Billy Joe Willis

Billy Joe Willis, age 91, passed away on Tuesday, June 9, 2020, in Dallas, Texas at his final resting place The Hillcrest. He was surrounded by the love of his two daughters Cindy and Cheryl; and his adoring granddaughter Micaela, as he was called home to rejoin his Beloved wife Joan Ellen. Billy Joe was born at Parkland Hospital on February 20, 1929 in Dallas, Texas, to his mother, Mattie Sue Koontz Willis and his father, Robert Lee Willis.

While growing up, Billy Joe was raised in various parts of Old East Dallas. His most cherished childhood home was located on Forney Road at the corner of Jim Miller. He was one of eight children, born as the seventh child. Six of those children survived into adulthood. After losing his baby sister Joan (pronounced, Jo-Ann) and the family losing baby brother Eugene at an early age, Billy Joe then became the youngest of his family. He held close to his four older sisters, Zelda Irene known as Sally, Genevieve, Margaret and Frances Duke known as Snookie; and his one big brother Robert Lee Jr. known as Bubba, throughout his life. They were a very loving family.

Billy Joe graduated from Crozier Tech High School in 1946, also known as Dallas High School, located on Bryan Street in Downtown Dallas; where he played football and studied debate. Billy excelled in writing and literature early on throughout his education. He was a natural born athlete and musician. Outside of High School, Billy started practicing gymnastics at the Dallas Athletic Club in his early teens while becoming a self taught drummer. By the time he graduated, that following year in 1947, Billy had become a SWAA National Medalist receiving his first Silver Medal in Open Rings as a Champion in Gymnastics. He then placed as an All American National Gold Medalist in 1949 in his Flying Rings performance; a Gold Medalist in his Rope Climbing Division in 1949; National Gold Medalist in Open Rings, 1950; and another Bronze and Silver for Rope Climbing in 1951.

As Billy's gymnastics career blossomed very quickly, he then transferred the love of movement into partnered acrobatic stunt work and bodybuilding. Working with his closest acrobatic stunt partner, Jamile Ashmore, the two traveled together throughout the 1950's to Venice Beach, Muscle Beach, California. They were known as The Texas Tumblers, a dynamic duo, in their hometown stomping grounds of Dallas. Billy Joe's career took a heightened turn once he concentrated his physical training and dedicated work into bodybuilding earning the title Mr. Texas 1952. This was a very celebrated title he carried with grace and humble pride. Just before his bodybuilding career, Billy Joe studied Psychology at North Texas State College in 1948-1950. He also studied gymnastics and worked as an assistant coach to Charlie Pond at the University of Illinois in 1951. Billy's time in Illinois was a memorable treasure of his gymnastics career in performance and coaching. As he would say, a pivotal point in his maturity and career as a young man. Billy Joe was also enlisted into the Air Force Academy in 1950, serving two years until 1952.

Billy Joe not only carried a wealth of physical accolades in gymnastics and bodybuilding, but he also made quite a name for himself as a drummer playing for a well known local band called The Chain Gang. After becoming the house drummer and bodyguard for Jack Ruby's nightclub, The Carousel, in the late 1950's and early 1960's, Bill's career as a musician evolved into legendary status. He was always very proud of his connection to such a historical event. Jack Ruby's nightclub system was a high profile scene in Downtown Dallas, creating a great deal of exposure for the city while gaining a metropolitan edge. Billy was quite effected emotionally, observing the aftermath while invested for many years, being so closely related in the misfortune of Jack Ruby's historical reaction to the JFK assassination. Billy composed a very deep and descriptive screenplay called "Jacko Diamond" as a creative way to heal the process and tell the story from his viewpoint. He has many other undiscovered, but very well archived screenplays stored away upon his library shelf. The man could write and took great pride in his work.

It was during this time period he then met the love of his life, Joan Ellen McLure. As fate would have it, on February 1, 1959 at The Derby Club in Downtown Dallas, Billy and Joanie had their love at first sight "meet-cute" encounter. The two dated for 5 years, living and loving the Dallas nightlife together as they carried themselves with class. They then married on May 2, 1964 in Dallas, Texas at Lovers Lane United Methodist Church where they were both members. Making it to 55 years of marriage, they conceived and raised two daughters, Cynthia Ann, born July 12, 1968 and Cheryl Lynn, born December 14, 1974.

For over 30 years, Billy Joe Willis worked as a Junior Olympic Gymnastics Coach at the Sokol Gymnasium, on Walnut Hill and Greenville Ave in Dallas. He shortly helped train and guide Olympic Medalist, Cathy Rigby, during her two training visits to Dallas in 1972 and 1976. Bill always maintained an uplifting attitude with a soft spoken demeanor while shaping many star students into champions. Many of those girls can still recall the positive influence he created during those years of gymnastics training with him. Bill had an amazing sense of patience, and a very rewarding career because of his ability to encourage those around him with such ease. He had a remarkable love for people and for conversation, and wanted nothing but the best for anyone he ever felt was close or knew along the way. Bill retired from the gymnastics world by 1991, and transferred his time into working as a Security Guard for the Adolphus Hotel in Downtown Dallas.

After working at The Adolphus Hotel for 12 years, while meeting several celebrities and diffusing many late night conflicts on the premise, he finally retired at age 80. He then found peace in time spent with his family, enjoying well prepared meals by the dedication of his loving wife, watching his daughters grow into their adult years and evolve through life. His greatest joy was always quality time with family while sharing his next revelation or epiphany over a great cup of coffee and a fresh batch of cookies. And the love of his adoring granddaughter, Micaela, made his retirement that much brighter of a joy to hold.

As Dad would say, "That's Wonderful!"

Billy Joe Willis is survived by his Beloved Wife, Joan Ellen McLure Willis, who passed away August 20, 2019; his daughter, Cynthia Ann Willis-Morales; his daughter, Cheryl Lynn Willis; his son in law, Ruben Morales; and his granddaughter Micaela Anais Morales.

Do not go gentle into that good night,

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

-Dylan Thomas

Obituary Written By: Cheryl Lynn Willis