Following graduation 8 Jun 1954, Bill, having branched Air Force, received primary pilot training at Hondo AB, TX, followed by T-33 jet training at Greenville AFB, MS, in Class 55-S. While there he met Joyce McCaa and realized that this Mississippi belle was “the one.” The coveted pilot wings were awarded 31 Aug 1955, and he went to Perrin AFB for advanced training in the F-86D. He anticipated a follow-on two year assignment overseas; thus he and Joyce were married November 25th in Sherman, TX. He was assigned to Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ, however, and served the next three years in Air Defense Command. In January 1958 they were blessed with their first child, Joan. Bill’s next assignment was at St. John, Newfoundland, where he flew the SA-16. In July 1960, son William was born in Reno. Later that year, Bill, Joyce, and the two children transferred to Chanute AFB, IL, for maintenance school and then back to Davis-Monthan AFB, this time with AF Logistics Command, for duty with the AF Aerospace Maintenance & Regeneration Center (the famous USAF bone yard). In 1963 Bill was named AFLC’s “Company Grade Officer of the Year.”

A break in AFLC duties occurred in 1963–64, when he was a student at the AF Command & Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL. During this period, Bill also earned an MBA from George Washington University. Next he was assigned to AFLC

Headquarters at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, where he was a key briefer for the Commander’s daily staff meeting. In 1967  the family went to Israel, where Bill commanded a maintenance unit at Lob Airport near Tel Aviv. His maintenance personnel refurbished aircraft used by dignitaries stationed in Europe and the Middle East. Following two years in Israel, Bill checked out in the C-130 and was then transferred to the 435th Tactical Airlift Squadron, CCK, Taiwan, where he flew many missions into and out of Vietnam. After this two-year tour, he returned to Wright-Patterson AFB and became the Chief of Maintenance for the 4950 Test Wing. In 1972 he went to Tan Son Nhut AB, in Saigon, Vietnam, to fly C-130s again. As the war in Vietnam wound down, he was sent to Thailand to join Headquarters, USAAG, and complete his unaccompanied tour. His final assignment was with San Antonio Air Material Center, Kelly AFB, TX. Bill and Joyce liked San Antonio very much, and he decided to retire in 1975. During his years in the Air Force, he was awarded two Meritorious Service Medals, an Air Medal, a Bronze Star, and four Air Commendation Medals plus a number of service ribbons.

After retirement, Bill began an enjoyable teaching career as a professor in the management department of San Antonio College. He was a popular professor and always had a full classroom. Unfortunately, in November 1983, after undergoing a series of tests for seizures, a small, slow-growing brain tumor was discovered. To compound matters, Bill suffered a major stroke caused by removing a blood clot in the brain. He took a year’s break from teaching to undergo therapy and, after convalescing, returned to San Antonio College. After suffering several small strokes, he retired from the College in 1994 to enjoy sailing on his 28-foot boat. In 1996, however, he suffered another stroke from which he never fully recovered. During the last few years, his health slowly deteriorated, and he was in and out of the hospital several times, but his attitude was strong, and he never complained. Finally, in mid-April 2010, he realized that the end was near and requested he be sent home - he wanted to spend his last hours with Joyce. Sixteen days before his 80th birthday, Bill expired. On May 1st, the family gathered at his home and celebrated Bill’s life.

Joyce and Bill’s daughter Joan married Joseph Ferlet, and they have three children, Jason, Jon, and Jennifer. Son William and his wife Cindy have a daughter Lauryn. The children and  grandchildren recognized early on that their dad and granddad was a special person. He was an inspiration to his younger brother Richard, who graduated with the Class of 1958. Bill combined service to his country with a passion for his family. He served with honor and dignity and taught with compassion and understanding. Among his classmates and his friends, there was not a person who did not like and admire Bill Thomas. He is a credit to the ideals of West Point, and his memory always will remain in our hearts. Bill’s class ring was donated to the Class Ring Memorial Program.