Bill King

Baker Institute Fellow in Public Finance, Author, Former elected official, Public Policy Expert, Rotarian

Many of us read Bill's varied articles on Public Policy on issues from Electric Transmission, Apartment Rents, FEMA, Immigration, HCAD Taxes, and U.S. Population. His analysis on ramifications for mid term elections is sure to clarify some of the rhetoric we have been hearing. 

Join us to hear the latest news on October 15, 2026.

Bill King is a lifelong resident of the Houston area, earning undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Houston. He has enjoyed a varied business and legal career, including serving as national managing partner of Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson and president of Southwest Airport Services Inc. Currently the managing director of a real estate investment firm, King is also on the board of Methodist Retirement Communities.

He wrote for the Houston Chronicle from 2005–15, authoring a biweekly column and serving on the editorial board. King has also written two books, including “Unapologetically Moderate: My Search for the Rational Center in American Politics” (Bright Sky Press, 2014). He is a regular contributor to Real Clear Politics and publishes his own blog at www.BillKingBlog.com.  

King’s community involvement includes numerous public service and volunteer organizations. From 1992–2005, he held various positions with the city of Kemah, including City Council member and two terms as mayor. King chaired a regional task force on the disastrous Hurricane Rita evacuation and its recommendations formed the basis of new regional evacuation plans. In 2015 and 2019, he was a candidate for mayor of Houston.

He has also participated in many charitable and civic organizations, including Interfaith Ministries, Methodist DeBakey Heart Council, Houston ISD Foundation, Crime Stoppers, Galveston Bay Foundation, Memorial-Hermann Foundation, and Trees for Houston. 

Dear Rotarians and Friends,

Please join us for a special reception honoring patients and their family members who are staying at the Rotary House Hotel while receiving cancer treatment.

This gathering is an opportunity to extend Rotary fellowship, offer encouragement, and share meaningful conversation with those facing challenging circumstances. Your presence can make a difference by providing a warm welcome, a listening ear, and a reminder that they are supported by a caring community.

Enjoy an evening of fellowship featuring complimentary food, drinks, and entertainment as we come together to create a warm and uplifting experience for our guests. Whether you stay for a few minutes or the entire event, your participation will help make the evening memorable for patients and families during their treatment journey.

Thank you for living Rotary's motto, Service Above Self, and for helping bring comfort, connection, and hope to those who need it most.

We look forward to seeing you there and sharing good food, great company, and the spirit of Rotary in a truly meaningful way.

Warm regards,

Rotary Club of Houston
Service Above Self

Karin L. Price, PhD, ABPP
Professor and ChiefDivision of Psychology
Department of Pediatrics
Baylor College of Medicine

THE CRISIS OF ADOLESCENT MENTRAL HEALTH AND TEEN SUICIDE

Dr. Karin L. Price, PhD, Chief Psychologist, Texas Children’s Hospital, and Associate Prof of Pediatrics-Psychology at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, leads a team of more than 60 behavioral health professionals who are dedicated to addressing the many factors that impact the overall health and wellbeing of children and their families.

Today’s teenager may be the most connected young person in history-and at the same time, one of the loneliest with emotional consequences being anxiety, loneliness, depression, insecurity, anger, withdrawal and in increasing instances, suicide.

Prominent regional and institutional news outlets have featured Dr. Price discussing the pediatric mental health crisis and the surge in adolescent suicide attempts treated in emergency rooms.

At one time T.C.H. treated 40-60 monthly young patients arriving at their emergency rooms. in acute mental health crises, pre pandemic, they now manage 400-500 per month, with symptoms moving from self-harm to active suicidal attempts in children as young as 9 years old.

Dr. Price will discuss suicide prevention, recognizing warning signs of suicide, aggressive behaviors, and other behavioral health issues and how to deal with all the pressures affecting young children. She will discuss her ideas on Universal Pediatric Screening, the work of the Zero Suicide Institute, and TCH focus on Stress safety plans for families, the goal being, to prepare families before an emergency occurs.

Dr. Price received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Cornell Univ, Weill Medical College, a PhD in Philosophy from the Univ of Connecticut and completed a fellowship in Clinical Psychology at the Univ of Connecticut.

Please invite your friends to this very timely and important program at Rotary

Joe Colangelo
Program Committee

Please join the Rotary Club of Houston, Rotary Club of University Area, and Rotary Club of West U for the District 5890 Rise Against Hunter Service Project.

Volunteer Opportunity-more information to follow

Judy WIlliamson, author, former travel editor of the Houston Chronicle

"Before Google maps and selfies....there was Paper Girl on the loose."

Paper Girl's World - Adventures of a Globetrotting Travel Writer in the 80s (2025 Coffee Table Book of the year by tge editors of ENTREE)

Join Team Rotary Club of Houston / Lombardi Award to give cancer the boot!

Past President Joel Levine (832-641-1859) will be leading the event on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2025. 

MD Anderson's Boot Walk to End Cancer is a 1.2-mile walk in the Texas Medical Center — or in your own neighborhood. This 10th annual fundraiser provides support for patient programs, research, prevention and education at MD Anderson, and 100% of funds raised by participants directly advance MD Anderson's mission to end cancer.

There is no registration fee and no minimum fundraising requirement.  When you register for Boot Walk, you will receive free online and mobile fundraising tools, as well as staff support to help you raise funds and awareness among your friends, families and communities.

On Saturday, November 14th, put on your favorite pair of boots - cowboy, rain, combat or other (sneakers) - and join thousands across the country for this year's Boot Walk.  All ages are welcome to participate.  There is fun for the entire family!

Together we can give cancer the boot!

