Lion William Jennings “Bill” Booth, Jr. was born July 10 1934 in Apex, near his dad’s Apex Lumber Company mill. Lion Bill graduated from Apex High School. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and was a proud Tar Heel. Rumor has it his blood was Tar Heel blue. While at Chapel Hill, Bill became a UNC Field and Track team letterman. After graduating from UNC, Bill spent two years of active duty in the Pacific as a commissioned officer on the USS Roanoke. Following his discharge he returned to Apex and ran the Apex Lumber Company. Bill continued his Naval career as a reserve officer and retired as a Commander.
Bill married his loving wife Mary Lou Norwood in 1959 and had 3 children. Son Billy (Vickie), daughters Linda ( Tom) and Jennifer (Mike). He and Mary Lou had 5 grandchildren and 2 greatgrands. Needless to say, Bill loved and cherished all his family.
Lion Bill joined the Apex Lions Club in 1971 and served along with his Dad (Lion William Jennings Booth) Lion Jennings was a charter member of the Apex Lions Club. They both attended the Apex Club meeting together until his dad’s passing. Lion Jennings and some other Lions members who had boys decided the town needed a Boy Scout troop. Troop 209 was chartered with the Lions as the Troops Charter organization. Lion Bill was a member of Troop 209’s first class. The initial Scout Hut was located across the street from the CC Jones Building. The Scout Hut was built by the Apex Lions with the lumber donated from Lion Bills dad’s mill. The same Hut is still in use by Troop 209 today over in J C Park.
Lion Bill and the second-generation Lions were also instrumental in clearing what is now J C Park and putting in the ball field. Little did they know then that the Troop Hut would be moved there some 50 years later.
To say Lion Bill was an active Lion would be an understatement. He was at every activity. He shared that at the State Fair booth in the beginning it was undercover but the ground was the floor. He would load saw-dust from their family mill and take it out to put down for people to walk on and reduce the dust. He and Mary Lou worked together and pulled their shifts every year at the Food Booth. Be it the relays, fish fry, or azalea sales, Lion Bill had a Serving Heart and was always Ready for the task. He was the same with the Town of Apex and his Church.
The Apex Lion of The Year Award is named The William Jennings Booth Lion of the Year Award. Although it is named after his Dad it could easily be for Lion Bill.
Lion Bill had the Heart of a Lion. His Service will be missed and his presence long remembered by those who knew him. His God was waiting on him with open arms.
” Welcome my good and faithful Servant.”
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