|
William J. "Bill" Hill was a sixth-generation Texan and lifelong Houston resident who left an indelible mark on his cherished Houston community as well as the state’s cultural landscape before his passing in 2018.
Bill was as well known for his generosity as he was for his business acumen as the founder of Houston Oil Producing Enterprises (HOPE). His great success in business afforded him the opportunity to give back and give big to numerous Houston organizations.
Bill found great joy in fishing and bird hunting. “I had the pleasure of meeting Bill several years before his passing,” remarked Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation (TPWF) Executive Director Anne Brown. “His love of Houston, of Texas at large, and of our wild things and wild places was apparent from the start. He was eager to find the perfect way to pay forward his good fortune for the benefit of all who love Texas’ proud outdoor traditions as much as he did.”
In a final act of generosity that reflects his enduring love for Texas, Bill Hill made a legacy gift from his estate to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s (TPWD) Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center (TFFC) in Athens, which has welcomed over a million visitors since it opened in 1996. The landmark contribution helped TPWF fund an extensive multi-million-dollar renovation that is currently underway at TFFC, which includes refurbishing the popular Dive Theater and its 25,000-gallon dive tank, renovating four large outdoor aquaria exhibits, installing four new outdoor fisheries tanks and greatly enhancing the indoor exhibits and overall visitor experience.
“We couldn’t have embarked on this historic renovation to reimagine TFFC for rising generations of Texans without the selfless generosity of Bill Hill,” said TPWD Director of Inland Fisheries Tim Birdsong. “His evergreen legacy will live on through the tens of thousands of school children, families and aspiring anglers we will welcome through TFFC’s doors every passing year.”
As we celebrate National Estate Planning Awareness month, we invite you to learn more about how you, too, can make plans now to leave a wild legacy for Texas.
Join the John Graves Legacy Society
As a beloved Texas writer, John shared his own love of Texas’ wild things and wild places with thousands of readers and gave voice to the urgent need to protect Texas’ unique landscape. This is why there is no better namesake for a group dedicated to conserving the outdoors of Texas for future generations.
The John Graves Legacy Society honors individuals who have made a planned gift to Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation through their will or estate plan. These special supporters are committed to conserving Texas' lands, waters and wildlife for the future and want their legacy to reflect this commitment.
Just as John Graves inspired countless individuals o take an active role in the stewardship of our wild things and wild places, so too can a planned gift to Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation impact the future of conservation in Texas.
Please become a member of the John Graves Legacy Society by including Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation in your estate plan. No gift amount is too small. If you have already done so, your willingness to be recognized as a member of TPWF’s John Graves Legacy Society inspires others to follow your example.
|
|
