Bill Nelson ran twice for a seat on Dallas City Council.  In this photo he is chairing a campaign committee meeting in 1985.

Bill Nelson ran twice for a seat on Dallas City Council.  In this photo he is chairing a campaign committee meeting in 1985.

Bill as candidate for Dallas City Council.

For a short time in the mid-1970s, Bill worked as a fashion model in Dallas.

Showing the table set for Christmas Dinner, left to right: Bill's sister Sheila, his mother Jean, his dad Bill Nelson, Sr., and Bill, age 9.

Bill (right) and his dad, William H. Nelson, Sr., on a fishing trip when Bill was 15. 

Bill, age 16, sitting with his grandmother in Houston.

Bill at age 16.

College yearbook freshman photo of Bill at age 18.

Bill, as a college senior (at SMU) living for six months in Paris in the spring and summer of 1971, attending a "college semester abroad" program.

Dressing up for a men's fashion photo shoot.  Age 24.

Age 24

Age 24.

Age 28

Ski vacation in Breckenridge, Colorado, in February 1981.  Pictured here (left to right): Mike Anglin, Terry Tebedo, Bill Nelson (age 32).

Ski vacation in Breckenridge, Colorado, in February 1981.  Pictured here (left to right): Bill Nelson (age 32), Terry Tebedo, Mike Anglin, Dick Weaver.

Terry Tebedo (left) and Bill Nelson snacking on chocolate chip cookies in Provincetown, Mass., in 1981.

Bill (left) and Terry Tebedo, enjoying some beach time in Provincetown, Mass., in 1981

(Left to right) Terry Tebedo, Bill Nelson, and Mike Anglin, attending a Razzle Dazzle Dallas board members' brunch in the summer of 1981.

Bill (center seat, white shirt, age 35) chairs a board of directors meeting of the Dallas Gay Alliance in 1984..

Bill (age 36) as a candidate for Dallas City Council, holding up a copy of a defamatory circular distributed to voters by opposition operatives.  

Bill and Ann Brown discuss political strategy in his run for Dallas City Council.

Fearless Bill, unfazed by anti-gay tactics, pushes on with the campaign for Dallas City Council.

Bill touring the Mediterranean with his mother, Jean Nelson, in 1985. Photo taken by Bill's partner, Terry Tebedo. 

Bill touring the Mediterranean with his mother, Jean Nelson, in 1985. Photo taken by Bill's partner, Terry Tebedo. 

Bill touring the Mediterranean with his mother, Jean Nelson, in 1985. Photo taken by Bill's partner, Terry Tebedo. 

Bill (left) and partner Terry Tebedo in their home in Dallas in 1987.  Both fighting for their lives against the HIV virus.  Terry passes away on January 28 of the following year.

In early February 1988, Bill (in the yellow sweater) and dozens of friends and supporters stage a memorial demonstration in honor of Terry Tebedo, who died January 28, 1988.

In early February 1988, Bill (in the yellow sweater) and dozens of friends and supporters stage a memorial demonstration in honor of Terry Tebedo, who died January 28, 1988. Here Bill addresses the crowd of supporters on his "soapbox."

In early February 1988, Bill (in the yellow sweater) and dozens of friends and supporters stage a memorial demonstration in honor of Terry Tebedo, who died January 28, 1988.  Here, two Dallas Police officers are attempting to ticket Bill for "defacing public property" (the drawing of a chalk outline of a fallen body, representing Terry's passing).  William Waybourn (dark sweater) stands beside Bill in support.