Hometown Person

Full name: Billy Willis Jr.
I have lived in: Hughes Springs for 35 years.
Family: My wife, Tiffany, and two daughters, Kaycee and Kaylee.
Pets: Weenie dog named Junior and a Yorkie called Sam.
Occupation: Inspector operator at Cooper Tire and Rubber Company.
One of the best things about my job is: It pays good and has great benefits.
My ideal vacation is: Anywhere near the water.
My hero is: My mother, Mary Williams. She is a single mother who raised me and my brother on a single income. She is a hard worker that made sure my brother and I had the things we needed. And for that, I love her.
My favorite TV show is: Family Feud.
My favorite healthy snack is: An apple.
If I could change one thing about East Texas, it would be: To have more places that are kid-friendly and teen-friendly. Teenagers need a positive place to go so they will stay out of trouble.
The person who has influenced my life most is: My grandfather, Bennie Alexander. He taught me everything a young boy could learn up to manhood. Some of the things that I use in everyday life, I learned from him. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think of him.
The scariest thing that ever happened to me was: As a volunteer fire fighter, we had to cut an elderly lady out of a car during a wreck. I thought she was dead, but she wasn’t. It was one of the first fire calls that I had been on.
If I had to do it all over again, I: Would not change a thing. Life is lesson, learn from it.
The most exciting or dangerous thing I’ve ever done was: Go into a house fire. Your heart is racing, but at the same time, you have no fear.  You just do it.
If I won a trip to anywhere, I would go to: The South Pacific with the clear blue waters.
Two words that describe me are: Friendly and helpful.
Included on my bucket list are: Traveling and starting my own business.