WILLIAM BERNHARDT HOUSTON
1939-2022
William Bernhardt Houston, 83, of Houston, Texas, passed away April 26, 2022 surrounded by his loving family. He was born to William Steven Houston and Theresa Louise Houston (nee Steger) in Washington, DC on March 24, 1939. William, fondly known as Bill, grew up in Denver, Colorado, which inspired his life-long love of nature and the great outdoors. In his youth, he was a proud Eagle Scout, worked at the Denver Park Service and for the Rio Grande Railroad in the majestic Rocky Mountains.
He graduated with a BA in History from Regis College, in Denver, Colorado. He later went on to earn his JD at University of Denver Law School and completed the Advanced Program in Management at Harvard Business School.
It was in college and on the ski slopes that he met Janet Houston (nee Pietig), his future spouse and love of his life. The couple married in 1962 at St. Peter and Paul’s Catholic Church in Carroll, Iowa. This was one of his happiest moments and they were married for 59 1/2 years. One of his happiest achievements were his five children and three grandchildren, a testament to the love he had for his family.
Bill’s professional career began as a Revenue Agent at the Internal Revenue Service. He then served in the military division of the US Army 1st Infantry. Following graduation of law school in 1961, he began his career as a tax attorney working in the oil and gas industry for a number of corporations including Phillips Petroleum, Monsanto and Marathon Oil Company where he finished his career as General Tax Council. It was in post-retirement years that he became a proud small business owner with Janet, operating Houston Catholic Books for 15 years.
After retirement in 1989, Bill spent his time in charitable activities while continuing to ski, play tennis and golf. He first served the Texas Bar Association Asylum Project in Harlingen, TX. He was an active member of the Serra Club of Houston for vocations. Bill also served on several Board of Directors, including Strake Jesuit College Preparatory High School, the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston Development and Inner-City Schools Committee, and the Board of Regents at Regis University, in Denver. He also served on Homeowners Association Boards at Woodlake Forest IV and Villa Verde of Northgate Forest Country Club in Houston.
Bill was a member of the Colorado and Texas Bar Associations, and the US Tax Court in Missouri, Ohio and Oklahoma. He served as General Committee President of the American Petroleum Institute and was a member of the Harvard Business School Club of Houston.
His life is marked by his strong Catholic faith and service to church and community. He was a parishioner at St. Ignatius of Loyola, and a member of Knights of Columbus Council 10861 and 4th Degree 2683 in Spring, TX. Bill proudly achieved the high honor of Knight Grand Cross of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcre.
Bill will be dearly remembered for his generosity and loving devotion to his family and friends. His personality was full of a wanderlust for travel and adventure which he carried with him throughout his life, along with his passion for reading, music, history and stamp collecting. We will always remember his clever wit, jovial sense of humor, baritone laugh and smile. Bill will be greatly missed by his wife, his five children, three grandchildren, and the many friends and family who loved him.
He is survived by wife Janet Houston of Houston, TX, his five children, William J., Theresa, Ellen, Peter, John, and his grandchildren, Emil Trevino, Scarlett and Saylor Houston-Azzarello.
A memorial mass service will be held at 11am, May 2, at St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Church, 7819 Cypresswood Drive, Spring, TX, 77379; followed by burial service at 3:00pm at Forest Park Westheimer Funeral Home and Cemetery, 12800 Cypress Creek Parkway, Houston, TX, 77077. Visitation will be on May 1, from 3:00pm to 6:00pm at the Brookside Funeral Home Champions, 3410 Cypress Creek Parkway, Houston, TX, 77068.