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University of Texas

Bill Bingham Obituary

Bill Bingham Long-time Austin resident and lawyer Bill Bingham died unexpectedly Monday, December 3. He will be missed by his family, many friends and co-workers. Bill was born in San Angelo, Texas on April 9, 1960. He graduated from San Angelo Central High in 1978. He received a B.A. from the University of Texas in the Plan II program in 1983, and a J.D. from the University of Texas Law School in 1986. Bill was an expert in insurance law. During his career, Bill served in the Office of Public Insurance Counsel, as Deputy Commissioner for the Department of Insurance, and most recently as counsel for Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard Law Firm of Austin. Bill's personal interests were rich and varied. He loved hiking, biking, and dancing. He was a dedicated volunteer with Readers for the Blind and Dyslexic. He enjoyed traveling and held season tickets for Longhorn football, basketball and baseball. Bill was a voracious reader and had an encyclopedic knowledge of music. He was a champion recycler and an avid promoter of mass transit. He rode his bicycle to work every day and took the bus whenever he could. Bill was preceded in death by his mother Darles Frank Henderson, and father William Morris Bingham Sr. He is survived by his sisters: June Cates, Betty Pohl, Sammie McDonald, Barbara Curry, and Deborah Keller; his uncle, Carmen Henderson, and numerous nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held in Austin on Saturday, December 8 at the Shoreline Grill at the Four Seasons Hotel in Austin at 12:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please contribute to Literacy of Austin or the charity of your choice.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Austin American-Statesman on Dec. 7, 2007.

Memories and Condolences
for Bill Bingham

18 Entries

Chris Adkins

December 17, 2007

My hear-felt sympathy for Bill. Fond memories of high school Physics, competitive Monopoly games, his unique golf swing, his high intellect, and a great sense of humor.
One of the most interesting people I have ever spent time with.

Kevin White

December 14, 2007

My heart goes out to Bill's family and his other friends.

I met Bill when we were both in high school, and he stayed a good friend all these years. I watched him grow from an often reserved kid into a confident, fearless, individual.

Bill had a fervent wish for justice in this world. The only times Bill was ever angered, that I can recall, were over a wrong done against one undeserving it. He loved this world, its outdoors, its people, and wanted to see it cared for.

Aside from our home town and common friends (and love for a great bargain), our main common interest was music, which included many artists we both loved, The Beatles, Johnny Cash, The Rolling Stones, The Ramones, The Who, Chuck Berry, and of course, Elvis. There's a vast canon of songs that Bill quoted, new stories about, sang, and that we shared in our collections. As long as that music lasts, Bill will be with me.

Bill will be greatly missed, and lovingly remembered.

My bandmate, roommate, friend, and little brother.

-- Kevin

Alexandra Burnett

December 13, 2007

Today decided to give Bill a call, having not chatted with him for awhile. Left him a voice mail, then later was shocked to hear of his death. We used to ride our bikes now and then, go for coffee and have long crazy talks for hours - years ago, when I still lived in Austin. He was smart, sweet and a gentle soul who always took the time to keep in touch over the years. I am sad and will miss him and his "out of the blue" late night calls. My condolences to his family.
An old friend - Alexandra

David Appleton

December 12, 2007

Bill was one of a few true "personalities" to spend time with us in the mountains of Colorado from time to time. He never failed to amaze as he would show up from Texas, head straight out on an epic peak ascent, return barely able to walk and then start the whole process over again after a day or so of being physically unable to move. He never wasted a day.

Brenda Billings-Boden

December 11, 2007

I worked with Bill for many years at the Texas Department of Insurance. I have to agree with David Bright - there is no text box big enough to describe Bill Bingham. I will attempt a poem, which I know can't even begin to capture the awesomeness that was Bill.

It's Impossible to Describe You

It's impossible to describe you
to those who didn't know
the way your jolly face lit up
with each "how are you" or "hello".

