William "Bill" Dean Coons

William Dean Coons, known to his friends and acquaintances as Bill, passed away at his home in California on April 28, 2013, following a heart attack. Bill was preceded in death by his father, Bert Coons, who was a long-time TV news anchor in Kansas City, Mo. Bill is survived by his two sons, Jonathan and Rhodes of Dallas, Texas. He is also survived by his brother Steve Coons and his mother and stepfather, Joan and Jim Crockett of San Diego, CA.

Bill was born in Sioux Falls, SD and grew up in the Leawood and Overland Park areas of Johnson County, Kansas, attending Shawnee Mission Schools and the University of Kansas. His post graduate studies were at the University of Houston and Southern Methodist University.

After college, Bill commenced his professional career in the banking industry, taking advantage of his academic training. He was most proud of his many awards and successful accomplishments in making business deals as a Vice-President and Leverage Buyout specialist while with CitiCorp. When CitiCorp closed their Dallas operations, Bill declined their significant offer to transfer to New York City, for both personal and family reasons. Being unemployed at that time, he relied on his experience gained from dealing with successful business entrepreneurs and purchased a Dallas based, commercial air conditioning and construction company, which later became known as Contractors Mechanical, Inc. Over the years, this business (CMI) grew significantly and later expanded their operations, through acquisitions, into other large cities in Texas and elsewhere. He also opened a second business "TyCoons." Bill always gave credit for the growth and successful expansion of his businesses to the teamwork, efforts and dedication of his loyal employees. He frequently said, and always maintained, they were like family to him. Bill resided in Dallas for more than 25 years.

In 2008, after almost twenty years as President of his two companies, Bill arranged to sell the CMI business operations and buildings. After having sold, at age 48 he experienced open heart surgery, which somewhat limited his retirement plans of traveling and playing more golf and tennis. Bill particularly valued the company of his golfing buddies and poker playing friends. He also enjoyed coaching his sons baseball teams. He took great interest in watching and following almost all spectator sports, including the Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas Jayhawks, and Kansas City Royals. As a fan and season ticket holder, he attended and enthusiastically supported all of the professional sports teams in the Dallas Fort Worth metro area, and was an avid Dallas Cowboys fan. He even once drove a NASCAR race car for fun and also took some flying lessons.

Bill definitely approached life on his own terms, “marching to his own drumbeat” and lived life to the fullest. He will long be remembered by his family as a loving, caring and benevolent person, with an ever present sense of humor and dedication to family.