc, since 2006, where he still works full-time.
Central Texas 4C, Inc., is the agency that administers the
Head Start and Early Head Start Programs in the Temple,
Belton, and Killeen Independent School Districts.
Diane substitute teaches in the Belton School District.
Bill has held high offices in many community organizations
and received many honors and awards for his devoted
service. Among others, he's been honored by the Belton
Rotary Club, the Belton Jaycees, the United Way of Texas,
the Central Texas Workforce, the Reach Day Care Center,
the Governor of Texas (Rick Perry), and the Bell County
Republican Party.
Bill says, "Having never achieved great wealth, I made a
decision many years ago to give back to my community by
volunteering my time to give others the same opportunities
that I have been given. I remember when I was President of
the Belton Independent School District Board of Trustees at
a year-end party for all the teachers, I had the opportunity to
give service awards to teachers and plaques to retiring
teachers. Mr. Ed Franklin was one of those retiring teachers.
When we were in high school I enrolled in Distributive
Education and Mr. Franklin was the teacher. During the year
he had a great influence on me and changed the direction
my life was headed. I was given the opportunity during that
party to tell all the people in attendance that Mr. Franklin
was one of three people who most influenced my life. Then
both of us cried. Mr. Franklin always told me that I could
achieve all that I wanted, if I would only try. He was a great
man.
"During my tenure as president of the Belton School Board
we built new schools, remodeled all the older schools,
air-conditioned all school buildings and built gyms in all the
schools to include the elementary schools. I am most proud
of the fact that the planning during the eighties has made
the Belton School System the best school district in Bell
County today.
"I have always believed that if you are going to participate in
something, you should be dedicated to the choice. Having
served 17 years on the Belton School Board and Belton City
Council, I only missed two meetings during that period of
time. I guess I am most proud of that achievement.
"My current hobbies are my grandchildren. I help coach my
two grandsons in baseball. We are professional
grandchildren sports watchers. Our two oldest grandsons
play baseball and basketball. My oldest granddaughter plays
volleyball, basketball, cross country, and softball, and my
youngest granddaughter plays soccer. Our youngest
grandson is too young for sports. Diane and I like to take
short trips but most of all we just like to be around the kids. I
do play golf and collect movies. I have 2,300 movies. (NOTE
from Jan: This will make a great trivia question at our
reunion.)
1985: Here are Bill and Diane at our 1985
Class Reunion at Frank's Place at the lake.
Class Reunion at Frank's Place at the lake.
| Our Billy, still good-lookin' in 2006. |
| 2010 50th Reunion: Bill and Diane take turns closing their eyes for the camera. Joe Henry joins them, eyes wide open! |