Dr. Will Long

William Bowman Long, DDS, MD, beloved family physician, died peacefully at his home on February 23, 2010, at age 88 after a year of significant illnesses. He was born in Eddy, Texas, on June 19, 1921 to Roderick John and Esther Marguerette Bowman Long. He graduated from elementary school in Cameron and from Waco High School in 1939. After attending Baylor University from 1939 to 1942, he enrolled in Baylor College of Dentistry where he earned the DDS degree. He graduated from Baylor University College of Medicine with the MD degree in 1950. Dr. Long practiced Dentistry part-time while attending medical school and practiced General Medicine in Belton for 50 years, retiring in 2002. At Baylor Medical College he is remembered to this day by his fellow students for calming their nerves with his soft shoe shuffle and singing his two favorite songs: Accentuate the Positive, and Walk on the Sunny Side of the Street. Dr. Long's service to his country included three branches: National Guard, Army, Navy. As a high school student he was a member of the 36th Division, 143rd Infantry Regimental Band. While in Dental School, he joined the Medical Administrative Corps of the United States Army in July 1942. He resigned this commission and was inducted as a Pvt. at Camp Walters at Mineral Wells in July 1943. He was given an Honorable Discharge from the Army in September 1944 and volunteered for the US Navy in March 1945. He served with the Navy in the Philippines and Japan until August 1947 at the close of World War II. Known as a "giver" not a "taker," Dr. Long was an active member of the Belton community, serving as President of the Belton School Board, Belton Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Belton Lions Club where he was honored with a Life Membership and the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award. He was also a Life member of the Walton H. Walker Post 55 of the American Legion. An active supporter of the Belton Tigers, he conducted physicals for the football team and was often asked to lead the pep rallies before football games. An active member of First Baptist Church in Belton, Dr. Long was ordained a Deacon in 1958 and served as Chairman of the Deacon Body in the early 1960s. Dr. Long was well-known in the community for driving his tractor pulling 32 little red wagons filled with his grandchildren and friends in Belton's 4th of July Parade. His annual appearances in the Belton Lion's Club Show always featured his playing the tub fiddle and his sweet potato. At the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Will served as College Physician and received several awards by the students for his kindness in treating their illnesses.. He was made an Honorary Alumnus of the University by the Alumni Association. The University presented him with the Outstanding Service Award in 1995. Because of Will's dedication to Baylor University, his family claimed he "bled green and gold." He was always proud of the fact that he became a member of the Nose Brotherhood the same night as he was accepted into the Baylor Chamber of Commerce. As a Nose Brother, his love of fun found expression and added a dimension of hilarity to every group with which he became associated. As a diehard Baylor football fan, his loyalty to the Baylor Bears never wavered through the good times and the not-so-good times. Not a home game was missed until he experienced a series of broken hips and strokes which began in 2009. After the graduation of his fourth child from Baylor, he moved his football seats from the end zone to Bear Heights. His green and gold pickup parked in the driveway is known all around the town of Belton. Dr. Long served from 1991 to 2000 on the Board of Regents for Baylor University. He was given Baylor University Alumni Association's Meritorious Service Award, as well as the Herbert H. Reynolds Award, and Baylor's Founders' Day Medal. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Mary Cole Farrow Long, their children: Dr. William Farrow Long and wife, Kathryn Fagan Long of Belton; Daryl Elizabeth Long Edwards and husband, Thomas David Edwards of Belton; Dr. Robert John Long and wife, Penny Gullo Long of Waco, and Dr. Linda Long Fletcher and husband Michael Steven Fletcher of Marietta, Ga.; 12 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Dr. Long's family wishes to express appreciation to the Visiting Angels and Vista Care Hospice for their kind and tender care for him during his last months of life. Will's belief was that one needs to "pass it on." In that spirit, the family suggests memorials (in lieu of flowers) be sent to the Long-Fagan Presidential Endowed Scholarship at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (Dr. Gene Kimes, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, UMHB Box 8428, Belton, TX. 76513), or the Will and Mary Long Presidential Endowed Scholarship or the Nose Brotherhood Presidential Endowed Scholarship both at Baylor University (Office of University Development, One Bear Place #97050, Baylor University, Waco, TX. 76798-7050). The family will greet friends Friday evening from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Dossman Funeral Home in Belton. A Celebration of William Long's life will be held at 2:00 pm Saturday at First Baptist Church in Belton. Interment will be in Oakwood Cemetery, Waco, Texas, at 4:00 pm following the funeral.