William Lee “Bill” Morris

William Lee “Bill” Morris, a lifelong educator, devoted friend, beloved brother, uncle, godfather, and mentor, passed away on September 27, 2026, at the age of 80.

Bill was born on October 18, 1945, in Harlingen, Texas, to Thomas H. Morris Sr. and Mary E. Morris. He later made his home in Edinburg, Texas, a community that would remain central to both his personal and professional life.

Bill attended the University of Texas Pan American in Edinburg, part of the institution that would eventually become The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), earning a B.S. in Astro-Science in 1968. He later earned both a BBA and MBA from UTPA.

That same year, Bill began what would become a career of more than four decades at the university, starting as a Transcript Evaluation Clerk in the Registrar’s Office. Over the years, he served in numerous leadership positions, including Director of Admissions, Director of Institutional Research, Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs, Registrar, and Director of the Student Data Analysis and Projects Office. He retired from UTPA in 2011.

Education was more than Bill’s profession. He believed deeply in the opportunities it could provide, particularly for the many first-generation college students of the Rio Grande Valley. Of all his accomplishments, he was proudest of being part of an institution that gave generations of students the opportunity to pursue an education and build better lives for themselves and their families.

His influence extended throughout higher education in Texas. Bill was a longtime member of the Texas Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, where he served in numerous leadership roles, including Treasurer and President. He was twice recognized with the TACRAO President’s Award for distinguished service and was named an Honorary Member upon his retirement in 2011. Among his professional accomplishments, Bill was particularly proud of his work helping develop the common course catalog for Texas colleges, making it easier for students to transfer coursework between institutions across the state.

But there was much more to Bill than his work.

To friends and colleagues, he was known by many names over the years, including “Uncle Bill,” “Mr. Bill,” and, perhaps most fittingly, “Wild Bill.” He had a sense of adventure and fun that stayed with him throughout his life, whether traveling, visiting a favorite theme park, or simply spending time with the people closest to him.

Those who knew Bill will remember his intelligence, independence, dry sense of humor, generosity, and fierce loyalty. He built friendships that lasted decades, and many people who began as colleagues or friends eventually became family.

Bill’s commitment to service began early. As a teenager, he was involved in Scouting, and throughout his life he remained deeply connected to his community. He cared about Edinburg and took particular pride in efforts to beautify and improve the city he called home.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas H. Morris Sr. and Mary E. Morris.

He is survived by his brothers, Thomas H. “Tom” Morris Jr. and John R. Morris; his nieces, Jessica L. Brown, Jamie A. Crivello, Jill M. Batley, and Jennifer Grenside; and his nephews, Thomas G. Morris and Sean L. Morris.

Bill also leaves behind his godson, Coleman Davis, and the Davis family, including Lynn Banks, Emily Davis, Tommy Davis, Peachy Robinson, and Kate Moreno, with whom he shared a bond that went far beyond friendship. Bill was simply family.

He was also a mentor in the truest sense of the word. Bill was the person so many turned to when they needed to learn how to do something or figure out what to do next. He taught everything from how to fix a car to how to navigate some of life’s most pivotal moments. When the children in his life were young, he built tree houses for them; as they grew older, he was there with advice, perspective, and the kind of practical wisdom that stayed with them.

Teaching was not simply what Bill did professionally. It was one of the ways he cared for people.

In accordance with Bill’s wishes, he will be cremated and laid to rest beside his mother.

Bill spent his life opening doors for students, strengthening the institutions and communities he loved, building things with his hands, and showing up for the people who mattered to him. He leaves behind generations of students and colleagues whose lives were touched by his work, lifelong friends who became family, and people who are better equipped to make their way through the world because Bill took the time to teach them.

His family will remember everything he accomplished, but even more, they will remember the man who built their tree houses, fixed things that were broken, offered guidance when life became complicated, made them laugh, and was there when they needed him—the funny, independent, generous, and unforgettable man they knew simply as Bill, or, when the occasion called for it, “Wild Bill.”

A memorial service celebrating Bill’s life will be held on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at Funeraria del Angel Mont Meta & Memorial Park, 26170 State Highway 345, San Benito, Texas 78586. Family and friends are invited to gather in remembrance of Bill and the life he shared with so many.

October 18, 1945 – September 27, 2026

Remembered with love in San Benito, Texas.

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