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= Bill Vardeman = William [Bill] Trego Vardeman (December 15, 1927 – March 19, 1995) is known as the longest serving Superintendent in the Levelland Independent School District, to date [ 2022].

In 1976-1977, Vardeman was instrumental in helping to design a new high school, which was built during the 1977-1978 school year. The class of 1979 was the first class to graduate from the building. The design of the building was controversial for the time, and featured a central common area with the administration, library, and dining areas in the center, with hallways for classrooms radiating away from this central area. Vardeman said he got the idea from the airports he passed through on the way to the many conferences he attended. This was the first school building in Levelland to incorporate heating and cooling in the design and infrastructure, and to minimize the use of windows.

While in office, Vardeman strove to improve the academic program as well as the athletic program in the district, and recruited and brought in such people as Gene Mayfield, Don Abbott, Robert Martin, Kelly Baggett, Burt Gravitt, Eddie Vowell, and Dean Weese. Dean Weese took the Levelland girls' basketball team on a multi-year series of State Championships, beginning in 1980.

Shortly after becoming Superintendent, Vardeman's challenges began, as he helped guide the school district through de-segregation. He was a member of the Texas Association of School Administrators and the American Association of School Administrators and held leadership roles in both. He also served as a member of the Texas State Teachers Association, and as chairman of the legislative board of the UIL, and worked with the Salvation Army, the Citizens Service League, and was a member of the Lions Club, the Kiwanis Club, and the Booster Club. He also started the Head Start program in Levelland, a precursor to school Kindergarten programs, and supported the United Fund.

Early Life
He was born in Levelland, Texas, and spent the majority of his life there. Although he was born in 1927, soon after the city was incorporated, he was considered an Early Settler, since he was a resident of Levelland before the mid-1930's.

Growing up, Vardeman lived in a few locations in the Levelland area. At one point, the family lived off of the Littlefield highway (US 385), just north of town. There was a tank (water?) between the house and the highway. As a punishment, he was required to sit on the tank; he said he always thought everyone driving past knew that he was being punished. He found the thought of that extremely embarrassing.

Vardeman's high school football career was so successful that he was on the only team to have undefeated season in the history of the school district. He had an appointment to West Point, and a full scholarship offer to play football at North Texas College in Denton; both of these were declined to help his parents on the farm. Vardeman earned both his undergraduate degree and Master's degree from Texas Tech University, when it was still Texas Tech College.

He hitch-hiked both ways first from Carlisle, then from Levelland, while earning his Bachelor's degree. He frequently recounted a story where a younger lady picked him up on the way home, and he rode to Midland with her to keep her company, then hitched back to Levelland.

While still attending Texas Tech, he began teaching at Whitharral, July 28, 1949. He worked for Magnolia Oil in the summers while attending Texas Tech for his Master's degree. Vardeman married Jo Olive Vardeman, daughter of Mary [Bullion] Mobley and Joseph Myers Mobley, on August 28th, 1949 at the First Baptist Church in Levelland. Mrs. Mobley, and his parents, Wilmer and Irene [Shofner] Vardeman were in attendance.

Career
In 1951, Vardeman returned to Levelland, after completing his undergraduate degree, to begin his teaching career, and coaching football. He then moved to Wilson, Texas to be the elementary school principal and then High School Principal.

Vardeman then returned to Levelland in 1961, as the Principal at Central Elementary, and returned to coaching. and became a full time principal in 1964. He became Director of Secondary Education at Levelland,  before becoming Superintendent in 1967. ( https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1137231/ : accessed August 7, 2022), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu ; crediting South Plains College. He arranged for TB testing for the school district in May, 1968.

Vardeman retired in June, 1983, citing health reasons. After his retirement, Vardeman taught himself to sew, and then to quilt. in 1989, he won first place at the Quilt Show at Early Settlers Day, July 12, 1989.

Awards
Vardeman was Levelland Man of the Year in 1969.

Newspaper Column Tribute
Levelland & Hockley County NEWS-PRESS  - Wednesday, March 22, 1995  Just Rambling column by Stephen Henry I was shaving when my wife told me Bill Vardeman had died. I cut myself. I was stunned. Images flashed through my mind.

They were images of a big, soft talking man who was my friend for 17 years.

There was the image of the big, strong, suit and tie wearing superintendent who worked his way up into that position and served this community well. There was the image of a man who proudly inspected a recently completed school building, content with the knowledge that it would serve his community for years. There was the image of a man who cared about kids and about his teachers and who would fiercely defend both before one and all, including a board of education.

Then there was the image of the soft talking man who helped a beloved daughter throw a paper route. A man who twice a week helped her roll and throw a couple of hundred newspapers in order for her to learn responsibility and earn her own money.

There was the image of a man whose face was covered in blood after a wreck with a police car while throwing that paper route but whose number one concern was not for himself but for everyone else. He carried the scar from that wreck for the rest of his life.

Then there was the image of the man who loved to build things--all kinds of things--but especially houses. He built houses, remodeled houses, and built additions here and in Ruidoso and taught a lot of draftees about the pride of accomplishment and the bone-weary pride of hard, manual labor and work done well.

There was the image of an apron clad man who got excited about remodeling a local store and opening Pop's Shoppe and of that seeing that excitement fade as the long hours took their toll on a man who had suffered one heart attack and had some health problems he'd share with no one but his loved ones.

There was the image of the man who loved to talk about his family and especially his grandkids and who wasn't above showing a photograph or doing a little bragging. His love showed.

There was the image of a man laughing at himself when his restored truck broke down during a parade.

There was the image of an obliging husband following his wife through the grocery store, prolonging the trip by stopping frequntly to visit with former students, teachers, friends and neighbors.

There was the image of a man whose hands were so large they seemed better fitted to a hammer or shovel handle than to scissors who took great pride in his skill at quilting.

There was the image of a good friend pleasantly disagreeing with a life long mentor, Judge Palmer, in the Palmer Bros. office.

There was the image of a man who was never too busy to offer encouragement, to clap you on the shoulder, to inquire as to one's family, not to share an insight on the community or on life in general.

The images I have of my friend are but a few that are remembered by his many friends in this community and across the South Plains. They flocked to his funeral and recalled a big man who lived a good life--a life that touched a lot of people in many different way--and who left images for us all to follow.