William Howard Prim III

William "Howard" Prim III passed away on Monday, January 26, 2026, after a courageous battle with cancer. Howard was born on October 9, 1962, in Texas City, Texas.

Howard will be remembered as a loving and devoted partner, son and brother. He approached life with a philosophical and faith-centered mind, always reflecting on the deeper meaning behind everyday moments and conversations. A religious man, Howard's faith guided his values, his compassion for others, and the way he lived his life.

Howard attended Second Baptist School and Robert E. Lee High School in Houston. After high school, he received a Bachelor of Science degree in geology from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. He later earned a master's degree in business and finance from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.

While at SMU, Howard met Tracey. And years later their paths crossed again, leading to a lasting love and beautiful life shared together for 18 years.

Following graduate school, Howard worked for a real estate developer in Tampa, Florida. He was later hired by the World Bank Group and sent to Russia to develop real estate opportunities. After his two-year assignment, he returned to the United States, earned his commercial pilot's license, and flew for SkyWest Airlines. Howard had a deep love of travel and adventure and was especially drawn to the freedom of the skies, whether flying planes or gliders.

During his time away from flying, Howard began investing in real estate and renovating homes. This passion soon became his primary focus, and in 1998 he founded Prim Development. Howard specialized in residential homebuilding throughout Houston, including Montrose, the Heights, Rice Military and Tanglewood. He took great pride in his work, valuing quality, craftsmanship, and integrity in every project.

Howard also cherished the outdoors and was an avid hunter and fisherman. Throughout his life, Howard pursued many passions, including playing the guitar, cooking and entertaining with Tracey. A voracious reader, he often spent quiet evenings with a book, accompanied by his beloved black Labrador, Miles Davis.

Howard is survived by his loving and devoted fiancée Tracey Smith; his mother, Judith Rust Prim; his brother, John Prim, and wife Molly; his sister, Patricia Scheffe, and husband Michael; and his nephews, Josh Prim, Paul Prim, Will Scheffe and Lee Scheffe. He was preceded in death by his father, William Howard Prim Jr.

A service will be held on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at three o'clock in the afternoon at The Church of St. John's the Divine, 2450 River Oaks Boulevard, Houston, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the American Cancer Society for prostate cancer research.