William Charles Ward

Bill Ward, passed away April 15, 2019, from a severe head injury after a fall. Bill was born in Greenville, Texas, to Hazel and Jake Ward who then moved to Belton, Texas, where he attended school and became interested in his favorite sport, basketball. He was a natural! Upon graduation from high school, several schools courted him with full scholarships and he chose Southern Methodist University in Dallas. He was a team player and was successful on the court, as well as in the classroom. His junior year, he was the best free-throw player in the conference. He remained a supporter of the SMU basketball program throughout his life.

A dear friend, Dr. Joyce Pickering, Executive Director Emerita of the Shelton School in Dallas, referred to Bill as a “man for all seasons”.

He was an athlete, entrepreneur, financier, investor, leader, philanthropist, role model for those who worked for him, faithful friend and an exceptional husband and father. For a few years in the 1980’s, he raised champion Santa Gertrudis cattle on the Cowtrack W Ranch near Athens, TX.

Bill began his career in the brokerage business at Paine, Webber, Jackson and Curtis in 1967. In 1970, he moved to White Weld & Company and then on to Alex Brown & Sons, followed by Bear Stearns. In 1980, Bill took a position with U. S. Companies under the direction of CEO Max Williams, an oil and gas entrepreneur who had great success in the Austin Chalk area of Texas. In 1991, a partnership was formed with Howard Rachofsky, the late Stan Finney, and Beau Purvis, called Regal Asset Management Company. In 2003, Bill opened his own hedge fund, Headstream Asset Management. After the financial crisis in 2008, Bill disbanded his fund and decided to run his personal investments as Ward Capital. Bill lived to work and he never stopped until his unfortunate accidental death. Even in the hospital, he wanted stock market information from his trader, John Wartman, and was requesting updated information from his long-time Personal Assistant, Susan Kinser, CPA.

He remained active in exercising regularly throughout his adult life, playing tennis and later becoming an avid bicycle rider cycling many miles a day. He was extremely fit and active in many areas that he enjoyed. He provided leadership to many organizations, particularly by serving as Chairman of the Shelton School and Evaluation Center Board of Directors from 1995-2002. During this time, the school consolidated its two campuses into one, serving students from three years of age through high school. He continued to be active as the chair of the Shelton Legacy Foundation throughout his life. The present campus is named the Ward Campus in honor of his leadership and the donations from Cindy and Bill that allowed the school to open the present facility. They have made a pledge to support the new Shelton School at Preston and Campbell Roads. Bill also served on the Board of St. Mary’s Residential Training School in Alexandria, Louisiana.

The Ward Family Foundation focuses on education having exponential impact on many organizations and families. The Foundation has provided significant start-up donations to: Shelton School, Klyde Warren Park, Gilda’s Club (now Cancer Support Community), Canine Companions for Independence, Adaptative Training Foundation and Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center in Cedar Hill. Other major gifts have been given to numerous capital campaigns and individual student scholarships at various schools, notably Belton Public School District. Another heart-felt focus has been their support of veterans, showing admiration for their service.

Bill was a loving and always supportive husband to Cindy and the BEST DAD EVER to Wil and Katy. Even though he worked in the highly stressful financial environment, he was able to leave work and focus on his family. He dedicated his time to coaching Katy’s teams and the boys’ basketball teams at St. Michael’s and Shelton. Henry, his Golden Retriever which he loved dearly, waited for him to arrive home daily. He laughed his way through all our travels throughout the United States and loved Northern Italy, Switzerland and France. Bahamas was his happy place and home away from home. He enjoyed dining with special friends.

He was a role model and mentor to those who worked for him and all that knew him, especially young people. Unfailingly kind, he helped each person reach their full potential, uplifting them with his genuine guidance. As a friend, he was known as a man who could be counted on in all circumstances. He was seen as a man with a great sense of humor, joke teller, positive attitude, ethical, capable, knowledgeable, calm and wise. He was always a gentleman.

Bill is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Cindy and Daddy’s Girl, Katy. His sister Betty Martinez (Gene); his sister-in-law Janet Ward; nephews Kevin Ward (Wendy), Gregory Ward, Will Ward; uncle Borden Ward (Blanch); cousins Katherine Marshall (Don), Susan Truitt (Marvin), Don Ward (Billie), and Pam DeBorde (David).

Bill is pre-deceased by his son, William (Wil) C. Ward, Jr.; his brother, Kenneth Ward; and parents, Hazel and Jake Ward.

We wish to thank his caretakers from Home Instead.

A memorial service will be held at Perkins Chapel at SMU on May 7 at 4:00 PM, with a celebration of Bill’s life to follow at the Park City Club at 5956 Sherry Lane, 17th floor.

In lieu of flowers, Bill may be remembered with donations to the:

-Shelton School Campaign for the new campus (a school for students with learning differences), 15720 Hillcrest Road, Dallas, TX 75248.

-22 Kill (a veteran’s organization), 13625 Neutron Road, Farmers Branch, TX 75244 (www.22kill.com).

-Klyde Warren Park, 2012 Woodall Rodgers Freeway, Dallas, TX 75201