Bill Haught, former Parks & Recreation supervisor for the city of Lomita, passed away in Torrance on May 19th, 2017.

Born in 1944, Bill graduated from Salesianum High School in Delaware then enlisted in the Army. He served in Korea and Vietnam throughout the 1960s and often spoke of a memorable live holiday performance by Bob Hope in Vietnam. Bill served as Athletics and Recreation NCO and organized Army sports tournaments while in Long Bihn. He was acknowledged for participation as a member of the Honor Cordon for President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s interment services while stationed in Abilene, Kansas, 1969: 24th Infantry Division, Fort Riley. He continued his 20+ years of service through the Army National Guard of California and honorably discharged as MSG from the 40th AG Company, Los Alamitos.

In Bill’s civilian life, he graduated cum laude from California State University Long Beach. He pursued his passion for sports employed in Parks & Recreation by the County of Los Angeles. Bill found his true Parks & Recreation home in the City of Lomita and retired there as Recreation Supervisor. He served as President of SCMAF (Southern California Municipal Athletic Federation) in 1992 and BAMAA and was a member of NASO, USSF and SCSOA. Chances are, if you were a kid in the 80’s-90’s playing sports in the Southbay, Bill likely officiated your soccer and basketball games.

An avid golfer, Bill utilized his retirement to pursue his personal goal of playing every single military golf course throughout the United States. He managed to reach all active courses but two. A regular at the Long Beach Naval Golf Course, Bill always jumped at an invite for a foursome. He often said, “You can tell a lot about the honesty of a man while playing on the golf course.” He enjoyed his time with the men of the Holy Name Society at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church in Lomita, and will always be remembered doing kind works for his family, church, community and country.

His legacy will live on through his daughters, Lisa Haught Garner with husband Martin Garner of Culver City and Laura Lebron with husband Ronald Lebron of Los Angeles; grandchildren, Margaret, Katherine and Jasper; sisters, Nancy Handlin of Claymont, Delaware and Judith with husband, David Shockley of Wilmington, Delaware; nieces and nephews: Sharon, Susan, Deborah, Jennifer, Brian, Diana, Louie, Maria, Charles, and Mario; great nieces & nephews; cousins of Virginia; his faithful caregiver Leo Licuanan; and the love of his life, Mary. He is predeceased by his sister Patricia Merrit, the late wife of Arthur Merrit of Delaware.

Family requests, in lieu of flowers, please kindly donate in the memory of Warren W. (Bill) Haught to: St. Margaret Mary Church Holy Name Society (25515 Eshelman Ave., Lomita, Ca 90717); City of Lomita Parks & Recreation Dept. (24424 Eshelman Avenue, Lomita 90717); Salesianum High School, Athletic Dept. (1801 N. Broom St. Wilmington, Delaware 19802); Bishop Montgomery High School, Athletic Dept. (5430 Torrance Blvd., Torrance, CA 90503) or your local National Guard.