Or the way you went about your life
quietly partaking in so many things-
from hiking to books to UT sports and music-
especially your love of Elvis,"the King".

Eclectic, diversified, Renaissance man, all rolled into one,
how could such a unique individual suddenly be gone?

I will never forget the many times
you came willingly to my side
to help rescue yet another dog or cat
that might otherwise have died.

And who but Bill would have the unpretentiousness to choose as his State Bar pic,
one in which he's on hands and knees
playing with young kids?

I was glad to hear you'd been out with friends the night you were taken away
I'm glad you'd had that one last chance to go out and play.

But its not those images I'll think of when my mind flashes to my old friend Bill.....
No, I'll see him getting on his trusted bike,
and cycle slowly up Guadalupe hill.

Brenda Billings Boden

Michael Tharp

December 10, 2007

Bill was a wonderful person. I remember working out w/ him in Gregory Gym at UT...I was a freshman then. I remember his wittiness and humor. Bill became a work out buddy and a long lasting friend. I will always remember those workouts. Another memory was at the restaurant that he worked at when he was still a student at UT. He sang opera there. He sure loved to sing! I brought a date to the restaurant and he came to our table and sang to us. What a guy! Still today, just thinking about that night he sang to us, puts a smile on my face. I will miss him.

Ken McLeland

December 10, 2007

I was the LUCKIEST person in having BILL BINGHAM as my BEST friend for over 25 years. We tutored the athletes at UT in the mid-80's and shared season tickets for over 20 years...for those that truly knew Bill knew that his whole life revolved around the athletics of UT, and especially FOOTBALL...I was the LUCKIEST guy to have shared the seat next to Bill for all these years and to have been the guy that celebrated jumping up and down in ELATION holding BILL BINGHAM when the clock ran down at the ROSE BOWL against USC...I will ALWAYS remember the total ELATION on BILL's FACE and our embrace as we FINALLY got our HORNS 'to the TOP of the mountain'....I now know how blessed, TOTALLY BLESSED!!!! to share that moment with my BEST buddy...
Just two days before his passing Bill called me doing his FRED AKERS imitation (FAMED in his circle of friends) and telling me..."well, Ken, we have a fine group of athletes assembled here, in our conference room...we're huddlin' to figure out just how we're goin' to get the Longhorn program back to the TOP where it belongs...we know we'll be a COMPETITIVE group of HARD WORKIN' athletes representing this FINE institution...." (all done in his finest FRED AKERS' voice)....he went onto tell me that FRED and DANNY AKERS were in his law firm's conference room and that he had run into DANNY AKERS in the hall and DANNY recognized him from our days of tutoring...he went onto tell me of a great meeting with Danny and FRED!!! BILL and FRED chatting!!! THIS my friends was DIVINE INTERVENTION...coming 2 or 3 days before his passing and to have got the call from BILL and to hear the excitement in BILL's voice was such a BLESSING!!!!
As I think of my parents daily since their passing and will do so EVERYDAY the rest of my life...so will I think of my WONDERFUL, BRILLIANT, WITTY, KIND, CARING, INSIGHTFUL, LOVING buddy, BILL BINGHAM....
BILL's passing has left the BIGGEST HOLE in my life...please, write and share any stories of [email protected]...(I'm hoping it helps)

REST IN PEACE, Bill....HOOK'em 'HORNS!!!

Jim McCormack

December 9, 2007

To sum Bing up in 101 words: He was a completely original individual. He was larger than life. He was also: warm, totally funny, modest, brilliant in ways both easy and hard to explain, iconoclastic, pleasantly disdainful of pretense and material goods (except, perhaps, comfortable sandals, football tickets, books, and thoughtful gifts), loyal, eccentric in ways unforgettable, charming, stubborn, principled, and totally worrisome. He did not give a flying hoot whether anyone thought that what he was doing at any particular moment was a good idea or not. Bing just did it—and we are the lucky beneficiaries of all that.

