William E. Thornton is an American politician who served as the mayor of San Antonio, Texas from 1995 to 1997.
[1] He succeeded Nelson Wolff and was himself followed by Howard Peak,[2] after Thornton finished third in his bid for reelection.
[3] Thornton was a noted proponent for proposals to restore and expand San Antonio's historic center in the area around the Alamo,[5] as well as a supporter of tax abatements to promote tourism through the construction of new hotels.
Two years later, he moved to Dallas to attend dental school, before returning to San Antonio in 1972.
[4] He has a doctoral degree in dental surgery from Texas A&M University Baylor College of Dentistry.