William Mckinnie "Bill" Sims

“His humor and his comments were always kind. His was no biting sarcasm that hurt the highest or the lowest of his fellow citizens. When he wanted people to laugh out loud, he used the methods of pure fun. And, when he wanted to make a point for the good of mankind, he used the kind of gentle irony that left no scars behind.” President Franklin Delano Roosevelt spoke those words about famous American cowboy Will Rogers, but they equally epitomize the character of our iconic and beloved State Senator Bill Sims, who was the known as the Will Rogers of the Texas Legislature and whose earthy anecdotes and observations, full of good humor, were delivered in an enveloping and folksy manner that put all at ease and created many lifelong friendships. Though this world has lost this precious Texas gentleman, we are all indelibly, permanently and gratefully marked by his presence. Bill Sims was born on January 27, 1932, and grew up in Paint Rock, Texas. He had two older brothers and one older sister. His dad died when he was one year old, and he “might” have been a tiny bit spoiled. He also might have also been a bit on the wild side in his youth, but to hear him tell it, his older siblings blamed all their escapades on him! He met Dorothy Sue Lowe of Sterling City, and there was no one else fit for him after that. They married on January 28, 1955, and were married 61 years. Sue said there was never a man as hardheaded as Bill when he set his mind to it. Imagine that! After graduating from Texas Tech University (where it took him a few years to master freshman English), Bill went to work for the Texas Agricultural Extension Service as Assistant County Agent for Howard County. Both of their children were born there. After a year or so, he became County Agent for Irion County, and the family moved to Mertzon. He was known for his happy demeanor, whistling and singing as he arrived at the Courthouse. Soon his co-workers figured Bill was fair game for an occasional joke, one of the best of which was putting a live rattlesnake in his pickup as he was showing some big-wigs around town. The harder he tried to get in the truck, the faster they were trying to get out! His “friends” were across the street in a shop rolling in the aisles! His stories are legion in Mertzon, where sometimes his friends got him, and sometimes it was the other way around! Bill went on to work as executive secretary for Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers’ Association in June of 1966. As before, the job was an immediate fit for him and those who worked with him. He was a sheep man to the core, and he had a good relationship with everyone. His secretary said he used to drive her crazy checking everything she did, as they had the same personality. If a task was either of their responsibilities, they were going to make sure it was done right! She finally sat him down and explained that she would go over every minute detail if he would just let her do her job! He worked for TSGRA for nearly 30 years. Bill was all about inclusion, and he made it clear from the very beginning. If people weren’t willing to work together in a cooperative and collaborative manner, he wasn’t interested in working with them. He intended to bring that spirit of cooperation with him to Austin when he first ran and was elected State Senator in 1982 – and he did! Many thought his Republican opponent would prevail, but a good friend of Bill and Sue’s pointed out that, “Bill Sims will no doubt win the race because he and Sue know so many people, and everybody loves ‘em. They not only know the husband and wife of most households by their first names, they know the kids’ names and the names of their dog and cat.” It is said that he was the best Republican Democrat they ever had! He ran and won on the Democratic ticket, and he didn’t have much use for those who changed horses mid-stream just to get elected. He said, “I believe I will just dance with the one who brung me!” Conservative to the core, he voted his conscience regardless of whether it was “politically correct” or toed the party line. His representation for 14 years of a geographically vast district that ultimately encompassed 59 Central and West Texas counties and 86,488 square miles (an area larger than seven New England states combined and more counties than any other state senator has represented) required hard work, tenacity and true grit, all of which Senator Sims possessed in spades, and those traits were noted and admired by his colleagues. On travels to Washington D.C., his colleagues in the agricultural community noted his common sense approach to things and that he used his personality to help others understand his viewpoint and position, and they came to greatly appreciate that his slow, methodical approach seemed to always get the results needed for rural Texas. Former Senator and Lieutenant Governor Bill Ratliff and his wife Sally, both dear friends of Bill and Sue, shared a story about Bill that sized up his devotion to his constituents. “I have often told people about Bill's ideology as a West Texas, hard-nosed conservative whose attitude about the federal government was that it should ‘deliver the mail, protect the shores, and leave me the hell alone…except when it came to the mohair subsidy!’ The federal government began the mohair subsidy because there wasn’t enough wool for US army uniforms during World War II and had continued to provide this subsidy long after the war was over. Any time Bill began one of his sermons railing about the waste of federal money, I could cause an eruption by simply asking him about his beloved mohair subsidy.” Vintage Bill Sims! His time in office never tainted him. He never had any airs about him, nor did holding an office tempt him to develop them. One of his assistants called one day, expecting another staffer to answer the phone, only to find that the Senator answered. She stammered, “Senator…why are you answering the phone?” His reply was, “Well darlin’, it rang!” His time in the Senate was no different than his daily life before being an elected official, as he constantly and consistently exemplified decency, civility and good will towards all, even in the heat of debate. He collected new friends of all stripes along the way and never discarded the old ones, and that was never more apparent than in 1995 when Bill suffered a major stroke, and many thought he would not make it. Those who knew him well knew that he had both hands and feet on Death’s Door and wasn’t about to go through. Sure enough, just like when he was stricken with polio as a youth, he worked his way back to health and returned to the Senate before the end of session, where he found that his colleagues – Democrat and Republican – had passed legislation important to his district in his absence. He retired in 1997, and though he wasn’t spry as he once was, and he couldn’t do what he used to do, he could still do what he had always done best- love his family and friends with his whole heart and be loved in return. Bill died peacefully in his home on August 29, 2016. His parents Benjamin Victor and Ellen Hartgrove Sims, brother Dunlap Sims, and grandson Wills Setzler preceded him. Though Bill’s life is marked with many accolades and accomplishments, nothing was more important to him than his beloved family. Bill is survived by his wife Sue of San Angelo, son Billy and wife Danell, Paint Rock, and daughter Sue Ann, Paint Rock; grandchildren Meredith Powell and Clay, Camilla, Ga., Jacob Sims and Chelsea, Abilene, Abigail Young and James, Trophy Club, Bailey Strouhal and Brian, Midland, and Giles Setzler, Brownwood; great-grandchildren Landry, Larson and Wyatt Powell and Wills Young; brother Ben Sims and Sue, and sister Kay Campbell and Fred, all of Paint Rock, along with numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. A special heartfelt gratitude goes out to those who have lovingly cared for Bill these past years and months: Roy, Lupe, Alma, Emily, Pamela, Rolando, Rachel, Athena, and Amy. Burial will be held Thursday, September 1, 2016, at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin at 2:00 p.m. A memorial service will be held Friday, September 2, 2016, at San Angelo First United Methodist Church at 11:00 a.m. Donations may be made to Hospice of San Angelo or a favorite charity. Some people leave little footprints and some leave big ones. Bill Sims left big footprints and a vast horde of family and friends who loved him. One young friend said, “The Lord blessed us with his presence for a very long time, and it is sad to hear he is gone.” Yes, it is sad, but we all know where Bill was headed and that was to his Heavenly Home and those he loved there. Will Rogers said, “We are all here for a good spell; get all the good laughs you can.” Thank you, Bill Sims, for the smiles, the laughter, and your example of a life honorably, fully and well-lived.