Rice University Board of Trustees, Chairman Bill Barnett records

E. William "Bill" Barnett, former managing partner of the Baker Botts law firm, served as chair of the Rice University Board of Governors 1996 to 2005. Barnett joined the Rice Board of Governors in 1991 as a term member and was elected a trustee in 1994.

As board chair, Barnett led the strengthening of the university’s governance, moving from the two-tiered board to a single-tier board enlarged to 25 trustees. Under his leadership, the board elected a far more diverse group of trustees with representation from all parts of the country; the university amended its charter to allow for the use of debt financing, which led to the largest building and modernization program in the campus’s history; and the university’s endowment grew from $1.7 billion to $3.4 billion.

Barnett succeeded Charles W. Duncan, Jr., who retired after serving as board chair for 14 years. Barnett is also a contributing life member of the Rice Associates, a member of the Rice University Fund Council, and a member of the Friends of Fondren.

Barnett received his B.A. from Rice in 1955 and his LL.B. in 1958 from the University of Texas at Austin. He has led a distinguished career as an attorney and as a civic leader. He is former chairman of the Antitrust Section of the American Bar Association and is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.

He is past chairman and current board member of the Greater Houston Partnership, past chairman and current board member of Central Houston, Inc. and has served on the board of directors of Texas Commerce Bancshares. He is a trustee of Baylor College of Medicine and a life trustee of the University of Texas Law School Foundation.

Barnett is married to Peggy Mauk Barnett, a 1955 Rice graduate. They have two children, Margaret Ann Barnett Stern and Edward William Barnett, Jr., both of Houston.

The Rice Board of Governors is comprised of seven trustees, eight term governors and four alumni governors. There are also seven trustee emerti and 47 governor advisors.

[Excerpted from Rice University press release,(http://www.media.rice.edu/media) "Barnett Named Chair of Rice Board of Governors", April 11, 1996]