PASSMORE, BILL B. Our beloved Bill B. Passmore was called home by his Savior on Wednesday, August 22, 2007, after a brave and courageous four-year battle with lung cancer. Born on November 10, 1924, to Jesse G. Passmore and Willie Lou Melson Passmore, of Pickton, TX, Bill was the youngest of eight children. He was raised in Pickton and graduated from Pickton High School in 1942 as valedictorian and president of his class. Bill attended East Texas State Teachers College in Commerce for one year before transferring to The University of Texas at Austin where he received his Bachelor�s Degree. He later received his MEd from The University of North Texas. During WWII, Bill took a break from his education to work two years at North American Aviation in Dallas on the assembly line constructing bomber and fighter aircraft. Bill was first and foremost an educator. His first teaching job was in Angleton, TX, where he taught business courses. After leaving Angleton, he worked for the Mercantile National Bank in Dallas and then joined the Richardson ISD in 1952 as a business teacher. After two years there, he became the business manager for the district for a year before becoming the first principal of Lake Highlands Elementary in 1955. Then in 1956, he was named principal of Richardson High School where he remained until 1965. He then joined the Dallas County Community College District when it opened in the fall of 1966. He opened both the El Centro and Richland campuses, and remained for a total of 10 years with DCCCD before rejoining RISD in the fall of 1976, again as principal of Lake Highlands Elementary. He opened Merriman Park Elementary in 1979 where he remained until he retired in 1989. From 1989 until 1992 he was part-time Assistant to the Personnel Director of RISD, and from 1992 -2003 he supervised student teachers for The University of North Texas. He was a builder of schools, but more importantly, he was a builder of lives. He taught and modeled values, not only for his two children but for all of his students. In June, 2004, the Lake Highlands Historical Association honored Bill with a reception at which time they named him the �Father of Lake Highlands Education� and presented him with flags flown over the capitol buildings in Washington, D. C., and Austin, and a proclamation from Mayor Laura Miller of Dallas. A member of First Baptist Church Richardson, Bill was ordained a deacon in the late 1950s and spent many years teaching Sunday school classes in the youth department. In later years, he also served as a substitute Sunday school teacher. A former president of the Kiwanis Club of Richardson, Bill�s life was spent volunteering and helping to provide for others. Past- President of both the Richardson Retired Teachers Association and of District X Texas Retired Teachers, he served as the Legislative Chairman for both organizations. He also chaired the first TRTA Member Benefits Committee for the state organization. In addition, he has served as the treasurer for the Dallas County Community College District Retirees Association. Bill also served as the first president of the Retired Teachers of Richardson Foundation. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, by 4 brothers: a baby boy who died at birth, John Passmore, Paul Passmore and Leonard Passmore, and by 2 sisters: Eunice McGlamery and Lillian Simms. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, B. Sue McCaffree Passmore; a son, Jeff and his wife, Mary of Dallas; a daughter, Julie Cincotta, and her husband, Tom, of Plano; 4 grand children, Katie Passmore, Mamie, Garrett and Wyatt Cincotta; his sister, Jessie Merle Stephenson, of Richardson; his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Charles and Phyllis McCaffree of Van, numerous nieces and nephews, and a host of friends.
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