This is the complete obituary for W.L. (Bill) Prather as originally published on the Dignity Memorial Link:
W. L. (Bill) Prather
The party got a little quieter when William Leo (Bill) Prather, 81, of Dallas, TX passed away on October 6, 2021.
He measured his wealth in friends, and there are so many souls this kind, generous man touched during his life that he became a wealthy man, indeed.
Bill was born February 5, 1940 in Donna, Texas, and he was raised there with his brother Pancho by their parents Leo and Iris. He graduated from Donna High School before earning his BBA in Accounting at the University of Texas in 1961 and his Master of Accounting Sciences at the University of Illinois in 1966.
Bill started his distinguished career at Amarillo College in Amarillo, Texas in 1961 in academic administration and eventually served as the college’s Vice-President for Business and Development until 1993. He was an expert in all aspects of the operational management of two- and four-year colleges. Bill was Executive Director of the Amarillo College Foundation for many years, and he established the W.L. Prather Scholarship Fund within the Foundation, which he continued to support generously decades after he left the college.
Bill founded WLP Consulting in 1993, a higher education and nonprofit management enterprise working with public and private two- and four-year colleges located around the United States and in Guam. He served as interim Vice-President while recruiting permanent Vice-Presidents of Yavapai College and Prescott College, both in Prescott, Arizona, Clatsop Community College in Astoria, Oregon, and Northeast Texas Community College in Mt. Pleasant, Texas.
Bill consulted as a Senior Project Manager implementing the SunGard Banner higher education management software system covering enrollment, financial aid, human resources, financial operations, and alumni for a variety of colleges and universities. These schools ranged from multi-campus community colleges to major universities such as the Univ. of Arkansas at Little Rock, Univ. of the District of Columbia, Grambling, Principia, Rice, Rockhurst, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Washburn, Wichita State, and Xavier.
Age did not slow Bill down. He started a second career in 2009 as a master taxation professional managing H&R Block’s office on Lemmon Avenue in Dallas. He was an enrolled agent and audit specialist qualified to appear on behalf of his clients in tax court.
Bill was passionate about his work, but he was even more passionate about volunteering his time, energy, and financial support to causes he believed in. He loved serving his community, and he staunchly supported human rights, equality, and dignity. He served on the National Leadership Council of Lambda Legal and was honored with Lambda Legal’s Individual Partner For Equality Award in 2013. His tireless work in co-chairing events for AIDS Services of Dallas is legendary, almost as legendary as the brisket and mustard-mayonnaise sauce he served up as a many-time host of the annual No Tie Dinner & Dessert Party benefitting ASD. When Bill was cooking, his brisket was the hottest ticket in town.
Bill loved to cook and entertain for friends and soon-to-be friends alike. He took particular joy in and spent many years cooking and serving meals for the meal partnership between ASD and the Church of the Incarnation.
Bill loved a great martini, and he truly was the life of the party anywhere he went – he was an artful conversationalist, and he was known for his wit, wicked sense of humor, and depth of knowledge in almost any subject. His friends describe him as gentle, sweet, generous, and always, always kind. Bill had a magical ability to make you feel better just being with him, a rare gift.
When he told you “Bless your heart,” he meant those words honestly, empathizing with you and your situation. He was a true humanitarian who cared – for everyone. He took his mission and desire to help others seriously, and he always encouraged people to make choices and take the steps that lead to where they want to be.
Bill loved to travel, and he traveled the world seeking new adventures and friends or visiting family and friends around the country. He lived life his way.
Bill is survived by 2 daughters, Kristi Prather Brody & husband Alan of Richmond, Virginia, and Angi Prather Courtney & husband Mark of Dallas. Judy Prather of Richmond, Virginia, is his life-long friend and the mother of his children. He is also survived by his brother, Pancho Prather & wife Peggy, of San Antonio, and his niece Bree & husband Stephen, of Katy, Texas. Bill has 4 grandchildren, Ben & Mitch Brody, and Katie & Lauren Courtney, and Great-nephew Elliot, along with many cousins he held dear.
Services will be at 11AM on Friday, November 5th at Church of the Incarnation, 3966 McKinney Avenue in Dallas, Texas. He will be buried in the Memorial Garden Columbarium at Church of the Incarnation. A Celebration of Bill’s Life will follow on Saturday, November 6th.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to:
The W.L. Prather Scholarship Fund, Amarillo College Foundation, PO Box 447, Amarillo, TX 79178
ASD (Aids Services of Dallas) www.aidsdallas.org/make-a-donation
“He has achieved success
who has lived well,
laughed often, and loved much . . .”
— Bessie Anderson Stanley, from the poem “Success” (1904).
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