WILLIAM ANDREW “BILL” JACKSON
1923-2018
William Andrew “Bill” Jackson passed away peacefully at the age of 95 on October 15th, 2018 in Houston, Texas. He was born on April 12th, 1923 in El Paso, Texas to Rudolph Lessing Jackson and Anna Nay Jackson. While in El Paso, Bill spent his early years attending school until 1938, when he moved to Washington, DC and graduated from Western High School in 1941. After graduation, he attended the Apprentice School at the Newport News Ship Building and Dry Dock Company until 1942.
During the Second World War, Bill enlisted in the Army Air Corps, 1943. After completing basic training and flight school, he became a pilot with the 55th Squadron of the 375th Troop Carrier Group, 54th Troop Carrier Wing, 5th Air Force, distributing troops and logistical supplies in C-47’s throughout the Pacific Theatre for two years. The 375th was better known as the Tokyo Trolley, and the forward operating areas they supplied depended on the dedicated efforts of extended sky-train island hopping under very challenging battlefield conditions. From his experience, Bill made us realize that although the soldier wins the battle, logistics wins the war. In 1957, he received an honorable discharge from Army Air Corps as a Captain in the Air Force Reserve, and continued his piloting skills as a civilian thereafter.
After World War II, Bill attended the University of Houston, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, 1949. Upon graduating from college, Bill went to work for and eventually became a partner with the F.R. Young Company in Houston, Texas, a manufacturer’s representative that specialized in HVAC equipment until 1967.
In 1967, Bill developed a partnership with Joe Hollingsworth and formed Hollingsworth & Jackson, Inc., a manufacturer’s representative that became very successful in the design and engineering of commercial HVAC equipment until 1983. To supplement their product lines, Bill purchased Jogler, Inc. in 1968, which became a Houston manufacturer of mechanical level and flow instrumentation until its sale in 2013.
Bill had a magnetic personality that was second to none. He possessed the rare ability of becoming friends with anyone he came in contact with. Larger than life, everybody who met Bill became gravitated to him by his unrivaled personality and his million-dollar smile. Aside from being charismatic, an astute businessman, and a smart engineer, his greatest legacy is the love, sacrifice, compassion and guidance he provided to his entire family. He was the ultimate Patriarch.
Bill is preceded in death by his wife of 48 years, Gloria Carter Jackson and his grandson Adam Jackson Skinner. He is survived by his wife, JoAnn (Bunde) of Houston, Texas; brother George Jackson and wife Beverly of Birmingham, Alabama; daughter Patti and husband Sam Langford of Cypress, Texas; daughter Jan and husband Jeff Skinner of Cypress, Texas; and daughter Jonell and husband Dr. Joe Hutchins of Bellaire, Texas.
All of Bill’s grandchildren referred to him as either their Bepa or Bebo. They include granddaughter Jill Johnson of Houston, Texas; grandson Scott Johnson and wife Kim Whitson of Houston, Texas; William Hutchins and wife Becca of Houston, Texas; granddaughter Shannon (Skinner) and husband Tim McGee of Houston, Texas; and granddaughter Sarah (Hutchins) and husband Tyler Duffey of Houston, Texas; and grandson Chris Langford of Crowley, Louisiana. Bill’s five great-grandchildren include Reece & Rylee Johnson, Rhett McGee, and Max & Harris Hutchins.
Gloria and Bill were founding members of the Westminster United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas and avid alumni supporters of the University of Houston Cougars. Bill was a life member of ASHRAE, (American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers), a member of the ISA, (Instrument Society of America), and a lifetime member of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, serving on the International Committee.
The family wishes to extend their sincerest gratitude to Carmen James, Judith English, Paula Messam and Jennifer Chambers for their steadfast assistance to Bill.
A memorial celebration of Bill’s life will be held November 2nd, 2018 at the Bradshaw-Carter Funeral Home, 1734 West Alabama Street, Houston, Texas. There will be a two-hour visitation at 4:00 PM followed by the celebration service at 6:00 PM.
Education was of primary importance to Bill and for all of his grandchildren. Therefore, in lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Adam Jackson Skinner Memorial Scholarship - CFEF, c/o The Cy-Fair Educational Foundation, P.O. Box 1698, Cypress, Texas, 77410-1698. (www.thecfef.org)