Feb. 10, 1931 – Dec. 6, 2012
HARTLAND – Longtime Town of Hartland Supervisor William “Bill” A. Annable died in his home Thursday after a long illness. He was 81.
His son, W. “Ross” Annable, who took over the town’s top post on Jan. 1, said his father had been under hospice care.
Mr. Annable served as Hartland supervisor from 1978 to 2011 – the longest-serving town supervisor in Niagara County history, according to his son. He retired last Dec. 31, following the November election of his son.
“He was happiest when serving others and was always looking to take care of someone else,” said the current supervisor. “He grew up in Hartland, which is just a little town, but he loved Hartland on many different levels and was always concerned with taking care of the people of this town.”
Mr. Annable unseated the incumbent, Emmett Sullivan, in 1977 to become supervisor and ran unopposed in every subsequent election but one.
In a 2009 Buffalo News interview, Mr. Annable recalled having to clear the dining room table in his home during the 1970s to make room for Jeanne, his wife, who was the town’s bookkeeper, to examine town ledgers. At the time, there was no Town Hall.
He oversaw construction of the town’s municipal building on Ridge Road in 1983. A star basketball player, teacher and basketball coach in the Hartland and Barker areas, Mr. Annable earned a basketball scholarship to the University of Buffalo. However, his college career was interrupted by the Korean War, when he joined the Coast Guard. He later returned to UB and graduated in 1956.
Mr. Annable retired as a lieutenant in the Coast Guard Reserve.
A career teacher, Mr. Annable began teaching physical education in the Royalton-Hartland School District but was recruited to coach basketball for the Barker School District. There, he taught health and biology and retired from the profession in 1987.
Mr. Annable’s wife, the former Jeanne Tamlin, died in 2003, shortly after the couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
Survivors include another son, Jeff, and a daughter, Maureen Brown.
A funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in Community Fellowship Church, 3144 Johnson Creek Road, Middleport.
– Teresa Sharp
HARTLAND – Longtime Town of Hartland Supervisor William “Bill” A. Annable died in his home Thursday after a long illness. He was 81.
His son, W. “Ross” Annable, who took over the town’s top post on Jan. 1, said his father had been under hospice care.
Mr. Annable served as Hartland supervisor from 1978 to 2011 – the longest-serving town supervisor in Niagara County history, according to his son. He retired last Dec. 31, following the November election of his son.
“He was happiest when serving others and was always looking to take care of someone else,” said the current supervisor. “He grew up in Hartland, which is just a little town, but he loved Hartland on many different levels and was always concerned with taking care of the people of this town.”
Mr. Annable unseated the incumbent, Emmett Sullivan, in 1977 to become supervisor and ran unopposed in every subsequent election but one.
In a 2009 Buffalo News interview, Mr. Annable recalled having to clear the dining room table in his home during the 1970s to make room for Jeanne, his wife, who was the town’s bookkeeper, to examine town ledgers. At the time, there was no Town Hall.
He oversaw construction of the town’s municipal building on Ridge Road in 1983. A star basketball player, teacher and basketball coach in the Hartland and Barker areas, Mr. Annable earned a basketball scholarship to the University of Buffalo. However, his college career was interrupted by the Korean War, when he joined the Coast Guard. He later returned to UB and graduated in 1956.
Mr. Annable retired as a lieutenant in the Coast Guard Reserve.
A career teacher, Mr. Annable began teaching physical education in the Royalton-Hartland School District but was recruited to coach basketball for the Barker School District. There, he taught health and biology and retired from the profession in 1987.
Mr. Annable’s wife, the former Jeanne Tamlin, died in 2003, shortly after the couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
Survivors include another son, Jeff, and a daughter, Maureen Brown.
A funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in Community Fellowship Church, 3144 Johnson Creek Road, Middleport.
– Teresa Sharp