Become part of Team Rotary Club of Houston / Lombardi Award

Donate to Team Rotary Club of Houston / Lombardi Award

Timeline:

• Registration Opens: 8:00 a.m.

• Opening Ceremony: 8:45 a.m.

• Walk Start: 9:00 a.m.

• Celebration:  9:20 a.m.

Event Day Parking:

UT MD Anderson Mid Campus Building 1 / 7007 Bertner Avenue, Houston Texas 77030

TMC Helix Park Parcel Garage / 1730 Breakthrough Way, Houston, Texas 77030

Dear Rotarians and Friends,

Please join us for a special reception honoring patients and their family members who are staying at the Rotary House Hotel while receiving cancer treatment.

This gathering is an opportunity to extend Rotary fellowship, offer encouragement, and share meaningful conversation with those facing challenging circumstances. Your presence can make a difference by providing a warm welcome, a listening ear, and a reminder that they are supported by a caring community.

Enjoy an evening of fellowship featuring complimentary food, drinks, and entertainment as we come together to create a warm and uplifting experience for our guests. Whether you stay for a few minutes or the entire event, your participation will help make the evening memorable for patients and families during their treatment journey.

Thank you for living Rotary's motto, Service Above Self, and for helping bring comfort, connection, and hope to those who need it most.

We look forward to seeing you there and sharing good food, great company, and the spirit of Rotary in a truly meaningful way.

Warm regards,

Rotary Club of Houston
Service Above Self

Bob Gebhard Honor Flight (30 min) and Mark McVey Operation Turkey (10 min)

Bob Gebhard Bio

Bob is a proud US Navy Vietnam Veteran, having served from 1965-1968 aboard the USS Harwood DD861. Upon leaving the Navy Bob spent the next 50 years in Banking business. Bob retired as the Executive Vice President at Texas Citizens Bank in Pasadena which he helped start in 2006. Upon retiring Bob became a Certified Coach, Speaker, and Trainer with the John Maxwell Team in 2016.

He has been a Rotarian for 33 years serving as President of the Pasadena South Rotary Club in 1996. Served as District Governor District 5890 2013- 2014. Bob is currently a member and co-founder of the Rotary Club of Greater Houston Veterans. He is also serving as President. Bob received the Rotary International Service Above Self Award. He and his wife Dianne are Major Donors, White Society member and Bequest Society Members.

He also is the Chair for the 50^th Anniversary of the Viet Nam War Commemoration representing District 5890. Bob has been able to recognize over 800 fellow Viet Nam Veterans.

Bob has found his passion helping his fellow Veterans.

He is also an active member of the Vietnam Veterans of America, in Baytown, the American Legion in Pasadena, and the VFW, in Pearland.

Bob was recently appointed as an Admiral in the Texas Navy. He is also an Ambassador with Honor Flight Houston

Bob and Dianne have been married 45 years. They have a daughter Debra and 4 grandchildren, who live in Farragut, TN with her husband JD Rice.

Dear Rotarians and Friends,

Please join us for a special reception honoring patients and their family members who are staying at the Rotary House Hotel while receiving cancer treatment.

This gathering is an opportunity to extend Rotary fellowship, offer encouragement, and share meaningful conversation with those facing challenging circumstances. Your presence can make a difference by providing a warm welcome, a listening ear, and a reminder that they are supported by a caring community.

Enjoy an evening of fellowship featuring complimentary food, drinks, and entertainment as we come together to create a warm and uplifting experience for our guests. Whether you stay for a few minutes or the entire event, your participation will help make the evening memorable for patients and families during their treatment journey.

Thank you for living Rotary's motto, Service Above Self, and for helping bring comfort, connection, and hope to those who need it most.

We look forward to seeing you there and sharing good food, great company, and the spirit of Rotary in a truly meaningful way.

Warm regards,

Rotary Club of Houston
Service Above Self

Dr. Melissa Joyner

Osteoarthritis and Low-Dose Radiation Therapy

Wow-who would have thought this type of treatment could help reduce swelling and relieves pain and stiffness. Similar to getting an X-ray? Targeting the joint that needs relief? Do I have to modify daily activities during treatment? You will hear about one more therapy from MDA.

Melissa Joyner is a Professor in Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and specializes in Breast and Gynecological cancers. She serves in the administrative role of Associate Director of Clinical Operations at the West Houston campus. She is board certified and uses IMRT, VMAT, SBRT, and brachytherapy to effectively treat cancer. She is passionate about educating residents and medical students on delivering high quality and compassionate care. She is a fierce patient advocate and committed to involving the patient in their own care.

She customizes each patient’s care to their specific needs. Her research interest focuses on

education and innovative approaches to treating breast and gynecologic cancers. She was chosen to work on the American Brachytherapy Society’s 300 in 10 initiative with a mission to improveand strengthen resident brachytherapy training across the United States. As a wife and mother who believes that all patients should have access to outstanding and affordable medical care, she has direct personal experience with the impact of cancer on her family. Dr. Joyner serves on the Finance and Government Relations committees for the American Society of Therapeutic Radiation Oncologists (ASTRO).

The Rotary Club of Houston seeks up to 20 volunteers among Club members and their spouse/guest for The 15th Annual Rotary-Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Hearts for Children Festival.  The Adoption Fair introduces children in the state foster care system availalbe for adoption with prospective parent(s) who have already completed the process to become an adoptive parent in a fun -filled and relaxed atmosophre.  The Fair will include acitivity and game booths, a DJ, Photo Booth, Charicuture Artisit, Toro the Texans Mascot (unless Texans are in the Super Bowl) and lunch.  

Camp Enterprise

High School Juniors
Application information will be available during the Fall 2026.