William Carl Bradley Jr.

1931 - 2021

William Carl Bradley, Jr.

October 13, 1931 - October 26, 2021

William Carl Bradley, Jr., 90, of Gatesville, passed away quietly on October 26, 2021, with his family at his side. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, October 29, at First Baptist Church, Gatesville. A reception will follow at the church.

William was born on October 13, 1931, in Temple, Texas, the only child of William Carl Bradley, Sr., and Frances Abernathy Bradley. He attended schools in Gatesville and then attended Schreiner Institute in Kerrville on a tennis scholarship. He completed both his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in education at Baylor University where he played basketball and lettered in tennis.

William participated in the Reserve Officer's Training Corp (ROTC) at Baylor and after graduation, he received his 2-year commission as a second lieutenant at Parks Airforce Base in Hayward, California. He was a Crew Weapons Instructor, and later a captain in the Reserves. Before leaving for his post, he proposed to his sweetheart Shirley Anne Schaub and her family quickly planned a wedding that commenced on May 30, 1954. This marriage lasted until Anne's untimely death in November 2000.

The Bradleys began their life of service to education with Bill teaching at the State School for Boys in Gatesville and then serving as Principal/Superintendent and Coach at Oglesby High School for four years. In 1962, he accepted the challenge of becoming the first superintendent of Robinson High School, previously an eight-grade school, and also fulfilling the task of building the new high school. He remained at Robinson until 1975 when he became the High School Principal and Girl's Coach at Gatesville, (the community of his childhood) until his retirement. Perhaps best known as Coach Bradley, he is considered a legendary Central Texas Girl's Coach. Coach Bradley (along with local colleagues) was instrumental in organizing girls track as an interscholastic sport in Texas and assisted with the planning and executing of the first state track meet for girls. He served as a director and president of the Texas High School Girls Track Association and served two terms on the board of directors of the Texas Girls Coaches Association. In 1990, he was named the Honorary Track Coach by the same TGCA and was inducted into the Hall of Fame. In his retirement, he continued to participate in the sport by officiating at Baylor and Gatesville Track events.

While at Robinson, Coach Bradley led the track girls to a string of state meet successes, including the 1974 state title. At both Gatesville and Robinson, from 1972 to 1988, he amassed numerous district and regional titles.

Bradley also coached girls' basketball, leading the Robinson Rockettes to the 1970 state championship and two other state tournament appearances. Following the state championship, he was selected to coach the girl's South All-star Team. In his first year at Gatesville, he led the Lady Hornets to a berth at the State Semi-finals. His teams won eight district titles as well.

First and foremost, Billy Carl, as his mother affectionately called him, was a devoted Christian. Her influence was noted in his receiving a 13-year pin for perfect attendance in the Sunday School Program at First Presbyterian, Gatesville. As a young adult, he became a member of the Baptist Church and later became a Deacon at First Baptist Gatesville. He was a 50-year member of the Lion's Club and was a Mason. His passion for service was further evident in his many volunteer efforts: the Gatesville Care Center and the annual Food for Families Drive, the Gatesville Booster Club, and Emergency Medical Technician. Being the competitive spirited person that he was, one could always be assured that if there was fundraising involved, he was going to strive to be the top seller or surpass the previous year's record.

The family is appreciative that his legacy and Anne's have been preserved through the Norris Graves Alumni Award and the Bill Bradley Cross Country Meet.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife Anne, of 46 years, and wife, Derry Jean Marris, whom the family remembers fondly for her care of him until the onset of his dementia.

He is survived by a son, William Paul Bradley and wife, Carolyn, of Gatesville, Debbie Bradley Mann and husband, Mark, of Henderson, and Beverly Bradley Blanchard and husband, Greg, of Lorena; six grandchildren, Bradley Blanchard (spouse Lindsey), Rex Mann (spouse Kylee), Russell Mann (spouse Kayla), Kelli Blanchard Tipitino (husband Demic), Meredith Mann Reddy (husband Shawn), and namesake William Mann; and 16 great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be his grandsons and grandsons-in-law. Honorary pallbearers are members of his morning coffee club, and members of the Lion's Club. A special thank you to Shirley Davidson, Krisna Gilbert, and Monica Garza of Visiting Angels and the staff of Heartis Memory Care and Compassus Hospice Care for their loving care in his final days.

In lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the "Anne and Bill Bradley Baylor Women's Athletic Scholarship" in care of First National Bank of Gatesville, P.O. Box 659, Gatesville, TX 76528 or the charity of your choice. The family invites you to share a message or memory on our "Tribute Wall" at www.WHBfamily.com.