Billy Aiton, a seasoned window film industry veteran with a career spanning four decades, faced heartbreaking news this December. He received a diagnosis of stage four liver cancer and was given just three months to live. Shannon, his wife of 18 years, will be hosting a celebration in honor of her husband’s life on January 20, 2024. Hundreds of industry professionals have reached out in support.
The 1972 Ford Torino
At the age of 15, Aiton tinted his first car following the implementation of new window tinting regulations in Arizona.
“Your windows couldn’t be too dark, and all of our cars were tinted,” shares Aiton, 55. “My pops went out and bought razor blades to remove the film. My first job was a 1972 Ford Torino. We stripped off the film. Afterwards, I asked my dad if I could install the new film.”
After tinting his first window, Aiton’s father took a look, smiled, and encouraged him, saying, “Do the rest.”
That moment propelled Aiton forward. Following experiences as an installer for various window film dealers, Aiton went on to establish Pro-Tech Window Tinting in Scottsdale, Ariz. The company has gone on to establish itself as a significant flat glass dealer.
“So many of us didn’t have anywhere to go, and then this industry showed up,” Aiton shares. “The first time you shrink a window? You can’t take that away from anyone. This is a gift.”
Family First
Aiton says being a father and a husband are two of his proudest accomplishments.
“You don’t want to leave this world thinking you did nothing,” Aiton says. “I’m very proud of what I’ve accomplished. I’ve raised kids and devoted time to them. I gave them the opportunity to be successful. I coached my kids’ teams. It was always about family. You’ve got to be strong. The last lesson I get to teach my children is how to be strong.”
“I Wanted to be Billy.”
Processing his prognosis, Aiton says the revelation is two-sided.
“You have to say goodbye, but you also get to say hello to people,” he says. “You get to share some laughs. I feel very blessed. I’ve been able to call people and share stuff I never got to say.”
He adds, “All I ever wanted to do was have fun, help others, and make the world a better place. I wanted to be unique. I wanted to be Billy—someone who wasn’t like anyone else.”