Bill Kuntz succumbed to his long battle with heart illness the afternoon of March 27th, passing peacefully surrounded by his devoted family. A 43-year veteran of Texas state executive leadership, Bill is survived by his loving wife of 23 years, Marcia, five children, Josh Kuntz, Jeremiah Kuntz, Camille Kirkbride, Kirk Knussmann, and Scott Knussmann, thirteen grandchildren, sister Kathy Easterly, and brother Jim Kuntz. He is preceded in death by his parents, William Howard Kuntz, Sr. and Beatrice Biddle Kuntz, and brother, Robert Kuntz. Bill was a proud graduate of the New Orleans Military Academy and earned his bachelor's in finance from Louisiana State University, New Orleans before being commissioned in the Army Transportation Corps. He was medically discharged before being deployed to Vietnam and returned home to earn his MBA from the University of New Orleans.
Following a brief period of service at the Louisiana Securities Board, Bill moved to Texas to start his career with the Texas Securities Board, working his way up from a securities analyst to the Deputy Commissioner of that Agency. He then became the executive director of the Texas Real Estate Commission where he began his campaign for Transformative Leadership in state government. This culminated in his executive leadership of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, the state’s umbrella occupational licensing agency. At TDLR Bill stewarded the agency from an organization facing sunset to the model of efficient and effective state government.
Bill was an avid outdoorsman, spending many cherished days hunting and fishing with his children, grandchildren, siblings, and close friends in Texas, Louisiana, Colorado, and Wyoming. Some of the accomplishments that he would frequently recall with fondness were his 1961 Southern Judo Championship win, 1962 New Orleans Soapbox Derby championship win, and completing the 2008 & 2009 “Hotter Than Hell 100” cycling race.
Bill was also a frequent mentor for the UT at Austin LBJ School of Public Affairs, Governor’s Executive Development Program and Executive Leadership In Technology Excellence trainings. Additionally, he was a guest lecturer at the Harvard Kennedy School for Executive Education, Public Leadership Program and recipient of the 2018 CenTex ASPA “Lee Ramirez Outstanding Mentor” award. Bill touched many lives throughout his time with us, both professionally and personally, and was so proud of the individuals he’d mentored. He was widely loved and will be greatly missed.
A memorial service will be held to celebrate his life on Thursday April 21st at Lake Travis Event Center (411 Ranch Road 620 South, Lakeway, TX 78734) with live stream for those who cannot attend in person. The family will receive visitors there beginning at 9 am and services will be held from 10-11 am. Parking is limited so please plan on carpooling or ridesharing to the venue. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations to the American Heart Association be made in honor of William H. Kuntz Jr.
