Bruce Adamson P.O. Box 3511, Santa Cruz, CA, 95063

The Greatest Secretary In History thanks to William Hawkins

IN MEMORY OF WILLIAM DODDS HAWKINS1914-2002

Who passed away on February 10, 2002. Mr. Hawkins will be having a service in Houston and on July 20, 2002 in Bolton Landing, New York. His summer home. Mr. Hawkins was one of the driving forces behind this book contributing the funds and spending about six months this book which was originally 1,000 pages in length. He was the last human being who lived in the home of Captain George W. Ely. In 1969 Mr. Hawkins was President of the Republican Club of Houston. Mr. Hawkins was extremely generous and accepted me into his home regardless of my research on de Mohrenschildt and always treated me like family. Bill Hawkins took me aside and said "Bruce, I just don't want to know anything about de Mohrenschildt." Yet he assisted me in his own way. Afterwards I needed to get into the Houston Oil Club to do research. Bill made one call and I was given the red carpet treatment by the President of the Club to do research on Texas Oil men including George de Mohrenschildt and company. Bill & Bo took me to dinner to architect Mr. Morris' house. Morris built the Houston Astro dome and knew Architect Philip C. Johnson (friend of de M's). Bo is the daughter of Banker Bixby of St. Louis who financed the Spirit of St. Louis. Bo's grandfather was President of the Missouri Historical Society in St. Louis. I visited Bo and Bill in their Houston home and Bo's fingers waltz across the keyboard. Bo knew several of uncle Harold Adamson's songs. Bill served his country during World War II and was award the Silver Star and a Presidential citation. Following a long tradition of patriotic services by the Ely and Whittlesey families. Such as Asapah Whittlesey in the Wyoming Massacre of the American Revolution, Captain George W. Ely in the New York Draft Riots, to World War I, George W. Ely, II on the Hindenburg Line to Charles White Whittlesey and The Lost Battalion in WWI. As uncle Hal had coined the phrased Bill was literally during World War II: Coming in On A Wing and A Prayer. God Bless you Bill, you will be missed by many.

Death Notices - - Houston Chronicle
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WILLIAM DODS (BILL) HAWKINS died February 10, 2002. He was born in New York City
on November 13, 1912 and was educated at Kent School ('30) and Princeton ('34).
While riding a bicycle through China in 1935, he met Elizabeth (Bo) Bixby, whom
he married on April 6, 1940. Mr. Hawkins moved to Houston in 1951 and bought
Industrial Towel and Uniform Company. He expanded the business from 1 to 7
plants, and sold them to Cintas in 1980. He was past President of the following:
The National Trade Association Institute of Industrial Launderers, Houston
Seafarer's Center, The Houston Country Club, and Texas Bill of Rights
Foundation. He was a founding member of Billboards Limited, which became Scenic
Houston. He served in the Army from 1940 - 1945. He was awarded the Silver Star
for Gallantry in Action (New Guinea), the Legion of Merit, and a Presidential
Unit Citation. He retired with the rank of Colonel in Field Artillery. Family
and friends will remember Bill for his ready wit, prodigious intellect and
genial spirit. He was an astute businessman, a raconteur and a loyal friend. He
loved to travel, to sing, to dance, to learn about the natural world around him,
but most of all to delight in the laughter and love of his family. He is
survived by his wife of 61 years...He leaves 5 grandsons,4 granddaughters A memorial service
will be held at 3:00 Thursday, February 14 at St. Martin's Episcopal Church, 717
Sage Road. The Rev. Dr. Peter G. Thomas and The Rev. Dr. Laurence A. Gipson will
be officiating... In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions
be directed to Episcopal High School.