Harold Dorsey

Harold Byris Dorsey was born October 23, 1923 in Hillsboro, Texas. He graduated from Hillsboro High School and attended Hillsboro College and the University of Texas at Austin before eventually graduating from the University of North Texas with Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Music Education as well as administrative certification. He served in WWII from February 1943 through October 1945 as a member of the Army Signal Corps attached to the Army Air Force as a radar technician. His tour of duty took him through Sicily, Italy, Germany, and France. His first teaching position was as band director at DeLeon High School before he became band director for the Waxahachie ISD in 1951. His tenure as band director lasted until 1966 when he became principal at Marvin Elementary. He became principal of T.C. Wilemon Junior High in 1970 and WHS in 1971. He retired from WISD in 1983. In 2003 he received the "Outstanding Educator" award from the Waxahachie Ex-Students Association. Harold became director of the West Ellis United Way in 1985 and served in that capacity for several years. He was also music director at Central Presbyterian Church from 1951 to 1991. He was a member of numerous civic organizations in Waxahachie including Rotary Club, Friends of the Library, and the Ellis County Historical Commission. In 2009, the Ellis County Commissioners' Court declared July 13th through 17th as "Harold Dorsey Week". Services will be held Friday, October 23 beginning with interment at the DFW National Cemetery at 9 am. A celebration of remembrance will follow at 11 am at Central Presbyterian Church in Waxahachie. The family will receive visitors in the church parlor prior to the service and immediately afterward. Harold was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Wilma Thiele Dorsey, and son Marcus Stuart Dorsey. He is survived by his daughter, Leigh Ann McClure of Keller; grandchildren, Kate McClure of Addison, Michelle Joseph and husband, Floyd, of Keller, and Michael McClure of New York City; great-grandchild, Lincoln Joseph; brother, Carl Dorsey of Hurst; brother-in-law, Edward Thiele and his wife, Catherine, of Nashville, TN; and numerous nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting memorials be made to Central Presbyterian Church or The Harold, Wilma, and Stuart Dorsey Scholarship Fund which will be established to benefit WHS graduates who intend to pursue a degree in music after graduation. Checks to the fund may be mailed to c/o Leigh Ann McClure, 10329 Grayhawk Lane, Fort Worth, TX 76244.

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