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Comments: Sadly ... (From today's Dallas Morning News.) Billy Swann Hitt, 83, of Coppell, passed away last Wednesday. He was born on August 20, 1930, in Van Alstyne, TX. Bill graduated from Lancaster High School in 1947 and received a Bachelor's degree in History/Education from Howard Payne University in 1952 and Master's Degree in History from UNT. He served in the U.S. Army from 1952-1954. He began his career at Bushman Elementary in Dallas, went on to coach at Boude Story and Gaston Jr. Highs, Bryan Adams High School, and was Head Coach and Athletic Director at H. Grady Spruce High School. He retired from coaching in 1987. He also served as a Deacon in the Baptist church. Bill worked as a scout for 40 years for the Dallas Cowboys, and Manager of Little Squaw Resort in Creede, Colorado for 30 years. He retired in 2008, but was passionate about making a difference in the lives of his athletes, students, and friends. Bill Hitt was an active member of Irving Bible Church, loved to run, play golf, and fly fish. He enjoyed frequent travel, and also cherished spending time at his summer home with his wife in Creede. Bill is survived by two children: Tim Hitt and Holly Niner, two brothers, a sister, wife Suzanne Hitt, and her two daughters. He also is survived by four grandchildren. A public Memorial Service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 29th at Irving Bible Church.
Comments: Brenda, it was great to see you. I'm sorry about your back pain. I guess your career as a floor-hauler will be on hold for a while.
Comments: As usual...Peaches and the committee did a wonderful job putting together the reunion.I enjoyed seeing everyone...sorry I didn't get to spend time with everyone..I kinda found a spot and didn't move around alot due to back pain..finally went to the Doctor today and told I have osteoarthritis of my lumbar and nerve compression and bone spurs.Now isn't that just what I needed...guess I won't be doing alot of lifting anymore!!!
Comments: I had a wonderful time at the Reunion and thank everyone who worked so hard to make that possible. My only regret is that I didn't get to reconnect with nearly as many people as I'd hoped, simply because of the shortness of time. Maybe at some of the future between-reunion events?
Comments: Had a wonderful time Sat night at your reunion. It was decorated so beautifully. Enjoyed visiting with so many '63 friends I haven't seen in awhile. As always, you did a great job Peaches & Committee!! Thank you for letting me share your in your fun!!
Comments: To everyone that attended the Reunion, thank you. I had a blast and I think you all did too.
Comments: Thank You, Peaches, the committee and all my classmates. Had a wonderful time at the reunion. Hope to see you soon.
Comments: Great 50th reunion. Ron and I had a wonderful time visiting with my golden friends. Thanks Peaches and the Committee for all your hard work putting this together.
Comments: Aaargh! I didn't take many pictures, and the ones I did take were pretty crummy overall. If anyone has reunion pictures they'd like me to post on this website, please send them to me!
Comments: Bill and I enjoyed ourselves immensely last night. We have outstanding leaders in our class, I would also like to thank those from other classes for attending. This was one of the best reunions I have been to, although I did not mingle too much because of my immune system.
Comments: Thanks to Peaches and all the organizers for a great reunion. Jeannette (Schafer) and I enjoyed
Comments: Wow. That's all I can say this morning after two nights of fantastic reunion parties. Nostalgia, laughs, good food, and best of all friendship and conversation with my beloved fellow SOCites. I had a wonderful time. Thank you, thank you, Reunion Committee!!
Comments: Hi friends. I've been thinking about you all day and now the clock says your party is about to begin. Have a great time. I know you will. See you tomorrow night.
Comments: You-all have lots of fun this weekend. Have twice as much fun, since I can't be there.. Ginger 
Comments: Wishing you all an exciting 50th Reunion Celebration. I'll miss you all again and hope to keep a future time. Look forward to Lonnie Harmon's videos n Danny Green's pics.
Comments: Just wanted to tell each of you to have a wonderful reunion! When you see my sister, Betty Gibbs, know when she hugs you its from me too! Enjoy your time together.............Bill Hitt was my teacher at WW Bushman and a friend over the years! My heart and prayers go out to all his family, friends, and students! He was our hero!...........Danny thanks for the history lesson about our WW Bushman!
