William James Thornton, Jr., was born July 31, 1919 in Birmingham, Ala. He studied music at Louisiana State University earning bachelor's (1941) and master's (1948) degrees in music composition. He was married to Vivian Quaine Dyer in 1941. During World War II Thornton served in the United State Air Force Special Services and was stationed at Selman Field in Monroe, La. He composed, arranged, rehearsed, and directed the musical programming for Air Force shows. Thornton was eventually promoted to the rank of sergeant and toured the South Pacific as the music director of Air Force shows. During his military service he wrote over 180 compositions and musicals. He completed his doctorate at the University of Southern California in 1953 and held several teaching positions in the Midwest before landing at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, where he spent the majority of his professional career. In addition to his teaching and professional duties, Thornton received numerous commissions throughout his career, most notably from the San Antonio Symphony, Parsons College, and Louisiana State University. In 1980, he earned the title of Professor Emeritus at Trinity University. One year later his wife died and in 1984 he married Alice Marilyn Dutcher. Upon retiring in 1988, Thornton taught music in Pointe Coupee Parish, La., for one year and then accepted a lecturer position in music composition at the University of Texas at San Antonio where he remained until 1993. That same year his wife Alice died and he married Katherine Cornell. Thornton died on September 15, 1996, five days after the premiere of his final composition.
From the description of William J. Thornton papers, 1939-1998 (bulk 1941-1995). (Louisiana State University). WorldCat record id: 747992946
