Page 26 - Amarillo Senior Link Magazine Summer 2021 - Online Magazine

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Bill and PeggyLaFont

THEY MADE IT by Ted Wilson

ill LaFont and Peggy
Braselton lived in Plainview
Band were a year apart in
school; they started dating in
Plainview High School. They were
friends then and are friends now.
College separated them, and then
Peggy was away from the area for
45 years before returning.
Peggy attended Texas Tech
and graduated with a BBA.
Circumstances took her to the
Dallas area, where she found her
niche as secretary to some well-
known businessmen in Dallas. She
was administrative assistant to the
president of Great American Life, House, she sat between Armand cotton, along with a Ferguson
then to Ben Carpenter, Chairman of Hammer’s wife and Jack Welch, tractor and two row equipment. Bill
the Board of Southland Insurance. Chairman of the Board of GE. She earned college funds from the sales
She loved her jobs and learned a found that celebrities and high- of his crops; he opened a savings
lot. Next, for eight years, Peggy profile folks are real people, too. account, and even bought a boat.
was Harvey Robert “Bum” Bright’s Fishing became a life-long love for
secretary. That gig turned into a Bill, on the other hand, left him.
32-year marriage, until his death in Plainview only to attend the
2004. University of Texas to obtain his The LaFonts were a mixed
law degree. He came back home denomination family. Bill and
As a major owner of the Dallas to follow in his dad’s footsteps, his dad were Methodists. His
Cowboys then, Bum saw that so to speak. Judge Harold LaFont mom, Jane, and, sister, Gail were
Peggy had a decent seat for all served in various capacities, such as Episcopalians. One summer Mom
their home games, but being part District Attorney, Hale County and and Gail were part of an outing of
of America’s Team wasn’t the District Judge, and Texas Legislator; the Episcopal congregation to Palo
highlight of Peggy’s journey in he and Marshall Formby founded a Duro Canyon. Gail wasn’t pleased
those days. What blessed her most law firm in 1938, on the fourth floor that her brother was crashing the
were the interesting people she of the Skaggs Building. “party.” Somewhere in the bushes
got to meet. She recalls the delight Bill was struck by a rattler at the
in entertaining George H. W. and Bill recalls carrying groceries for knee. Gail was tickled. “He wasn’t
Barbara Bush, down-to-earth folks Huffs Grocery Store just a half supposed to be there anyway.”
who loved life and people. They block from his dad’s office when Apparently, God works in
entertained Prince Bandar of Saudi he was 7 or 8. His dad, known as mysterious (and sometimes harsh?)
Arabia, Ambassador to the U.S., “Judge”, thought that if Bill was ways for the Episcopalians. But the
and a staunch Cowboys fan. When going to work, he could work out coolest thing for Bill was the ride
they were entertained by Ronald on the farm just northeast of town. home from the hospital in a hearse
and Nancy Reagan at the White Bill was given ten acres, mostly driven by friend, Mike Lemons. In

26 Amarillo Senior Link