Comments: I have short term Memory Loss. Sorry for the repeated subjects. I'll probably tell many of you people the same story many times this week end. I am still the same Danny Green
Comments: I ran Track at Boude Storey. I was in the Pre-eliminary events for the 100 Yd. Dash. Larry Libby held the City Record & maybe the State Record for this event. Larry's Name was BIG in those days. To me he was Big. Larry graduated in '61. 10 seconds flat in the 100 yd. dash. This was unheard of in those days. Coach Hitt came just before I was to run my event at Sprague Field. Put his arm around me Looked me straight into my eyes & said, "Danny, you have improved wonderfully this season. yOU CAN BREAK lARRY'S CITY RECORD. tHE ONLY THING THAT WILL STOP YOU IS speed!!.................. A TRUE STORY!! Coach Hitt was right. In my heart I ran a 9.8 100 yd. dash. Didn't qualify. I called W.W. Bushman today They told me the same story by another person. I asked again "tell me what the W. W. They said for the second time. it stands for Woodrow Wilson Bushnan. They believe that. I got mad. Loudly told him he is SOOO Wrong. He transferred me to a lady principle. She told me the same thing. I unloaded on her. She begged me to tell her what it stood for. Mr. Bushman Loved people & Hated Wednesday with a passion. I told her At One time there was aPlaque on the Wall THAT TellS all about mAJOR WILLIAM wALTER BUSHMAN. & WHY THE sCHOOL WAS NAMED AFTER tHIS great Man. To think rthey probably get Mail for employees at Woodrow Wilson Bushman. IF my father had not talked so much about him & all he influenced him to stay in School. Mr. Bushman had the same desires back then. to go serve his country & he did quitt school as aPrinciple & went to War. Read "Flying the HUMP"@ Google
Comments: I just saw on the 63 web that Coach Hitt from the Storey Days just passed away.
Comments: Sad news for Storeyites. I have just heard that Coach Hitt has passed away.
Comments: Goofed - I think my Dad graduated in 1931.
Comments: My Dad went to Sunset, graduating in 1934. W. W. Bushman was a coach then and I believe W.T. White was my Dad's track coach.
Comments: Teachers coming Saturday Mr. and Mrs. Ed Artmann Anne Bryant Pat Fowler Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Norman Sam Pugh Mary Ann Thomas Weldon Wells Danny, no time to create a new list.....just come and see who is there!!!!
Comments: There you have it, Danny ... "William Walter Bushman". Mystery officially solved! Nice photo, too. Along, with some background on his surviving family. Maybe you should send a letter to the Principal of his namesake school?
Comments: Do you think I would get arrested for passing out this information to the Bushman School Kids?? Surely I am not the First to ask these questions?? Bushman had a school news paper back before all the kids got dumber & couldn't past a test. The school Paper was called "THE PILOT". Now someone Knew something at one time. Who & when removed the Plaque on the wall explaining who & why the school was named after. Who took it down?? Channel 4 News needs this info. My father admired W.W. Bushman. He talked my dad out of quitting school to Join the Army. Major Bushman had the same thoughts toward his country. Dad stayed in school until Mr. Bushman was killed. He Joined the Merchant Marines. went all through the Pacific theater, Then took a convoy across the Atlantic Ocean to England & was involved in the Normandy Invasion. I asked him many times about Utah Beach. He just said "it was worse than you could imagine."
Comments: Many thanks to Carol Moore Monk of Adamson for sending me this link about Maj. Bushman from Find a Grave. If you are ever in Hawaii, visit the National Cemetery at Oahu. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Bushman+&GSbyrel=all&GSdy=1944&GSdyrel=in&GSob=n&GRid=56116885&df=all&
Comments: What a shame that the principal and children who attend Bushman today have no knowledge of this brave and fine man.
Comments: John You surprise me. I have an extra Silver Eagle just for you. Thank You. Mr. Bushman was killed Flying over the Himalian Mountains supporeting Shang Kie shick?? & Brought back Jimmy Dolittle & his crew, after they Bombed Toykio. Lookup "Flying the Hump". They circled up to 20,000 feet & then attempted to fly over or in between the worlds highest mountains. It was the worlds worst weather to fly in. It was the only way our allies could get any supplies.That is why it was called "Flying the Hump". Hump day was not appreciated. Yjere were many crashes & many crews were not found. Mr. Bushman is still listed as an MIA. They never found his plane or crew. JPAC, "Joint PO/MIA Accounting Command" still looks for our lost soldiers.
Comments: A little more digging turned up this photo from 1931. I think it came from the Sunset yearbook. At this point Bushman was around 28 years old and young Ben Matthews was 29. 
Comments: Danny, some of my dates were off on Bushman's history. Here is a 1944 article from the Dallas Morning News (thank you, Lynell) which confirms the name "Bill" and tells you a bit more about him. 
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