William 'Bill' Jackson Thorn, Sr.

William Jackson “Bill” Thorn, Sr.
September 4, 1930 – October 21, 2026

William Jackson Thorn, Sr., known to generations of athletes simply as “Coach,” passed away on October 21, 2026, at the age of 96.

Bill was born on September 4, 1930, in Birmingham, Alabama to Jackson Perry Thorn and Edna Ione Thorn. He graduated from Ensley High School in 1949 and from Birmingham-Southern College in 1954. That same year, he married the love of his life, Mary Patricia “Patty” Walton. The two of them then moved to Atlanta, where Bill took his first full-time coaching job at Georgia Military Academy in College Park, GA.

In 1959, Bill became Head Coach and Athletic Director at Headland High School in East Point, GA. In 1969, he transitioned out of coaching and spent the next decade buying and selling commercial property, working in construction, and owning Coach’s Tires in College Park. But coaching was always his calling. He returned to it at Colonial Hills Christian School in East Point, then five years later at Fayette Christian School.

In 1988, Bill and two other men set out to start a new private school, and Landmark Christian School was born. He coached there from 1988 until his retirement in 2019 at the age of 88. In 1998, Landmark’s football and track stadium was dedicated in his name. Over more than 50 years of coaching, Bill amassed 42 state championships in football, track, and cross country. In 2020, he was inducted into the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Bill’s success came from his dedication to hard work and the life principles he taught every young person he coached. Nothing brought him more joy than watching his athletes succeed on the field, on the track, and in life. Many will remember him for his “Thornisms,” and his legacy will continue to live on through the countless lives he touched.

Outside of coaching, Bill took up running in his 40s and ran the very first Peachtree Road Race in 1970. That was the beginning of a 53-year streak of running every Peachtree, which ended in 2023 when he completed the course as the race’s first Grand Marshal. He was inducted into the Peachtree Road Race Hall of Fame in 1994.

Bill’s strong faith in Jesus Christ shaped everything he did. He and Patty were members of Berachah Bible Church for 55 years, and he always shared his faith with others, whether on the field, in the classroom, or in conversation with a stranger.

Above all, Bill loved his family and was a faithful husband to Patty for over 72 years. To his four children, Lynn, Cheryl, Bill, and Terry, he was simply Dad. We were proud to share him with so many young people and are blown away by the impact he made on so many lives, even years later.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Patricia “Patty” Thorn; daughter Patricia Lynn Victor; daughter Cheryl Leigh Thrasher (Steve); son William “Bill” Jackson Thorn, Jr.; son Terry Walton Thorn; six grandchildren – Ashley Walker (Mike), Natalie Victor (Sebastian), Kenzie Bayman (Max), Jeremiah Thorn, Caleb Thorn, Sarah Thorn; and six great-grandchildren – Wyatt Walter, Grey Walker, Wren Walker, Brenna Bayman, Michael Bayman, Olivia Bayman.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jackson Perry and Edna Ione Thorn; his sister, Martha Ann Huffman; his brother, Robert Eldridge Thorn; his son-in-law, Tony Van Victor; and his grandson, Kevin Lee Thrasher.

To learn more about Bill’s life and the lessons he taught, read Thorn: The Scrappy, Relentless, and Inspiring True Story of Legendary Coach Bill Thorn, published in 2026 and available on Amazon.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in honor of Coach Bill Thorn to any of the following:
· Southwest Christian Care: https://www.swchristiancare.org/
· Landmark Christian School: https://landmarkchristianschool.org/giving/
· Berachah Bible Church: https://www.berachahbible.org/give

A gathering to share memories and celebrate his life will be held on Sunday, November 1st at 2pm at Landmark Christian School gymnasium (50 SE Broad Street, Fairburn, GA 30213).
As we prepare to celebrate the life of William J. Thorn, we kindly ask that you RSVP here. This will help us plan accordingly and ensure we have space for everyone.

We are looking forward to honoring his life and legacy together.