Billy Mckown

Billy Tom McKown, 85, a 50-year resident of Abbott, died peacefully at his home Tuesday, March 17, 2015 after a brief illness. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM, Saturday, March 21, 2015, at Marshall & Marshall Funeral Directors in Hillsboro. Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 PM on Friday, March 20, 2015 and at 1:00 PM prior to the services, at the funeral home. A private burial will be held at Ridge Park Cemetery in Hillsboro.

Bill was born December 13, 1929 in Mt. Calm to native Hill County residents and educators, Orville George and Ruby Burks McKown. The family moved to Hillsboro where he graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1946. Following graduation, he attended Hillsboro Junior College, Navarro Junior College and Texas Christian University, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in education. Bill earned his master’s degree in public school administration from Baylor University.

Bill began his 30-year education career with the Aledo ISD followed by two years with the Aquilla ISD, where he coached girls and boys junior high basketball. He then spent the next twenty-seven years with the Abbott ISD as a teacher, principal, superintendent and coach of girls’ volleyball and basketball. Bill helped make Abbott a school dedicated to giving all students an understanding and appreciation of the high ideals of school life. His basketball teams won 21 district championships and ten bi-district championships, while his volleyball teams won 21 district and eight regional championships. Bill’s 1978 volleyball team finished an undefeated season by winning the University Interscholastic League state championship and his 1979 team captured a second consecutive state championship. Bill’s 1978 and 1979 volleyball teams are the only state championship teams in the history of Abbott athletics.

Bill also served for 46 years as the Executive Director of the Texas Girls Coaches Association, an association he helped begin in 1953 with a membership of less than 50 coaches of girls’ basketball. Upon Bill’s retirement as Executive Director in 2001, the association had grown to membership of over 3,000 coaches of girls’ basketball, volleyball, track and field, and cross country. For his many years of outstanding service and unselfish devotion to interscholastic athletics, Bill was awarded the Distinguished Service Award by the National Federation of State High School Associations in 1982 and inducted into the Texas Girls Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2002.

Following his retirement, Bill enjoyed overseeing the family farms, going on cruises with his wife Margaret and attending Baylor Lady Bears basketball games as a 20-year season ticket holder and Baylor Foundation member. Bill was also involved in numerous civic activities that benefitted Hill County, the City of Abbott, the Abbott Volunteer Fire Department, the Abbott Cemetery, and the Abbott ISD, for which he received several honors and awards. He was an honorary farmer in the Abbott Chapter of the Future Farmers of America. On February 25, 2010, the Hillsboro Area Chamber of Commerce inducted him into the Chamber’s Hall of Fame, an honor for which he was extremely proud. In celebration of Bill’s 85th birthday, the Abbott City Council proclaimed December 13, 2014 as Billy Tom McKown Day.

Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Margaret Jo Corbin McKown, of Abbott, son and daughter-in-law Darrell Lee and Tiffany Paige McKown, and grandchildren Mackenzie Shea, Hayden Thomas, and Peyton Elizabeth McKown, all of Houston.

Memorials may be made to the Abbott Cemetery Association, P. O. Box 95, Abbott, TX 76621 or the Abbott Ex-Students Scholarship Fund, P. O. Box 107, Abbott, TX 76621.

Visitation

Friday March 20, 2015 , 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM at Marshall & Marshall Funeral Directors in Hillsboro

Visitation

Saturday March 21, 2015 , 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM at Marshall & Marshall Funeral Directors in Hillsboro

Funeral Service

Saturday March 21, 2015 , 2:00 PM at Marshall & Marshall Funeral Directors in Hillsboro

Private Burial

at Ridge Park Cemetery