Bill Liddle died on Feb. 27, 2014, after a brave lengthy battle with cardio-pulmonary disease. He was born in Nashville, Tennessee on Aug. 31, 1937, the only child of Roxie Rawls Liddle and George Liddle, Jr., both deceased.
Bill grew up in the Nashville area, graduating in 1955 from North Nashville High School as valedictorian. He subsequently attended Martin (Methodist) College, serving as student body president in his
sophomore year. More importantly, at Martin, he met the love of his life, Lois Ann Barton. They married after she graduated, on Sept. 7, 1958.
He completed his undergraduate education, with honors, at George Peabody College for Teachers in 1959, where he served as vice president of the student body.
Bill began his graduate study as a Woodrow Wilson Fellow at Claremont Graduate School in Claremont, California, earning his Master of Arts degree in 1961, followed by a year of graduate work at Vanderbilt University. In 1962, he was offered an instructorship at Southwest Texas State College (now Texas State University), in San Marcos, Texas.
Bill and Lois found San Marcos, central Texas, and the people they encountered engaging beyond anything they anticipated. Bill was awarded a PhD degree in 1970. He and Lois chose to remain in San Marcos for the remainder of their days.
Bill advanced over time to the rank of Associate Professor of History at the university. His research was published in several professional journals, including the Journal of American History.
He spent most of his time working with students. Bill became Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of History in 1996, serving in that capacity until his retirement in 2002, at which time he was awarded the lifetime title of Associate Professor Emeritus. He then taught special courses for the Honors College and the Department of History through 2013.
Bill served as a Democratic precinct chair for fourteen years, and as Hays County Democratic Party Chair from 1988 to 1996, and as co-chair with Jon Leonard from 2011 to 2014. Bill also served on the San Marcos Public Library board, the Board of Directors of the LBJ Museum of San Marcos and was Treasurer of the Retired Faculty and Staff Association.
Bill is survived by his loving wife Lois, his dearly loved daughters Melanie A. Liddle of San Marcos, and Stephanie L. Burnett of Eddy and his son-in-law S.R. “Chip” Burnett, whom he loved virtually as a son, and by his wonderful and dearly loved granddaughters, Haley Burnett and Sarah Burnett of Eddy, who knew him as “Da.”
A memorial service and celebration of Bill’s life will take place at the First Presbyterian Church in San Marcos on Friday, March 7, 2014 at 11 a.m. Visitation will be in the church’s Fellowship Hall on Thursday, March 6, 2014 from 5-7 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations be directed to the Bill and Lois Liddle History Graduate Fellowship Fund at Texas State University, Doctors Without Borders, Oxfam America, US Fund for UNICEF or to a charity of your choice.
