Bill Bradshaw

William Thomas Bradshaw, Jr. (better known as Bill, King Kong, Willy the T, Uncle Bill, and several other choice monikers) was born in Edinburgh, Texas on May 15, 1946. He grew up in McAllen, Texas and left the Rio Grande Valley at 18, though it seems the Valley never quite left him. Growing up in South Texas in the 1950s and early 60s, he saw the impact of unequal opportunity on people and this experience engendered a life-long interest in fairness and inclusion that he carried with him until his death on September 9, 2019.

He left the Valley to attend Denver University (DU), making his way north in a pick-up truck with no defroster. This didn’t seem to matter as long as he had a full bottle of ether and a couple of Army surplus blankets. Driving through the frozen passes of the Rocky Mountains, any passenger in the truck had to spray ether on the windshield so he could see. And try not to freeze to death in the interim.

He met the love of his life, Caren Bellamy Bradshaw, at a fraternity party at DU after being set up by mutual friends. Years later, he told his children that on their first date, he gave Caren a bottle of whiskey, and checked in on her throughout the night. She got drunk, and ultimately sick, and the next day she told him that she liked him, but that she didn’t like how being drunk made her feel, and she wasn’t going to do it anymore. He marveled at the fact that for the next 50+ years, she never did.

He earned a law degree at the University of Texas, and went to work for Mortgage and Trust in Houston at a fascinating time for the company and the City. He worked with legendary developers Trammell Crow, Gerald Hines, and others, writing loans for projects like the Houston Galleria. Despite helping to mentor his son in the real estate business, he never shared these stories until his relationship to Hines came up by accident over lunch with an old friend.

He taught continuing education courses through the Texas Real Estate Commission. He taught courses in the paralegal curriculum at Austin Community College. He served on the Vestry of two different Episcopal Churches in Austin, once joking with the Episcopal Bishop that he might be the only man in Texas who could look important in the back of a pick-up. He loved the impact he could have on a new generation of professionals through his teaching, and particularly liked working with older students, who had to overcome significant obstacles to succeed in their chosen career path.

This mentoring role was also part of the way he practiced law, and the way he worked in all the jobs he ever had. He gave scores of people new opportunities, and trained them into new fields or responsibilities that helped give them greater opportunity. His children have heard this over and over again this year, as we celebrated Bill and Caren’s 49th wedding anniversary and as we mourned his untimely passing. Bill helped people find talents in themselves and build the confidence to reach their full potential.

In the mid-2000s, his wife and partner, Caren, began exhibiting signs of memory loss. As her health declined, Bill stepped up to the challenge. Making sure that Caren was safe, comfortable, and well-cared for, even as he watched the love of his life retreat further and further from her previous self. In a life remarkably well-lived, where he touched hundreds of lives for the better, it’s hard not to see this as his finest time. Even as he dealt with the heartbreaking devastation wrought by the progression of Alzheimer’s and numerous health issues of his own, to which he ultimately succumbed this week, he made sure that not a moment went by where Caren had any doubt that she was cared for and loved. In a life filled with legacies that will carry on beyond him, this was his most important.

In addition, he wanted the wonderful group of caregivers who have supported him and mom through this time to be mentioned. It’s unclear how we would have managed without Stancy, Renee, and Jean. Bill and all of his family are deeply grateful for their care and friendship.

He is preceded in death by his parents William Thomas Bradshaw, Sr. (Tom) and Jean Weinert Bradshaw (Grammom) and his mother-in-law, Marygertrude Bellamy (Grammy). Our sadness is surpassed by their joy at his crossing over.

He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Caren Bellamy Bradshaw, and their two children, William Burton Bradshaw II of New Orleans (Rebekah) and Blair Bellamy Bushong of Houston (Esmeralda). Will and Blair were a light in his life as were his grandchildren Brooke (Blair and Esmeralda), Liam, Evie Lou, and Austin (Will and Rebekah).

He is also survived by his sister Claire Mcintyre and brother-in-law John McIntyre, multiple other in-laws including Curt and Karen Coffman, Jim and Sandy Coffman, Helen and John Volk, and more doting nieces and nephews than you could shake a stick at (Cathy, Curtis, Tom, Dana, Karen, Ryan, Kim, Brian, Nick, Nicole, Courtney, Whitney, Lacey, Chris, BY, Trilby, Lorena, Dave, Stuart, Lucy, Carter, Maddie, Finley, Harper, Jack, Evanne and more).

He gave out so much love, and in return he was loved deeply and will be profoundly missed. In the end, there is no better measure of a life.

Visitation will be held at Weed-Corley-Fish funeral home at 3125 North Lamar in Austin, Texas on Thursday September 12, 2019 between 6 and 8 pm. Dress is business casual/come as you are. Bill would have been happy to see you whatever you’re wearing.

Friday, September 13, 2019, the family will host a 1 pm memorial service at Bill and Caren’s long-time Parish church, St. James Episcopal at 1941 Webberville Road in Austin, Texas. Please wear outfits inspired by Tommy Bahama, the Houston Astros, or anything that reminds you of Bill. There will be a reception at the church immediately following the service.

In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the Alzheimer’s Association, the Texas Civil Rights Project, or Equality Texas in memory of Bill. We hope that these gifts will help him continue to support the causes he most cared about during his remarkable life.