Billy M Holifield

Dr. Bill Holifield, former Assistant Superintendent of Schools in Plano, passed away on Thursday, January 21 at the age of 89. Bill and Gerri still lived in the house they moved to in 1972 and recently celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. Bill is also survived by his children DeAnna, Perry and Ron and his sister, Geneva Jones. He was Big Mack to three granddaughters and one grandson.

Bill was born on August 3, 1931 in Ben Wheeler, Texas to William Austin and Nettie Letha Holifield. At 17 years old, Bill hitchhiked to Corpus Christi to join the Navy, and served in Japan during the Korean War. In 1955, After Navy service, he returned to Dallas and met Gerri Coe at Peak and East Side Church of Christ where they would marry later that year.

He drove a Greyhound Bus, while completing his degree at UT in 1959. Bill started teaching Chemistry at Bryan Adams High School that fall, while working on his Master’s degree in summers. In 1963, he was hired to teach Chemistry at Plano High School and in 1964 was selected to participate in National Science Foundation research on polymers for rockets at the dawn of the space age.

Bill became Science Coordinator in 1967 and Director of Curriculum for Plano ISD in 1969. He completed his doctorate in 1975 and was named Assistant Superintendent. When he retired in 1991, Superintendent Dr. H. Wayne Hendrick said “Bill has created one of the best, most comprehensive curriculums in the country.” At his retirement, PISD renamed the Outdoor Learning Center, to the Bill Holifield Outdoor Learning Center, which every school child in Plano still goes through as a part of their Science curriculum.

Bill served as an Elder at Westview Church of Christ and at Pitman Creek Church of Christ. Bill and Gerri were active members of the Greenville Oaks Church of Christ. They truly had the gift of hospitality and opened their home for local visitors as well as hundreds of overnight guests, often with little or no notice. They also were always one of the first to go and visit and help meet the needs of others facing challenges.

Due to the pandemic, Bill will be interred at the National Cemetery in Arlington, Texas with a small family graveside service only. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts to Timothy Hill Children’s Home (www.TimothyHill.org) are suggested.