William Bonham- Longhorn

Athlete, Lawyer, and Builder of Institutions.

12/27/1930 – 01/03/2026

Known to the rest of the world simply as “Bill,” William Donald Bonham passed peacefully in his sleep on January 3, 2026, with his head resting on a Longhorn pillowcase, surrounded by the love of family and friends.

His gift for tennis emerged at the University of Texas, where he was affectionately nicknamed “Bird Legs Bonham.” After an early baseball injury during his freshman year, he earned a place on the Texas tennis team and loved the University so much that he enrolled in law school to use up his remaining years of tennis eligibility. A three-year letterman at Texas, Bill was undefeated in singles and doubles in Southwest Conference competitions. He was an active member of Delta Tau Delta, the Silver Spurs, and the Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity, and he was honored as Outstanding Intramural Athlete of the Year in both 1953 and 1954 while in law school.

1951 tennis Bill Harris (inset left) , Allison, Bill Bonham, Chas Blundworth, Dick Smith, Bernard Gerhardt, Jim Saunders, Penick Manager,Julian Oates

In the late 1960s, Bill hired two young law students, Wayne Fox and Ed Carrington, who became his associates, then partners, and ultimately co-founders of the highly successful firm Bonham, Carrington & Fox, which opened its doors in 1971. By the 1980s, the firm had grown to nearly 50 lawyers in One Shell Plaza. Decades later, his fourth “favorite” daughter followed in his footsteps as a Houston litigator and, shortly before his passing, was named Office Managing Partner of her firm, continuing the legacy he began.

Bill’s fierce competitiveness and love of tennis stayed with him throughout his life. By the mid-1960s and continuing well into his 80s, he captured numerous Texas age-group state championships. He also won national titles, earned international rankings after competing in enough qualifying events, and represented the United States in the Osuna Cup against Mexico for many years. He was a founding member and frequent champion of the Houston Racquet Club, a place he cherished and where he practiced, competed, and spent treasured time with family and friends.