Kennesaw Councilmember Bill Thrash Dies After Battle with Cancer

Kennesaw Councilmember William E. "Bill" Thrash died Wednesday at the age of 58 after a long battle with cancer.

Thrash served as Mayor Pro Tem in 2011, a past president of the Cobb Municipal Association and president of the 3rd District’s West Region of the Georgia Municipal Association. He was elected to Council Post 4 in 2001 and was serving his third term of office after re-election in 2010.

Thrash's greatest passion was creating programs for the development and advancement of young people in the community. He spearheaded the formation of the Youth Council in 2002 and founded the Kennesaw Teen Center in 2011. 

"He was always pushing to promote youth and find ways to give the youth in our community something to do, a constructive exercise, a safe place to go," Mayor Mark Mathews said.

At the last council meeting, individuals from the 2004 Youth Council were present, Councilmember Cris Eaton-Welsh said. "They were there to thank Suzie (Bill's wife) for the impact he's had on their lives. One of the kids from 2004 actually wrote a letter to Bill and said he'd taken what Bill taught him and started his own youth group for special needs kids.

"His influence was so far-reaching. He touched so many lives and had a huge heart," Eaton-Welsh said. "He was always thinking about someone else."

Thrash's other major pursuits were the development of Swift-Cantrell Park and involvement and support of the Police Department.

"One of the things that I always base anything I do in Kennesaw on is something Bill used to always say to me, 'A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shades they will never sit it,'" Eaton-Welsh said. "He planted a whole bunch of trees, and his trees will continue popping up all over."

While Thrash was instrumental in the evolution of the city of Kennesaw and the future of our youth, he will also be remembered for his vivacious personality.

"When he was younger he sang in an Elvis cover band. So whenever we drove anywhere, he always had Elvis on the radio and would just sing and sing and sing," Eaton-Welsh laughed. "He was just a hoot!"

Before passing away, Thrash recorded a CD of 14 different songs, including a few Elvis numbers. "He wanted everyone to have his voice to comfort them when he passed," Eaton-Welsh said.

Thrash was born in Houston and raised in Oklahoma, where he lived until he graduated from Putnam City High School in 1971. 

Thrash enlisted with the Army immediately after high school and served two years of active duty, attaining the rank of E-4, specialist. Thrash entered the Colorado National Guard between 1981 and ’86, serving as a helicopter crew chief.  

After the Army, Thrash moved to Colorado, where he worked as a paramedic. He left that field in 1980 when he got married to his wife Suzanne.

Thrash entered security management after he left his work as an EMT. He was transferred from Denver to Kennesaw in 1992, and shortly thereafter began volunteering on Kennesaw boards, including the Development Authority, Downtown Development Authority, Recreation & Culture Commission and Historic Preservation Commission.

Thrash is survived by his wife Suzie, daughter Mandy and sons Robby and Billy Mealor.

Thrash requested that his remains be donated to Emory University.

Details about a memorial service will be shared when they become final. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Loving Arms Cancer Outreach in Bill Thrash’s name.