William Henry Boothe, III (Bill), 87 of Gonzales, passed away early Wednesday, May 23, 2012. Bill was born on December 11, 1924, the second of four children born to William H. Boothe, Jr. and Maurine Ingraham Boothe of Gonzales.
Bill was a graduate of Gonzales High School and later attended the University of Texas in Austin seeking a BBA degree. While attending the University, he was a member of Phi Kappa Psi. Lacking three semester hours to finish his degree, he came home to operate the family business upon the death of his father. For a number of years, Bill was in the Poultry and Cattle business.
On November 26, 1949, Bill married Jane Henderson of Longview. He was member of the First United Methodist Church in Gonzales for 70-plus years. He served as a trustee of the Church, Chairman of the Board and various other positions.
Bill enlisted in the United States Coast Guard in World War II and later came home to serve in various capacities of leadership. His many civic activities included serving on the Gonzales City Council for 17 years and as Chairman of the First National Bank and Victoria Bank Shares (now known as Wells Fargo). He served as past President of the Rotary Club and was a recipient of the Annual Service Award; he had served as President of the Gonzales Chamber of Commerce and had served as a member of the Board of Directors of Warm Springs.
He was deeply interested in youth activities and was a Little League Coach in the 1960's and worked with the All-Star teams in 1965 and 1966. He was a 50-year member of The Odd Fellows and The Sons of Hermann Lodges. He also was a volunteer fireman for the City of Gonzales.
He had been awarded the Outstanding Soil Conservation Award and the Outstanding Wildlife Conservation Award for the manner in which he cared for his ranches and had received an award from the Gonzales Young Farmers for his contributions to the building of the Independence Park Show Barn.
Bill Boothe was an exceptionally strong-willed man, there were always three ways of doing things – the wrong way, the right way and his way and his way was always better then the right way. He was a hardworking dedicated rancher with not one ounce of quit in him. He has built miles and miles of fence in his day and worked thousands of head of cattle. He and his brother, James Lee, managed more poultry houses and produced more baby chicks from his hatchery than a mind can comprehend. He worked his cattle locally focusing on producing quality beef in Beefmaster, Herefords, Crossbred heifers and F1 Brahmas, to name a few.
He and his boys would often herd cattle on horseback in South Texas to work them in the pens, and at times Bill used a helicopter to push range cows to the cowboys on the ground waiting to work them in the pens with Bill quickly moving to another section to push more cattle their way. Not unlike the words from the immortal John Wayne, "Saddle up, we're burning daylight," Bill would pull up to a house at dawn, loudly honk the horn in his truck and yell, "Let's go! We'll be back in 30 minutes," which by definition meant, we'll be back when the day is done.
Bill Boothe was more than just a hard worker. He was a very caring generous man, often helping people in need financially or simply helping anyone broken down along side the road. He enjoyed fishing and hunting, once bagging a black bear in Canada, mule deer in Colorado, and white tail deer in South Texas. His interests lied in more delicate areas as well. He collected cut-glass items, more often American Brilliant lead glass crystal.
He loved Thanksgiving and Christmas when chores could be put aside for a day and family could be tenderly loved and appreciated. He adored nature and all that it entails; he often planted trees to better a species habitat and enjoyed feeding his squirrels by hand and not minding the little bites that came from this favorite pastime.
Bill Boothe was the last of the Camp Boss's of South Texas Hunting Camp. Though his words "we'll be back in 30 minutes" ring longingly in his family's ear, they know, in time, they will join Bill again on a ranch more beautiful than can be imagined.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, William H. and Maurine Boothe; brother, James Lee Boothe; and sister Maurine Griggs.
Burial in the Odd Fellow Cemetery.
Bill was a graduate of Gonzales High School and later attended the University of Texas in Austin seeking a BBA degree. While attending the University, he was a member of Phi Kappa Psi. Lacking three semester hours to finish his degree, he came home to operate the family business upon the death of his father. For a number of years, Bill was in the Poultry and Cattle business.
On November 26, 1949, Bill married Jane Henderson of Longview. He was member of the First United Methodist Church in Gonzales for 70-plus years. He served as a trustee of the Church, Chairman of the Board and various other positions.
Bill enlisted in the United States Coast Guard in World War II and later came home to serve in various capacities of leadership. His many civic activities included serving on the Gonzales City Council for 17 years and as Chairman of the First National Bank and Victoria Bank Shares (now known as Wells Fargo). He served as past President of the Rotary Club and was a recipient of the Annual Service Award; he had served as President of the Gonzales Chamber of Commerce and had served as a member of the Board of Directors of Warm Springs.
