Bill Haley

Bill was born in Paris, Texas on June 15, 1930 on his grandparents’ farm and passed away at his home in Bryan, TX on June 11, 2018. He did most of his growing up in Wichita Falls, Texas. Bill graduated from Texas A&M in June, 1951, the same month he married Cherilyn Smith Haley and the same month he was commissioned into the United States Air Force.

Bill was initially stationed at Kelly Air Force Base where his first duty was as a Personnel Officer for the Military Air Transportation Service. He was deployed to Nagoya, Japan as an Adjutant and Deputy Provost Marshal for the Japanese Air Defense Force. His first child was born while he was serving in Japan.

Bill and his wife Cherilyn, had three children: Billy, Steve, and Beth all graduates of Texas A&M. Bill’s first job after the service was as a Territorial Manager for Nutrena Mills, selling feed. The Texas drought of the 50’s led to a career change. He became an insurance agent specializing in agricultural associations and eventually a leading sales manager for two major insurance companies. He was a Chartered Life Underwriter, and a multi-year member of the Million Dollar Round Table. His success in insurance led to an interest in banking. He served on twelve bank boards and was Chairman of the Board of nine banks. Along with these other business interests he also had a passion for rural real estate development. Bill served on various professional boards and in his younger years coached various youth organizations including football, baseball, and Boy Scouts.

Bill was an instrumental force of the Texas A&M Corps Development Council, serving in numerous offices including a year as Chairman of the Council. He was a contributor to the Texas A&M Foundation where he and his wife established the William H. Haley and Cherilyn S. Haley Scholarship Fund for the purpose of attracting exceptional candidates in need of financial assistance to the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M.

He was preceded in death by his son Steven Haley of Brenham, TX. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Cherilyn Smith Haley, son William Haley III and wife Colleen of Mason, TX; daughter Beth Haley Adam and husband Ben of Boerne, TX; and daughter in law Celia Haley of Brenham, TX. His grandchildren are William Haley IV and wife Brittany Haley of Houston, TX, Capt. Houston Haley and wife Angela Haley of Navarre, FL, Major Matt Adam and wife Lindsey Adam of Washington, DC, Lynden Haley Briscoe and husband Justin Briscoe of Houston, TX, Haley Adam of San Antonio, TX, Callan Haley of Austin, TX, and Marshall Haley of Brenham, TX. His nine great-grandchildren are Brooklyn, William Haley V, Leighton, Connor, Amelia, Caroline, Leslie, Hale and Caleb.

Funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, June 14 at the Memorial Cemetery of College Station-Aggie Field of Honor in the cemetery pavilion.