RoseMary Deininger

December 9, 2007

I met Bill through the TX Assoc of Health Underwriters when he was with the TDI. He was always available to help a friend and he loved speaking at TAHU events. He was genuinely caring, giving and you knew he was a person who "walked the talk". He will truly be missed by all who knew and relied on him.

BOSCO BOB SCOTT

December 8, 2007

BANGIN'
BILL BINGHAM, I gave you that nickname you ol' drummer you! For a self taught drummer
you kept pretty good time, except for last Monday when time stopped for all
of us that knew and loved you like a brother. And speaking of good times,
we had 'em all over this continent. Mt. biking, sailing, jamming, hiking,
golfing, driving, writing songs (you were the best at parodies). You tell
Dean, Frank and Elvis to get the hell out of the way, you are now on deck
and will kindly show them how it's done. I'm hurtin' buddy, but
I know you wouldn't want that so I'll toast you again my friend: Bangin'
Bill Bingham from Palsville. Friend doesn't even come close. Jibby Jibby
say hey, as do Liddy and Edwina G. Robinson. Hey how's Groidy?

I love you Bill.
Say hey to The Colonel and Chelle for me. Save me a place and put in a good
word for me, I'll need it. I'll See you all when I get there. As you would say, energy
can neither be created nor destroyed, it just is. You are the only guy I know where dozens of people refer to you as "their best friend". That just doesn't happen often.

With all the love I can
muster for a great man and best friend,
Bosco (Sco as you would say)
Bob Scott, Hook 'Em

Debbie Gonzalez

December 8, 2007

May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well-lived.

Randy Beal

December 8, 2007

God bless your family Bill. I will always treasure the many memories of our childhood friendship. You were a great inspiration to many. Give my love to your Mom and Dad, I know they were so proud of you.

Paul Begala

December 7, 2007

Bill had a heart as big as Texas. From our days working together for students' rights at UT, to the time he fought to bring MTV to Austin, to the many, many causes he loved: the poor, the environment and of course, the Longhorns, Bill lived life to the fullest. I will always miss you, remember you, and think fondly of you, Bill.

Nancy Waidelich

December 7, 2007

One of my favorite memories of Bill occurred at TDI at our Life, Health & Licensing annual holiday party several years ago. Each Division was asked to prepare a skit to perform at the party. I did not know that Bill could sing until he took the mike and broke out into song, evoking his best Elvis impersonation, singing "Buh Buh Buh Blue Christmas." Bill's performance was a hoot (which was clearly his intent!), and the highlight of the entire event. Bill and his bike were also frequent passengers with me on the 110 flyer bus for years. Bill lived life the way it was meant to be lived...to its fullest every day...what a wonderful example he set for all of us, and especially for those fantastic nieces & nephews of his...I can only imagine how great it was to have an uncle like Bill. To his family, please know that those of us at TDI who knew Bill, and had the honor and privilege of working with him, share in your sorrow. Bill was, and will continue to be remembered as, a beloved member of our TDI family.

Louanne Trebing

December 7, 2007

I believe I was most surprised by his sense of humor. He had helped me in so many situations while he was at TDI. When he spoke, people listened. However, when I finally met him in person (he rode his bicycle to our meeting), I found he was funny, very intelligent, and a really good guy. He will be missed.

Stevey Phillips

December 7, 2007

We all lost a great friend and confidant. May your hearts soon be filled with memories of joyful times together as we celebrate a life well-lived. Bill we miss and love you very much!! From all of us at the Austin office thank you for being such a great friend.

William and Mellody Hoy

December 7, 2007

We love you and will miss you dearly at our family reunions.

David Bright

December 7, 2007

There is no text box big enough to describe someone like Bill Bingham. It would take a hundred pages just to scratch the surface of the varied interests that Bill pursued so enthusiastically. As amazing as is that anyone could be so passionate about so many interesting things, I think his defining quality is his capacity for love, friendship, and laughter. Yes, he was admirable and a great role model, but more than that he was a great friend.

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