He was deeply interested in youth activities and was a Little League Coach in the 1960's and worked with the All-Star teams in 1965 and 1966. He was a 50-year member of The Odd Fellows and The Sons of Hermann Lodges. He also was a volunteer fireman for the City of Gonzales.
He had been awarded the Outstanding Soil Conservation Award and the Outstanding Wildlife Conservation Award for the manner in which he cared for his ranches and had received an award from the Gonzales Young Farmers for his contributions to the building of the Independence Park Show Barn.
Bill Boothe was an exceptionally strong-willed man, there were always three ways of doing things – the wrong way, the right way and his way and his way was always better then the right way. He was a hardworking dedicated rancher with not one ounce of quit in him. He has built miles and miles of fence in his day and worked thousands of head of cattle. He and his brother, James Lee, managed more poultry houses and produced more baby chicks from his hatchery than a mind can comprehend. He worked his cattle locally focusing on producing quality beef in Beefmaster, Herefords, Crossbred heifers and F1 Brahmas, to name a few.
He and his boys would often herd cattle on horseback in South Texas to work them in the pens, and at times Bill used a helicopter to push range cows to the cowboys on the ground waiting to work them in the pens with Bill quickly moving to another section to push more cattle their way. Not unlike the words from the immortal John Wayne, "Saddle up, we're burning daylight," Bill would pull up to a house at dawn, loudly honk the horn in his truck and yell, "Let's go! We'll be back in 30 minutes," which by definition meant, we'll be back when the day is done.
Bill Boothe was more than just a hard worker. He was a very caring generous man, often helping people in need financially or simply helping anyone broken down along side the road. He enjoyed fishing and hunting, once bagging a black bear in Canada, mule deer in Colorado, and white tail deer in South Texas. His interests lied in more delicate areas as well. He collected cut-glass items, more often American Brilliant lead glass crystal.
He loved Thanksgiving and Christmas when chores could be put aside for a day and family could be tenderly loved and appreciated. He adored nature and all that it entails; he often planted trees to better a species habitat and enjoyed feeding his squirrels by hand and not minding the little bites that came from this favorite pastime.
Bill Boothe was the last of the Camp Boss's of South Texas Hunting Camp. Though his words "we'll be back in 30 minutes" ring longingly in his family's ear, they know, in time, they will join Bill again on a ranch more beautiful than can be imagined.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, William H. and Maurine Boothe; brother, James Lee Boothe; and sister Maurine Griggs.
Burial in the Odd Fellow Cemetery.
William Henry Boothe, III (Bill), 87 of Gonzales, passed away early Wednesday, May 23, 2012. Bill was born on December 11, 1924, the second of four children born to William H. Boothe, Jr. and Maurine Ingraham Boothe of Gonzales.
Bill was a graduate of Gonzales High School and later attended the University of Texas in Austin seeking a BBA degree. While attending the University, he was a member of Phi Kappa Psi. Lacking three semester hours to finish his degree, he came home to operate the family business upon the death of his father. For a number of years, Bill was in the Poultry and Cattle business.
On November 26, 1949, Bill married Jane Henderson of Longview. He was member of the First United Methodist Church in Gonzales for 70-plus years. He served as a trustee of the Church, Chairman of the Board and various other positions.
Bill enlisted in the United States Coast Guard in World War II and later came home to serve in various capacities of leadership. His many civic activities included serving on the Gonzales City Council for 17 years and as Chairman of the First National Bank and Victoria Bank Shares (now known as Wells Fargo). He served as past President of the Rotary Club and was a recipient of the Annual Service Award; he had served as President of the Gonzales Chamber of Commerce and had served as a member of the Board of Directors of Warm Springs.
He was deeply interested in youth activities and was a Little League Coach in the 1960's and worked with the All-Star teams in 1965 and 1966. He was a 50-year member of The Odd Fellows and The Sons of Hermann Lodges. He also was a volunteer fireman for the City of Gonzales.
He had been awarded the Outstanding Soil Conservation Award and the Outstanding Wildlife Conservation Award for the manner in which he cared for his ranches and had received an award from the Gonzales Young Farmers for his contributions to the building of the Independence Park Show Barn.
Bill Boothe was an exceptionally strong-willed man, there were always three ways of doing things – the wrong way, the right way and his way and his way was always better then the right way. He was a hardworking dedicated rancher with not one ounce of quit in him. He has built miles and miles of fence in his day and worked thousands of head of cattle. He and his brother, James Lee, managed more poultry houses and produced more baby chicks from his hatchery than a mind can comprehend. He worked his cattle locally focusing on producing quality beef in Beefmaster, Herefords, Crossbred heifers and F1 Brahmas, to name a few.
