Throughout the church over the weekend we received the sad news of the sudden and unexpected death of the Vice President of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Mr. William “Bill” Horne.
Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton wrote to the church, “With much sadness and shock I share with you the news of the sudden passing of Bill Horne, my friend and Vice President of the ELCA…He died Saturday afternoon of a suspected heart attack, according to the city press release. Please join me in praying for his wife Loretta and the rest of his family during this difficult time. We will always remember Bill as a faithful servant of God.”
The Vice President of the SWCA Synod, Mr. Randy Foster wrote yesterday, “This morning brought our ELCA and its 65 synods the unspeakable news that Mr. William (Bill) Horne had died, a man of impeccable integrity and an unflappable character, only surpassed by his love for the church! Bill was the epitome of what it means to "do justice, love mercy and walk humbly before your God! As a former Lt. Colonel in the Air Force, and the present City Manager of Clearwater, Florida; he exuded these qualities with distinction and purpose, always and unequivocally, giving thanks to Almighty God for all that he did and said. God used him; an ordinary man set aside for extraordinary things! I remember the years of working together in Chicago helping to define a programmatic and fiscally sound approach towards seminary integration, a task that continues to this day with measurable success. We have lost a 'prophetic voice among us', our Lord has called home a 'faithful servant'! May he rest in the arms of our Lord, and may his family find peace in knowing that his greatest reward has been received!”
Bishop Murray D. Finck added, “Before being elected ELCA Vice President, Bill Horne served as a remarkable leader in the Florida-Bahama Synod and was also on the ELCA Church Council during the years I sat with the Council. He brought life, joy, and energy into those Council chambers on the 11th Floor of the Lutheran Center. When he spoke, we listened and we valued his insight, wisdom, and perspective. His faith was clearly evident in his words and in his dedication to Christ Jesus and his Church. Bill became a Lutheran through the ministry of a Military Chaplain. He was a champion of the ELCA Federal Chaplaincy Ministries and an advocate for our ELCA Chaplaincy Scholarship Endowment Fund. Rest eternal, grant him, O Lord; and let light perpetual shine upon him.”
The information below was taken from a news article from Clearwater, Florida:
Horne, 72, served as city manager for more than two decades and was looking forward to his retirement on September 3. He began his career with the city in 1998 as general support services administrator. The next year, he became assistant city manager. In July 2000, he was named interim city manager and then became city manager the following year.
"Yesterday we lost a patriot, mentor, leader, public servant, veteran and role model. I lost my friend," said Mayor Frank Hibbard. "Our community was richer for having Bill Horne and today we are poorer for having lost him. His impact in Clearwater and beyond will live on tangibly and in our hearts. Rest in peace, my friend.” Hibbard said their thoughts are with Horne's wife, Loretta, and other members of his family.
As city manager, Horne was one of two city staff members who reported directly to the city council. He was responsible for 1,685 city employees and accountable for the city's annual operating and capital budget of $385 million.
Horne earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from the University of Tulsa, a master's degree in human resources management from Pepperdine University and a master's degree in political science from Auburn University.
A longtime member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Clearwater, Horne served as a member of the Florida-Bahamas Synod Council for the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America and held various leadership positions with the ELCA during the past two decades.
