For the fourth time since he began his higher education teaching career at Weatherford College in 1963, history and government instructor Bill Coody is retiring, and wife Sue said he has assured family, friends and colleagues the retirement is the "real thing" this time.

Long-time history and government instructor Bill Coody will be honored at a retirement reception on April 26 at Weatherford College. The public is invited.

Coody began teaching at WC when the campus was located on South Main Street in Weatherford, and Vernon Parrott was president. His first "retirement" came in 1965 when he left college teaching briefly to serve as coordinator of education with a large insurance company in Dallas. However, the moment a vacancy occurred in the WC Social Science Department, Coody  and family were back in Weatherford as fast as they could get moved - and they have been here ever since.

Coody's second "retirement" came in fall 1972 upon his election as State Representative for District 63, which included Parker County and parts of Tarrant County. He served in the Texas House for six terms until his third "retirement" in 1984. He remained in Austin for several years working as a lobbyist. However, Weatherford College beckoned once again, and in 1995, under Dr. Jim Boyd's presidency, Coody returned to teach history and government in the Social Science Department.

Coody's WC family is hosting a reception in his honor Monday, April 26, in the Alkek Fine Arts Center Texas Hall, 1:30-3 p.m., and friends and colleagues and community members are invited to attend to celebrate his career and his "promised" fourth retirement.

For information, contact Sue Coody (who, along with son Sam and daughter-in-law Lisa, will remain employees at WC), 817-598-6423.