Bill was born to Sylvester William Hora Sn and Margaret Nile McMullen Hora in St Louis. He attended the Christian Brother High School and College and was attending the Southern College of Optometry when he enlisted in the USAAC during WWII, serving with 40th Squadron, 6th Bomber Group, 313th Wing and 20th Air Force. On his return from duties in Japan and the Eastern Mandates he resumed his optometry studies, graduating in 1948. He joined the clinic staff at the college before joining his brother, Dr Jack Hora, in his practice in Corinth, Mississippi, in 1955.
During the war he was awarded the American Theatre Campaign Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal (with three bronze stars), WWIIVictory Medal, the Sharpshooter Carbine Medal and the Good Conduct Medal rising to the rank of Staff Sergeant.
He was a member of the British Optical Association, The National Eye Research Foundation, a member of the Medical Research Associates Advisory Panel, a Charter member of the American Optometric Association contact lens section, a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, an Honorary Member of the West Tennessee Optometric Association and was a member of the 4th Degree Knights of Columbus Colour and Honour Guard, Pope John Paul’s II assembly. He became an associate member of the International Society of Contact Lens Specialists in 1999 and became a distinguished Service Member in 2010. Many members will remember his last attendance at the ISCLS Congress in 2006 in Nice when he was accompanied by his grandson, Hayes. The photo shows Bill with his first great grand daughter Eleanor, daughter of Hayes, at Easter 2014. His wife of 50 years, Frances Hornberger Hora died in July 2001.