Biography

The son of a career military man, William Horne was born in Wichita Falls, Texas on February 25, 1962. William’s father believed in service to country and served in the Air Force until his death from leukemia in 1974. His father was a strong influence on William. Growing up, it was his goal to serve as a fighter pilot in the Air Force. Working toward that goal, William was active in the Cub Scouts, Webloes, Boy Scouts, and the Junior ROTC.

As part of an Air Force family, William moved frequently as a child, but lived in Las Vegas through most of his schooling. He attended Lois Craig Elementary, Madison Sixth Grade Center, Gibson Junior High and graduated from Western High School. William participated in a number of sports in junior high and played football at Western. It was there he became deeply involved in the ROTC program.

In William’s junior year in high school, he learned he could not follow in his father’s footsteps, due to a health-related condition. For William, service to country and community would have to come in another form.

Once William’s father passed away, the burden of raising the family fell on William’s mother, Mary. It wasn’t until years later that William learned how much his mother sacrificed, saved, and went without so William and his sisters Tracy and Toni could have clothes, books and money for after-school activities.

William finished his freshman year UNLV, then left school to work in the airline industry, and did so for the next 15 years, becoming a source of advice to his coworkers on contract and workers compensation issues.

He credits his mother as the inspiration to return to UNLV. William graduated with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, and with recognition for scholarship from UNLV President Carol Harter and the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. At UNLV William was president of Phi Alpha Delta, the International Law Fraternity.

William attended the UNLV Boyd School of Law, volunteering as a student attorney for the Child Welfare Clinic. William’s sense of service to community and the examples set by his parents became more pronounced. He graduated in 2001 with a Doctorate of Jurisprudence. William worked as a law clerk while studying for his bar exam. After passing the bar, William decided to establish his own independent law firm rather than join the corporate establishment.

William is a devoted father to four children, Kayla, Chelsey, Henry, and Chloe. Despite his very busy schedule, William still has his priorities in order and makes time for family activities and helping with school work.

During William’s time in law school, many of his professors and his fellow students suggested he think about entering the political arena. William saw this as an opportunity to continue the family tradition of service to community.

First elected in 2002, William was named the Outstanding Freshman Assemblyman in the 2003 legislative session. In 2005, the next legislative session, William was again recognized for his hard work and effectiveness and was named one of the top five most effective legislators in the Assembly.

When asked to sum up his experiences, Horne was quoted as saying, “I’ve been very lucky. I was able to change career paths and learn from it. I was able to return to college and earn a degree, then go through law school and begin practicing law. I’ve been honored to be elected to the state legislature and fortunate to be recognized there. But above all, I’ve been blessed with family. From my father who served his country and was my role model, to my mother who sacrificed so my sisters and I could do well, to my children, it has truly been a blessing that sustains me.”