At its annual meeting in March, Council on Aging (COA) presented its President’s Award to Bill Thornton from Warren County.
The award is given to individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the field of aging, and Thornton fills the bill in many ways. He joined the COA Board of Trustees in 2006, serving on the board for 11 years, including three years as Chairman of the Board and turns as vice chair and treasurer. When he left the Board in 2017, Thornton was immediately appointed to COA’s Advisory Council, where he continues to serve.
Throughout his almost two decades serving COA, Thornton has taken a special interest in community and government relations. He has always ensured he’s informed about the current issues facing COA and older adults, those with disabilities and caregivers. While many COA Board members participate in meetings with legislators from their respective districts, Thornton regularly attends meetings with state representatives and senators from across COA’s five-county region.
Before his many years serving COA and advocating for older adults, Thornton successfully grew and merged four business into Thornton Gardens, which he sold in 1999. He was bestowed several awards from nursery and landscaping industry organizations. He served in leadership roles with associations for small and independent businesses. He helped guide Warren County’s tremendous growth, serving in various community leadership roles. In 2000, Thornton established Leadership Warren County, and continues to lead annual classes through a rigorous curriculum designed to empower new leaders and encourage their personal investment in the success of the county they live and work in.
Thornton delights in defying the stereotypes of aging. An avid downhill skier, he has long since surpassed his goal of skiing for free at resorts that offer that bargain to skiers over age 70.