Billy was one of my best friends starting in elementary school as a West Birdville Mustang. Billy lived with his grandparents in a home that was adjacent to the school. It was early on that Billy's best sport was baseball. He was always the first one chosen at recess for the softball game. I still remember one day at recess when I was on the team against Billy. I was pitching and tossed a pitch to Billy; he slammed that pitch straight back to me at 90 mph! It struck my left arm above the elbow; I thought is was broke; it was all I could do to keep from crying.
In addition to his great hitting and pitching, Billy played center on the jv football team; he was one of our strngest. Our senior year Don Steward got several of us to be volunteer firemen for Haltom City FD. From there Billy began his career as a firefighter for FW. I saw his younger brother Gene, a star basketball player at HHS in the late 60's, a few years back at a reunion basketball game at Thomas coliseum.
The big bear, the great laugh, the big smile, pretty much everybodys friend. Lynn Carson always told the story about the baseball team playing in Amarillo, I think it was, and Billy was ask by the waitress if he wanted pie ala mode, for dessert, he answered in his loud voice "Yeah, and I want some ice cream on it too". That was Billy Perry, not ashamed of himself by any means.
I understand he was a great fireman, and believe it or not I was on the junior volunteer fire fighters group at the Haltom City Fire Station with Billy and about eight others, loved it. Some times life is just not fair to some of our best people. Miss you Buddy.
Jay Thompson (Thompson)
Billy was one of my best friends starting in elementary school as a West Birdville Mustang. Billy lived with his grandparents in a home that was adjacent to the school. It was early on that Billy's best sport was baseball. He was always the first one chosen at recess for the softball game. I still remember one day at recess when I was on the team against Billy. I was pitching and tossed a pitch to Billy; he slammed that pitch straight back to me at 90 mph! It struck my left arm above the elbow; I thought is was broke; it was all I could do to keep from crying.
In addition to his great hitting and pitching, Billy played center on the jv football team; he was one of our strngest. Our senior year Don Steward got several of us to be volunteer firemen for Haltom City FD. From there Billy began his career as a firefighter for FW. I saw his younger brother Gene, a star basketball player at HHS in the late 60's, a few years back at a reunion basketball game at Thomas coliseum.
Billy Arnold
The big bear, the great laugh, the big smile, pretty much everybodys friend. Lynn Carson always told the story about the baseball team playing in Amarillo, I think it was, and Billy was ask by the waitress if he wanted pie ala mode, for dessert, he answered in his loud voice "Yeah, and I want some ice cream on it too". That was Billy Perry, not ashamed of himself by any means.
I understand he was a great fireman, and believe it or not I was on the junior volunteer fire fighters group at the Haltom City Fire Station with Billy and about eight others, loved it. Some times life is just not fair to some of our best people. Miss you Buddy.
Sandra West (Stoddard)
My childhood crush is gone!! My heart is broken.