William Leroy Holford

Colonel Willaim Leroy Holford was born in Topeka, Kansas on March 26, 1943. He Was the second of three siblings , brother John F. and sister Betty F. Holford Thompson, to Edward and Elizabeth Stonestreet Holford. His parents preceded him in death.

He attended Holy Name and Hayden High School where he received his Catholic Education. The love of music, playing the saxophone in the band and participating in sports were some of his school activities.

William attended and graduated from Washburn University of Topeka, Kansas in 1966, earning a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree. While attending he pledged Kappa Alpha psi Fraternity Inc., Rho Chapters which he was a Life Member. During the time, he also joined and was commissioned through the Air Force ROTC. After completing undergrad, he earned a Master of Arts Degree in Management and Supervision from Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant Michigan.

He was initially assigned as a weapons controller with the 738th Radar Squadron Olathe, Naval Air station, Kansas. Then was assigned for short tour duty as Operations Officer of the 640th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, Stephenville , Newfoundland. This was followed by a four-year tour of duty with the highly mobile 607th Tactical control squadron, Luke AFB, Arizona.

In 1972 he volunteered and was selected for flying duty with the 7th airborne Battlefield command and control center squadron, Korat AB, Thailand. While there he flew 95 combat missions, amassed over 1100 Flying hours, and participated in Linebacker I and II - two major U.S. Air interdiction campaigns during the Vietnam War. He completed his tour as a squadron Standardization/Evaluation Officer.

Colonel Holford served briefly with the 609th Tactical Control Squadron, Cannon AFB, New Mexico, then was selected for assignment to the Air Staff, Pentagon Building, Washington D.C. While there he served in the Command Control and Communications Directorate as a Program Element Monitor for airborne, and ground based Tactical Air control System.

In 1978 he attended Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, Graduating in 1979. Following school he assumed duties as Chief, Command and control Systems, interoperability Division, Headquarters Pacific Air Command, Hickam AFB, Hawaii.

Colonel Holford Served with the 963rd Airborne Warning and Control Squadron as MIssion Crew Commander and Mission Operations Deputy. He was on Staff as Chief , E-3/EC-135 Requirements Division in the Operations and Requirements Directorate, 28th Air Division, Tinker AFB, Oklahoma City, Okla. In this service he flew missions and duty in Iceland and Saudi Arabia.

His last three major leadership assignments came when he was selected to Command the 325th Weapons Controller Training Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Panama City, Florida. Then on to joint assignments with NATO, Naples, Italy and USCINCPAC Headquarters - Join Service Command - Camp Smith, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Among the many military decorations are the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with 4 oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with 1 oak leaf clusters, and the Distinguished Presidential Unit Citation.

In 1993, William along with his family made Henderson, Nevada their home. His wife Dorothy, an educator taught in Clark County School District. William attended UNLV and received his Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy and became a Therapist and Counselor in the Las Vegas community.

William is survived by the love of his life Dorothy Frank Townsend of Oklahoma City, Okla., Sharing 40 years of marriage. He is also survived by four children, Monica D. H Jones, Jason C., Krystle E.A.H. (Jermaine) Johnson, and Kimberly S.F. Holford.

Seven Grandchildren: Brigetta, Amber, Heaven, Hannah, and Hayden, and two great grandchildren: Alijah and Adriana. Host of Close Relatives and countless Lifelong Friends.

William’s family would like to express special appreciation to the Doctors, nurses, caregivers and staff at the Southern Nevada State Veterans Home, who always went the extra mile and we were abundantly blessed with their loving kindness. We are eternally grateful.

“ Rather than mourn the absence of the flame, let us celebrate how brightly it burned ” - Unknown

A visitation for William will be held Tuesday, February 7, 2023 from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM at Palm Eastern Mortuary, 7600 S Eastern Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89123. A funeral service will occur Wednesday, February 8, 2023 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at St Thomas More Catholic Community , 130 N Pecos Rd, Henderson, NV 89074.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made in William Leroy Holford's name to Nevada Veterans Assistance League, PO Box 60464, Boulder City, Nevada 89006 or Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated Diamond Foundation or St Thomas More Catholic Community Church, 130 N Pecos Rd, Henderson, NV 89074.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.palmeastern.com for the Holford family.