The New Frontier - JWIDb
  • Home
  • Enter the JWIDb
    • Biography >
      • John Wayne's Genealogy
    • Filmography >
      • Indepth Filmography
    • John Wayne Before Stagecoach >
      • Is this John Wayne?
    • Videography
    • Television Appearances
    • Complete Discography
    • Radio Appearances
    • Complete John Wayne Bibliography
    • Awards & Honors >
      • Congressional Gold Medal
    • Co-Stars
    • Stunt Men & Women
    • Directors
    • Composers
    • Filming Locations
    • Collectibles
    • Image Galleries
  • Extras
    • Chili Bill's 26 Bar Memories
    • John Wayne Fun Facts & Trivia
    • Trivia Quizzes & Puzzles
    • Buy - Sell - Trade
  • Links
    • JWIDb Downloads
  • About
    • My Collection
  • Contact
  • Blog

William T. "Chili Bill" Brooks - 1931-2013

7/1/2013

7 Comments

 
PictureChili Bill Brooks
I am very sad to report that William T. “Chili Bill” Brooks has passed away. Here are two obituaries that appeared online reporting this sad event.

William Brooks III
Posted: Friday, April 26, 2013 5:00 am

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.



PictureBill Brooks and his wife, Martha
William T. Brooks:

It is with great sadness that I share the news of the passing of our dear friend, "Chili Bill" Brooks, 82 years old. He was such an amazing man! After flying in the Air Force, he opened a successful restaurant and also began his own airline. He flew for William Randolph Hearst, which is how he met The Duke, when he flew John Wayne up to visit Hearst Castle. He eventually became Wayne's personal pilot and began a long friendship. He also somehow squeezed in a career at NASA, teaching there in New Mexico.

But he really loved life at 26 Bar Ranch, choosing to spend his golden years there.

We struck up a friendship over our mutual admiration of The Duke & 26 Bar Ranch, and we created this FB group. I finally had the privilege of meeting Chili Bill in person last year and he gave me the grand tour of his John Wayne museum. As you know, he had an unending array of stories to share... I dreaded the day, this day, that his stories would cease.

With the loss of Chili Bill, ends an iconic era.
You will be greatly missed, but you and your stories will live on in our hearts and minds.


Rest In Peace, Chili Bill, Mi Amigo.


7 Comments
Erik Muhs
2/18/2014 08:55:23 pm

Dear publisher of these sad news,

I am deeply depressed about reading these news ... in all the years I became kind of a fan of Chili Bill. In honor of him I wanted to ask you which Facebook group you mean to join there if it is possible. It's so sad that this great man passed away ... R.I.P. ol' friend.

Reply
Bob
2/19/2014 11:50:51 pm

Hi Erik,
Bill was quite the fella, and I count myself blessed to have been a friend of his for at least the last few years he was with us. Although Bill had two or three websites and a couple of Facebook pages, they have mostly been shut down. There is one Facebook page that is still up, however, and the URL is https://www.facebook.com/JohnWayne26BarHerefordRanch

There are several of Bill's videos still available on this Facebook page, and of course his posts are still there. I believe there might also still be some of his videos up on You Tube. As I have many of them already on disc, I haven't checked You Tube, but they still may be up on there. Thank you for visiting the New Frontier website, and I hope you enjoy it. Like you, I too miss Chili Bill, but I know that he will live on in the memories of his family, friends and fans. Like I said, he was quite the fella.

Best Regards,
Bob Tuttle

Reply
Erik Muhs
2/20/2014 09:03:37 pm

Thanks for the reply Bob,
I just left a like at the Facebook page! So you have a Facebook account yourself? I would love to add you, Sir.

I think you are right when you said that he lives in our memories ...

Best wishes from the baltic sea

Erik Muhs

Reply
Bob
2/21/2014 12:26:33 am

Hi Erik,
At the moment I do not have a Facebook page for the New Frontier, although it is something I have given some thought to. Perhaps in the future it may happen. I am currently working on an in-depth filmography for the website, that includes more information than just the film title and year of release, so that is taking up a great deal of my time. Maybe after I complete that project I will be able to take another look at putting up a Facebook page.
Best Regards,
Bob

Reply
Keith Payne
4/16/2014 04:18:20 am

Nice of you to note our loss. I had gotten to know Bill by the JWMB. He and I were working with the mayor of Eager on trying to get the Best of America by Horseback to do a ride on the ranch. I had talked to him many times on the phone.....wish he had lived long enough for the event we hoped to have there...........I would have had the privilege to meet him then also! I did very much enjoy his stories though. Good of you to keep his videos for the public. Fly high and say Howdy to the guys, Bill...............KEITH

Reply
Bob
4/22/2014 06:41:28 am

Thank you Keith! Yes, Bill was quite the character and all of us who knew him certainly do miss him.

Reply
brian
7/28/2017 11:59:11 am

just found the youtube for this man rip you will be missed

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Categories

    All
    Academy Awards
    Big Jim Mclain
    Blu Ray
    Book Review
    Brushwest Watercolours
    Cahill Us Marshal
    Chili Bill
    Chili Bill Brooks
    Chisum
    Chisum Songs
    Circus World
    DVD
    Fake Family Members
    Fan Fiction
    Film And Entertainment News
    Film Reviews
    Glen Campbell
    Graham Leggett
    Hal Needham
    Hondo
    Isla Taborcillo
    Japan Subway Manners
    John Ford
    John T. Wayne
    John Wayne
    John Wayne
    John Wayne Art
    John Wayne Childhood
    John Wayne Collectibles
    John Wayne Collectibles
    John Wayne Fantasy Films
    John Wayne Film Ads
    John Wayne Film Festival
    John Wayne Film Guns
    John Wayne Films
    John Wayne Island
    John Wayne Misconceptions
    John Wayne News
    John Wayne News
    John Wayne's Family
    John Wayne's Film Guns
    John Wayne Soundtracks
    John Wayne Tributes
    John Wayne You Tube
    Liberty Valance
    Marion Michael Morrison
    Marion Mitchell Morrison
    Marion Robert Morrison
    Maureen O'Hara
    Mclintock
    Mti Film
    National Film Registry
    North To Alaska
    Obituaries
    Olive Films
    Oscars
    Panama
    Photo Blog
    Quiet Man
    Red River
    Richard D Jensen
    Ridgway Colorado
    Ridgway Old West Fest
    Rio Bravo
    Scott Allen Nollen
    Site And Blog News
    Soundtracks
    Stagecoach
    Stephanie Powers
    Stuntmen
    Taborcillo Island
    Terry Hammock
    Terry Wayne Hammock
    The Quiet Man
    The Searchers
    The Shootist
    Three Bad Men
    Tommy Emmanuel
    Tribute Song
    True Grit
    True Grit
    Valentin De Vargas
    Ward Bond
    When The Legend Became Fact The True Life Of John Wayne
    White O Morn
    William Brooks
    Wold Newton Universe

    Archives

    November 2018
    September 2016
    January 2016
    July 2015
    December 2014
    October 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012

    john_waynes_forgotten_radio_show.pdf
    File Size: 264 kb
    File Type: pdf
    Download File

    RSS Feed

    john_wayne_-_world_war_ii_oss_agent.pdf
    File Size: 104 kb
    File Type: pdf
    Download File

    Free John Wayne Movies Online 24/7!
    Picture

    Picture

    Picture


    Picture

    Picture

    BlogRoll

    50 Westerns from the 50's

    Greenbriar Picture Shows

    Riding the High Country

    Speakeasy

    The Great Silence
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.