August 2022
Hoopla: Spotlighting North Texans 55 And Better
versity while he was stationed in Puerto Rico. Then, while he was still in Strategic Air Command, he taught for two years at Georgetown University in D.C. Bill and Betty had two sons, Greg and Steve, and moved 28 times during their marriage. Bill was considering retirement in Omaha, Nebraska, when a threestar general suggested the family move once more so that Bill could take a base commander position. The general said it would allow Bill to get established in a community before retirement, which might create other opportunities. “You meet all of the city people if you’re in a base commander job because you’re the host for so many things and have such an impact on the city,” he explained. The family moved to Carswell in 1985. Luck struck again when the family was given the keys to a 4,517-square-foot mini-mansion as a base house. It backed up to a horse farm and a private lake. The house was built by a WWII doctor, who sold it to the military in 1920. President Franklin D. Roosevelt briefly stayed at the house. In fact, an elevator was added to accommodate him. It was quite a house, even for a base commander. Bill retired from Carswell in October of 1987. He said he’s proud that he kept Carswell running smoothly during his time there.
Bill Mohr in Saigon.
COURTESY
Upon retirement, Betty and Bill left the spacious base house and relocated to Lakeside, a small community in West Tarrant County. They enjoyed a more relaxing life and more time for hobbies. Their prized possession was a 30-foot Catalina that they loved to sail on Eagle Mountain Lake and Lake Worth. As anticipated, Bill did get to know a lot of people in the community during his time as base commander, and he met even more folks when he joined the Lakeside City Council. When the city manager quit in a huff, Bill agreed to fill in until they could find a replacement. “They didn’t find a replacement for 14
17
years,” he said with a laugh. Fortunately, Bill found the position relatively easy. “Being a base commander is exactly like running a city,” he said. “You have the police, you have the reports, the housing, the engineering. The only difference is you had to stick to a budget.” During his time as the Lakeside city manager, he’s most proud of making the town financially stable. When he started the city manager position, Lakeside’s total assets were $200,000. When he retired, the town had $1.5 million in the bank and thousands of dollars in capital assets. After living in Lakeside for 33 years, the couple felt it was time to relocate to a senior community that offered independent living. “It was a big decision. We were in good health. We had a beautiful house that overlooked the lake. But, it was time,” he said. They sold the boat and, three years ago, they moved into Legacy Oaks of Azle. The senior community had recently opened, so they had their choice of units, and the two bedroom model they chose is modern and more spacious than you might imagine. He can no longer run, but he still walks 2.5 to 3 miles each day around the senior See MOHR, P. 18
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