Rose Bowl Mustang William H. 'Bill' Brotherton Dead at 88

[MrMustang1965]

Hall County residents who knew William H. "Bill" Brotherton knew he loved his country and his community.

A native of Texas who survived the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, Brotherton died Friday at age 88.

"He loved to talk about Pearl Harbor," said close friend Charlie Lewis of Oakwood. "As far as we knew, he and Mack Abbott were the only two Pearl Harbor survivors in Hall County."

Abbott was out of town Monday and could not be reached. But in a 2004 Times article on Pearl Harbor, Brotherton said: "I'm not a real hero. Mack is. I was just there."

Lewis said Brotherton was a "kind-hearted and a good-natured man."

"I was born on Dec. 7 a few years to the day after Brotherton served at Pearl Harbor," he said. "I felt close to him because of some of the connections we had through the U.S. Navy."

Lewis said Brotherton was well respected throughout Gainesville and Hall and the two shared many conversations in local civic club and political party meetings.

Brotherton was active in local politics, frequently attending Oakwood City Council meetings. Oakwood Mayor Lamar Scroggs remembered Brotherton as a good friend, good man and a patriot.

"On Dec. 7, 2001, the Oakwood City Council proclaimed that day as William H. Brotherton, Jr. Day in honor of his service at Pearl Harbor," Scroggs said.

During the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Brotherton was aboard the USS Sumner, a survey ship, and participated in the downing of two Japanese torpedo planes.

Prior to obtaining a discharge in 1945, Brotherton spent about four years in the Pacific Theater. Times records show he was headquartered in Brisbane, Australia, with U.S. Gen. Douglas McArthur.

"It was a true, sincere and genuine proclamation to honor him," Scroggs said. "We wanted to do this for a man we appreciated and for what he meant to our community."

Scroggs called Brotherton a "pillar of the community" and said the two would often discuss issues involving Oakwood. "Sometimes we would agree and sometimes we would disagree, but we always respected each other," Scroggs said.

Brotherton also served on the Oakwood Development Authority, Scroggs added.

Tom Bower, a friend for several years, said he knew Brotherton loved Oakwood and hearing about matters that affected the community, like rezonings.

"He was very engaging," Bower said. "It was so interesting to hear him talk about his experiences at Pearl Harbor.

"And I enjoyed hearing him talk about playing football at (Southern Methodist University). He played in the Rose Bowl on a championship team in 1936."

Bower remembered Brotherton as a gentleman and a longtime friend of his father, Tom Bower Sr.

Mimi Stitt, Brotherton's daughter, said her father loved people and that's why they loved him.

"He was a very positive person," she said. "He never said anything bad about anybody. People liked to be around him because he had such a positive spirit."

Stitt shared how her father was in the ROTC at Woodrow Wilson High School in Dallas, Texas. She said he called commands during a competition on May 19, 1934, and his unit was the only one that ended back where it originally started.

Brotherton was chosen as captain of the Crack Company at Wilson and received a silver cup as a result of that competition.

Stitt said her father loved his country and was active in a number of civic and community affairs. He liked to talk about insurance and real estate, two areas in which he built careers following his military service.

She added that her father was a lifelong Mason, having obtained his Master Masons degree in 1958. He served as Worshipful Master of Georgia Lodge No. 96.

A memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday for Brotherton, who also is survived by his wife of 58 years, another daughter and five grandchildren.

http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/news/st ... 9326.shtml

[Sam I Am]

Pearl Harbor makes the Rose Bowl seem insignificant. The man served his time in hell already. May he forever enjoy 50 yard line seats in heaven.