William "Bill" E. Reeves

Dr. Bill Reeves, loving husband, father and grandfather, honored UT Arlington athletic administrator, and stalwart man of faith, passed to a better life on Wednesday, August 8. Memorial Service: 10:30 am on Friday, August 17, 2018, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 1200 West Green Oaks Blvd., Arlington. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to the Dr. Bill Reeves Memorial Scholarship at UT Arlington, https://giving.uta.edu/dr.-bill-reeves or to the Salvation Army, of Arlington, Texas, https://give.salvationarmyusa.org/give/164006/#!/donation/checkout Proud of his west Texas heritage, Bill was born in Memphis, Texas, and grew up in Hedley, Texas. His homegrown traits of integrity, faith, hard work, and humility never left him, despite the numerous awards that he received throughout his distinguished career. His marriage of 59 years is testimony to his loving devotion to his wife, Lynda, and their family. Bill's love and commitment to others fueled his sense of social responsibility, civic duty, and individual, personal care to the thousands of student athletes whose lives were enriched by him. His formal title was “Dr. Reeves,” but he loved being called “Coach.” His favorite names, however, were “Daddy” and “Papa.” A former high school All-American and All-District selection at Plainview High School, Bill played collegiate basketball at Texas A&M as a freshman in 1958-59 before transferring to then Arlington State College and lettering for three years. He is a 1962 graduate of Arlington State with a bachelor's degree in history and business administration. Bill also earned a master's degree from Texas State in 1964 and his Ph.D. from the University North Texas in 1973. Bill began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Buda High School and Houston Spring Woods; he was the head boys' basketball coach at Ennis High School. He came to UT Arlington as an Assistant Basketball Coach in 1966 and went on to become the Athletic Director, serving in that role from 1975 to 1989. He remained in athletic administration at UTA for the remainder of his distinguished career until his retirement in 2012. His service to UT Arlington spanned 46 years. Bill was named a UT Arlington Distinguished Alumnus in 1996, and inducted into the UTA Hall of Honor and the Southland Conference Hall of Honor. He served as president of most organizations of which he was a part, including Downtown Rotary where he was a Paul Harris Fellow. With a passion for service, Bill dedicated himself to many causes, including Special Olympics and the Salvation Army. His roles ranged from organizer to “hugger” for the Special Olympics and from Board Member to bell-ringer for the Salvation Army. In addition, he was active in his Methodist church. It genuinely pleased Bill to serve. Bill was known for giving second chances to individuals, sometimes strangers, who just needed a loving hand up. He often brought student athletes into his home, knowing they were far from home and needed to be near a family. He was a man of faith with a fierce love for family. He loved the outdoors and cherished his family time in Colorado at the family cabin. After losing his parents and brother at a young age, family remained the greatest priority to Bill. His wife Lynda, his daughters, sons-in-law, and his beloved grandchildren knew of his deep love for them, as he reminded them often. They adored him and are tremendously proud of him. He was respected by all who knew him and leaves a legacy of love, compassion and integrity. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Alice and Leon Reeves, his sister, Ruth Caroline “Tippie” Jones, and his brother Perry Leon “Buddy” Reeves, Jr. Survivors: His wife Lynda; daughters, Susan Reeves Leinbaugh and husband John of Plano, Texas, Reci Reeves Brooks and husband Bill of Fort Worth, Texas; brother Don Reeves and wife Katherine of Wellington, Texas; brother-in-law Bill Jones of Amarillo, Texas; grandchildren Lauren Brooks Mulcahy and husband Collin of Washington, D.C., James Leinbaugh of Dallas, Kevin Brooks and wife Sarah of Fort Worth, Reid Leinbaugh of Dallas, and many beloved nieces and nephews. Wade Family Funeral Home 817-274-9233