William "Bill" Stewart Harwell

Bill Harwell grew up in Houston, Texas, where he played Little League baseball, learned to play the trombone and the guitar, and developed a lifelong love for the Houston Astros. He attended Southern Methodist University, graduating with a degree in RTF, and finding his life’s true passion for radio broadcasting through his initial work at KSMU.

Bill built a career and a life around his love for radio broadcasting, sound recording, and music. If you lived in Austin any time from the early ‘70s until today, you probably encountered Bill’s work whether you realized it or not. It began with his start as a deejay at KRMH in 1973 after he first moved to Austin, and continued as he joined the world of rock bands running sound for the band Denim. In 1978, Bill went to work for The Production Block recording studio in Austin, beginning a decades-long partnership with Joel Block and experiencing the golden age of commercial radio production in Austin. He not only produced commercials that filled the Austin airways, but provided voice-overs for many of them. In the 1990s, Bill joined with Patterson Barrett to form Barrett and Harwell Music, writing and producing original jingles and soundtracks for promotional videos. You may have heard his work in jingles for Thundercloud Subs, Austin Aqua Festival, The San Antonio Spurs, or Wick Fowler’s Chili, often adding his bass guitar to the mix. Even now, every time a radio broadcast opens for The University of Texas Radio Network with its distinctive sax solo riff on “The Eyes,” you are hearing Bill and Patterson’s work. In 1984, Bill joined the broadcast team for The University of Texas Football Radio Network, first as engineer and then as producer until 2021. He also produced NCAA basketball regional tournaments for CBS Radio and, as an avid women’s basketball fan, was proud to produce the Women’s Final Four for CBS Radio for a decade. In 2015, Bill returned to his first love--live radio. He joined the staff at KUT-FM, where he was an on-air host on weekend mornings and frequent weekday afternoons, while also working at The Sound Lab recording studio. An avid softball player with the City of Austin Softball League, Bill served as the team manager for “The Institute for Bat Research.” He and his wife Sara were longtime season ticket holders for Texas Baseball and UT Women’s Basketball. Bill also served as a volunteer for Austin Wildlife Rescue, providing emergency transport for injured birds and animals. He also served on the Zoning and Planning Commission for the City of West Lake Hills.

Bill was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He cherished the times he spent with all his family, particularly the times spent in Tucson and in Colorado with his wife, daughter, son-in-law, and three grandchildren.

Bill is survived by his wife, Sara Rider; his daughter Tracy Marie Mueller and his son-in-law Travis Mueller; and his grandchildren, Camden, Ada, and Ivy Mueller; his aunt Connie Gibson; his sister Susan Knipe and her husband Ken; his sister Sarah Mills and her husband John; his sister-in-law Kathy Rider; his nieces and nephews Zach Knipe, Ashley Commissiong, and Austin Knipe; Joseph Frewer, Mallory James, and Andrew Frewer; Tracy Rider Severance, Courtney Rider, and Kelley Rider Goodwin; his cousins, great-nieces, and great-nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, William and Jean Harwell; his aunt, Louise Rogers; his uncle, Lawrence Gibson; and his brother-in-law, Kent Rider.

A memorial service is being planned for December at Westminster Presbyterian Church and details will be shared in the coming weeks. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Austin Wildlife Rescue, KUT-FM, and The Central Texas Food Bank.