He and his boys would often herd cattle on horseback in South Texas to work them in the pens, and at times Bill used a helicopter to push range cows to the cowboys on the ground waiting to work them in the pens with Bill quickly moving to another section to push more cattle their way. Not unlike the words from the immortal John Wayne, "Saddle up, we're burning daylight," Bill would pull up to a house at dawn, loudly honk the horn in his truck and yell, "Let's go! We'll be back in 30 minutes," which by definition meant, we'll be back when the day is done.
Bill Boothe was more than just a hard worker. He was a very caring generous man, often helping people in need financially or simply helping anyone broken down along side the road. He enjoyed fishing and hunting, once bagging a black bear in Canada, mule deer in Colorado, and white tail deer in South Texas. His interests lied in more delicate areas as well. He collected cut-glass items, more often American Brilliant lead glass crystal.
He loved Thanksgiving and Christmas when chores could be put aside for a day and family could be tenderly loved and appreciated. He adored nature and all that it entails; he often planted trees to better a species habitat and enjoyed feeding his squirrels by hand and not minding the little bites that came from this favorite pastime.
Bill Boothe was the last of the Camp Boss's of South Texas Hunting Camp. Though his words "we'll be back in 30 minutes" ring longingly in his family's ear, they know, in time, they will join Bill again on a ranch more beautiful than can be imagined.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, William H. and Maurine Boothe; brother, James Lee Boothe; and sister Maurine Griggs.
Burial in the Odd Fellow Cemetery.
Bill was a graduate of Gonzales High School and later attended the University of Texas in Austin seeking a BBA degree. While attending the University, he was a member of Phi Kappa Psi. Lacking three semester hours to finish his degree, he came home to operate the family business upon the death of his father. For a number of years, Bill was in the Poultry and Cattle business.
On November 26, 1949, Bill married Jane Henderson of Longview. He was member of the First United Methodist Church in Gonzales for 70-plus years. He served as a trustee of the Church, Chairman of the Board and various other positions.
Bill enlisted in the United States Coast Guard in World War II and later came home to serve in various capacities of leadership. His many civic activities included serving on the Gonzales City Council for 17 years and as Chairman of the First National Bank and Victoria Bank Shares (now known as Wells Fargo). He served as past President of the Rotary Club and was a recipient of the Annual Service Award; he had served as President of the Gonzales Chamber of Commerce and had served as a member of the Board of Directors of Warm Springs.
He was deeply interested in youth activities and was a Little League Coach in the 1960's and worked with the All-Star teams in 1965 and 1966. He was a 50-year member of The Odd Fellows and The Sons of Hermann Lodges. He also was a volunteer fireman for the City of Gonzales.
He had been awarded the Outstanding Soil Conservation Award and the Outstanding Wildlife Conservation Award for the manner in which he cared for his ranches and had received an award from the Gonzales Young Farmers for his contributions to the building of the Independence Park Show Barn.
Bill Boothe was an exceptionally strong-willed man, there were always three ways of doing things – the wrong way, the right way and his way and his way was always better then the right way. He was a hardworking dedicated rancher with not one ounce of quit in him. He has built miles and miles of fence in his day and worked thousands of head of cattle. He and his brother, James Lee, managed more poultry houses and produced more baby chicks from his hatchery than a mind can comprehend. He worked his cattle locally focusing on producing quality beef in Beefmaster, Herefords, Crossbred heifers and F1 Brahmas, to name a few.
He and his boys would often herd cattle on horseback in South Texas to work them in the pens, and at times Bill used a helicopter to push range cows to the cowboys on the ground waiting to work them in the pens with Bill quickly moving to another section to push more cattle their way. Not unlike the words from the immortal John Wayne, "Saddle up, we're burning daylight," Bill would pull up to a house at dawn, loudly honk the horn in his truck and yell, "Let's go! We'll be back in 30 minutes," which by definition meant, we'll be back when the day is done.
Bill Boothe was more than just a hard worker. He was a very caring generous man, often helping people in need financially or simply helping anyone broken down along side the road. He enjoyed fishing and hunting, once bagging a black bear in Canada, mule deer in Colorado, and white tail deer in South Texas. His interests lied in more delicate areas as well. He collected cut-glass items, more often American Brilliant lead glass crystal.
He loved Thanksgiving and Christmas when chores could be put aside for a day and family could be tenderly loved and appreciated. He adored nature and all that it entails; he often planted trees to better a species habitat and enjoyed feeding his squirrels by hand and not minding the little bites that came from this favorite pastime.
Bill Boothe was the last of the Camp Boss's of South Texas Hunting Camp. Though his words "we'll be back in 30 minutes" ring longingly in his family's ear, they know, in time, they will join Bill again on a ranch more beautiful than can be imagined.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, William H. and Maurine Boothe; brother, James Lee Boothe; and sister Maurine Griggs.
Burial in the Odd Fellow Cemetery.
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