BROOKS, III, William (Chili Bill) Thomas

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ 04/26/2013 William “Chili Bill” Thomas Brooks, 82, died Feb. 16, 2013, at the 26 Bar Ranch in Eagar. He was born in Phoenix, where he met his wife Martha. He then did a hitch in the U.S. Air Force, during which he had his three children and got to jump from a burning B29 over Oklahoma. Bill was an actor, a pilot who built his own jet engines and flew a Russian MiG fighter jet in a movie, author of several cookbooks and short stories, inventor, and entrepreneur that operated diverse businesses such as a small airline and a restaurant. He was also heavily involved in the American judo scene. He spent time in Japan and entertained many of the top masters from Japan in his home. He was a huge fan of John Wayne, had a collection of his movie memorabilia and spent his last years on Wayne’s 26 Bar Ranch. He produced several low-budget westerns and had a locally-popular cooking show, “Chili Bill’s Kitchen.” Bill was preceded in death by his wife Martha Lou. He is survived by his three children: Paige Roush of Redlands, Calif.; Gail Vanderslik of Mariposa, Calif.; William Thomas Brooks IV of Goodyear; six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He was a true renaissance man and will be missed. Burnham Mortuary of Eagar handled arrangements. Leave an online condolence at www.burnhammortuary.com