William Boyce Baggett

William Boyce Baggett, also known as Billy, Wild Bill, Sweet William, and Poppa, passed away on Wednesday, May 20, 2015 at his home surrounded by his family. He was born in Greenville, Texas, on June 2, 1929. Dedicated and driven, Mr. Baggett attended Louisiana State University where he received his undergraduate degree while running the field as an extraordinary halfback on the 1948 - 1950 Tiger football team. In 1953, he married the love of his life, "his bride," Kara Gael Salter Baggett. While attending night school to finish his Juris Doctorate, he was drafted into the NFL by the Los Angeles Rams and was traded to the Dallas Texans to play in the 1952 season. After graduating from LSU Law School in 1953, he enlisted as an officer in the United States Air Force during the Korean War, serving for 3 years. He made the College Football All-America Team, and was inducted into the LSU Football Hall of Fame in 1989, jersey number 14. The same devotion that pushed him to succeed on the field carried through in his beloved law practice and legal work. He has been recognized in the "Best Lawyers in America" directory and was inducted as a Fellow in both the American College and International Academy of Trial Lawyers. He was the President of the Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association from 1966 - 1967, the President of the Southwest Louisiana Bar Association in 1967, served on the Board of Governors for the Association of Trial Lawyers of America from 1972 - 1975, and was the President of the Louisiana State Bar Association in 1980. Mr. Baggett loved LSU, and the opportunities his education there afforded him. Baggett, McCall, Burgess, Watson & Gaughan, LLC law practice was a huge part of his life and legacy, and he cherished his law partners as his family-never officially retiring from practicing law. Sale Street Baptist church is where he continued to worship His heavenly Father and grow in spiritual nourishment. Kara Farms, his east Texas ranch, is where he enjoyed fishing, cattle farming, and scouting for deer. However, he was always proudest when speaking of his family. Mr. Baggett leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Gael Baggett; children, William B. Baggett, Jr. and wife, Rae Lee, Judy Blaire Baggett Maselli, Christopher Frank Baggett and wife, Jane; grandchildren, Katie, Annie, Kara, Kaough, Molly, Sophia, Gus, Caroline, Blake, and Erin; devoted secretary for over 30 years, Christine Hebert; and Patricia Deville who made Mr. Baggett's favorite deviled eggs. Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with family from 4:00pm until 6:00pm on Friday, May 22, 2015 at Hixson Funeral Home. A celebration of Mr. Baggett's life will take place at 10:00am on Saturday, May 23, 2015, at Sale Street Baptist Church. Burial will be in Prien Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests that donations be made in Mr. Baggett's memory to the Louisiana State University Tiger Athletic Foundation William B. Baggett Scholarship Fund or Sale Street Baptist Church. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.hixsonfuneralhomes.com.