Bill Borton remembered through jazz scholarship

Published 12:00 pm Tuesday, June 26, 2001

“Bill Borton loved children and jazz, so friends of the late Fire District 3 firefighter and school district custodian have combined these two loves into a scholarship fund.Borton died June 10 after a long, public battle with leukemia. The young friends he made through his job and as a volunteer firefighter supported him all the way, and he was most appreciative of the children’s good wishes and was cheered each time he had to explain the two huge banners that lined his hospital room.Each year, Borton helped the Fire District 3 Santa Claus make his rounds, and he was popular on the school campuses. Last year’s SWHS graduating class dedicated their annual in his honor.One of Borton’s favorite events was the student jazz festival. A scholarship in his name has been established to benefit jazz students at South Whidbey High School. The plan is for the fund to continue through graduation from high school by the current third grade class.Donations may be made to the Bill Borton Jazz Scholarship at Washington Mutual Bank in Freeland. “