William I. "Bill" Dorman

Bill Dorman was born in Los Angeles, Calif., Feb. 19, 1931. A few years later, his family moved to Texas. Bill grew up in Weslaco and Tyler and then moved to Lubbock in 1946. Bill graduated from Lubbock High School in 1948 and from Texas Tech University with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in accounting in 1956. Bill's college studies were interrupted while he served four years in the United States Air Force during the Korean Conflict. Bill received the National Defense Service and Good Conduct medals. Bill married Phannon Tucker Dorman May 4, 1963. Bill and Phannon shared 45 wonderful years of marriage together filled with love, family and friends. Phannon passed away in 2008. Bill is survived by son, Michael Dorman of Dallas, his wife Pam, and their children, Lindsey, Grayson and Travis; son, Guy Dorman of Lubbock; daughter, Traci Dorman of Dallas; daughter, Betsy Dorman of Dallas; and sister, Patricia Verner of Broken Arrow, Okla. Bill was preceded in death by his brother, Donald Dorman. Bill is also survived by Virginia Myers Dorman, who he married in December 2009. Bill and Virginia were both widowed late in life and were able to spend almost four loving years together. Virginia, her daughter Marcia and husband Tom Swanson, and their three sons of Seaford, Va. embraced Bill and welcomed him as a cherished member of their family. Bill spent his career as a wholesale seedsman. Bill and his father, Wilbur Dorman, founded Dorman and Company in the 1950s. Bill became President of Dorman and Company in the 1960s and eventually sold the company to Cargill, Inc. in 1974. Bill later began a new seed company under the name of WIDCO, Inc. which was sold to Richardson Seeds, Inc. in 1995. Bill traveled extensively for business, particularly in Texas. Bill could seemingly name every small town in Texas, including some not on Texas maps. And if there was a good, but out of the way Steak house, Bill knew how to get there. During his career, Bill served as director at-large and chairman of the Sorghum Group and American Seed Trade Association. Bill was president, board member, distinguished member, and lifetime honorary member of the Texas Seed Trade Association; president and board member of the Texas Certified Seed Producers, Inc.; director of U.S. Feed Grains Council; member of the National Advisory Council and National Federation of Independent Business; and was an arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association. Bill was an avid fisherman and golfer. Bill's best golf score was a 73 and he was also proud that he scored a hole-in-one. Bill was passionate about taking his family on vacations. The vacations included annual spring break fishing/camping trips with his boys, summer camping trips with all the family, whitewater rafting, a two week motor home trip with the family through the Western United States and many more trips that created adventures and memories that will be retold for years to come. Bill was a member of First United Methodist Church and the Hi Robinson Sunday School Class at First United Methodist Church. Bill was also a 1957 charter member, past director, and current member of Southwest Lubbock Rotary Club. Bill was proud to be a charter member of the Texas Tech Matador Society. Bill was also a member of the Red Raider Club, Texas Tech Century Club, Tech Dad's Association, Lubbock High School Alumni Association, Lakeridge Country Club, and Lakeridge Men's Senior Golf Association. Bill served on the board of advisors of First United Methodist Church, trustee of Methodist Hospital, president of Melonie Park Homeowners Association, budget committee chairman of the United Way, and member of Lubbock County High Plains Water Conservation District. A visitation will be held at Resthaven Funeral Home of Lubbock today, Nov. 5, from 6 to 8 p.m. A memorial service will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Lubbock on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2013 at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in honor of Bill Dorman go to the First United Methodist Church, or the Department of Plant and Soil Science at Texas Tech University.