Rice University is mourning the passing of E. William “Bill” Barnett ’55, an esteemed alumnus, former chairman of the Rice Board of Trustees and a transformative figure in the university’s modern history. Barnett passed away this month at the age of 92, leaving behind a legacy of exceptional leadership, unwavering dedication and civic-minded service that shaped the university and the city of Houston for decades.
"Bill Barnett was a great leader for Rice University,” said Robert T. Ladd, chairman of the Rice Board of Trustees. "He was dedicated to improving our university with a clear focus on outcome. Bill’s accomplishments as chairman will benefit us for years to come, and he will be missed by the entire university community."
“Bill Barnett was a steadfast advocate for Rice and a guiding force behind the success of the Baker Institute,” Rice President Reginald DesRoches said. “His leadership, wisdom and generosity helped elevate our university and strengthen its impact on the world. We are deeply grateful for his service and mourn his passing with great respect and admiration.”
Barnett first joined the Rice Board of Governors in 1991 as a term member, was elected a trustee in 1994 and became chairman in 1996. He led the board through 2005, a period marked by major capital campaigns and significant institutional growth. During this time, Rice elevated its national and international profile, including that of the Baker Institute for Public Policy, where Barnett was a longtime advisory board chairman and co-chaired the search committee that selected former and founding director Edward Djerejian.
“Few played a bigger role shaping Houston during the last half century than Bill Barnett,” said former Secretary of State James A. Baker III, honorary chair of the Baker Institute. “He was my close, personal friend since our law school days, and he was responsible for making me a partner in the law firm of my great-grandfather, grandfather, father and son. My wife Susan and I will dearly miss Bill’s wit, intelligence and irrepressible spirit.”
David Satterfield, director of the Baker Institute, called Barnett “a critical force behind the founding and long-term success of the institute.”
“His extraordinary support and leadership helped establish the Baker Institute as the top university-affiliated think tank in the country,” Satterfield said.
In addition to his work with the Baker Institute, Barnett served on advisory boards for the Susanne M. Glasscock School for Continuing Studies and Department of Transnational Asian Studies and held leadership roles in initiatives focused on computational engineering and nanoscale science and technology. He was class chair in 1971 and 1987. A dedicated alumnus, Barnett was a member of the Rice University Fund Council in the 1990s (later serving as an ex-officio member), a member of the Rice Associates and a member of the Friends of Fondren Library. In 2005, he received the Association of Rice Alumni’s Gold Medal Award.
Barnett was a staunch supporter of Rice, contributing gifts to the university for over 31 years in support of numerous initiatives, including the Rice Fund, Rice Athletics, Baker Institute, Chao Center, Glasscock School, Class of 1955 Scholarship, Fondren Library, Malcolm Gillis University Professorship, Humanities Research Center, James G. and Alberta M. McMurtry Scholarship, Rice Historical Society, Shepherd School of Music, Kathryn Leebron Smyth Endowment and Ruth and Gilbert Whitaker Scholarship.
Barnett earned his bachelor’s degree from Rice in 1955 and his law degree with honors from the University of Texas School of Law in 1958, where he served as comment editor of the Texas Law Review. That same year, he joined the Houston law firm Baker Botts, launching a distinguished legal career in commercial and antitrust litigation. He served as managing partner from 1984 to 1998 and as senior counsel from 1998 until his retirement in 2004.
A fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and past chair of the American Bar Association’s Antitrust Section, Barnett’s legal expertise was matched by a deep commitment to civic service. He held board roles with Enterprise Products, Reliant Energy, Westlake Chemical, Texas Commerce Bank, the Houston Zoo (where he was founding chairman), the Greater Houston Partnership, Central Houston, Baylor College of Medicine, St. Luke’s Episcopal Health System and many others.
His contributions were recognized with numerous honors, including the Corporate Director of the Year award from the National Association of Corporate Directors and the University of Texas School of Law’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Barnett was married to the late Margaret “Peggy” A. Barnett, his college sweetheart and fellow member of Rice’s Class of 1955. The couple wed the Monday after graduation and went on to raise two children, Margaret Ann Stern and Edward William “Ned” Barnett Jr., both of whom became attorneys. They were also proud grandparents.
“Rice extends its deepest condolences to the Barnett family and all who were inspired by his remarkable life and legacy,” DesRoches said.