On May 8, 1989, the Board of Trustees of Northside Independent School District named NISD's 32nd elementary school for retiring Trustee William J. Thornton was elected to the Board in April, 1968 and served seven consecutive three-year terms. He served as School Board President in 1973, 1974, and 1985, as Vice-President three times, and Secretary twice. He represented NISD on the Bexar County Federation of School Boards (where he served two terms as President) and on the Board of Directors of the Texas Association of School Boards. NISD achievements to which William J. Thornton contributed include reading specialists and music teachers for all the schools, the PALS (Parents Assisting Learning) volunteer program, successful bond elections to construct 30 new schools and accommodate growth (from 14,000 students in 1968 to 50,000 students in 1989), the Athletic Complex, Paul Taylor Field House, Northside Memorial Stadium, Aquatics Center, Inselmann Field, tennis and soccer facilities, and Northside Activity Center.
