William Lee Crabtree

William Lee ("Bill") Crabtree, Jr., 67, died on July 24, 2012 in Tyler, Texas. Born May 12, 1945 in Montgomery, Alabama, he was the only son of William Lee and Mary Carter (Mann) Crabtree. A 1968 (B.S.) and 1970 (M.S.) graduate of East Texas State University, Mr. Crabtree was a life-long teacher and school administrator. While at East Texas State University, Bill joined Sigma Chi fraternity, which became a lifelong commitment for him and his Sigma Chi brothers and would shape his life in many ways.

Bill began his career at Grand Prairie ISD in 1970, where he served for 30 years in various capacities, including teacher, coach, assistant principal, principal and assistant superintendent. Since retirement, he has served Texas A & M University at Commerce and Dallas Baptist University as an adjunct professor of Educational Administration.

During his tenure in Grand Prairie, Mr. Crabtree received various recognitions by the Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club and the Grand Prairie Police Department. He is the only recipient of the Grand Prairie Police Department's Honorary Chief Award.

He was named an Outstanding Alumni from the College of Education and Human Services at A&M-Commerce, and has served as Treasurer of the Alumni Association Board of Directors. He has also received the DBU College of Education Service to Education Award.

Since moving to Holly Lake Ranch, Hawkins ISD has been a great joy to Mr. Crabtree. A life-long affection for and commitment to teenagers led him to become a substitute teacher at Hawkins, where he became very attached to the students, as well as the faculty and staff there. He was so grateful for the opportunity to once again, step out of administration and back into the classroom he loved.

Mr. Crabtree has been a member of the First Baptist Church in Grand Prairie for 30 years. Since their move to Holly Lake Ranch, he has also been an associate member of Hawkins First United Methodist Church. He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Linda, one daughter, one granddaughter and three grandsons, cousins Mary Jane McCabe of Cary, North Carolina and Ben Rayfield of Taos, New Mexico.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Baptist Church of Grand Prairie, First Methodist Church of Hawkins, the SPCA or the GPISD Educational Foundation.