Former State Senator Bill Sims Dies

Concho Valley leader Bill Sims died yesterday. He was 84.

Sims, who as a Democrat served in the Texas Senate for 14 years, from 1983 until 1997, was an advocate for agriculture. The Texas A&M Agrilife Research and Extension Center named its Wool and Mohair Research Laboratory after him in 1985.

“Bill knew the values of hard work and the importance of preserving our state’s natural resources. During his time in the legislature, his district represented 19,852 square miles including 21 Central West Texas counties. He was a champion for the working men and women of Texas. The Texas Democratic Party send our deepest condolences to the Sims family and are forever grateful to his service to Texas," said Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa in a statement yesterday. 

Sims, a resident of Paint Rock, also promoted the local school system there, according to Paint Rock ISD Superintendent Ron Cline. The school’s ag barn there is named after him.

In 1996, Sims was honored to receive the Texas A&M Distinguished Agriculture Award for his leadership as an executive secretary of the Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers Association.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Harper Funeral Home in San Angelo.