Bill Teague

October 24, 1937 - December 25, 2020

Bill Truman Teague (age 83) passed away peacefully at his Nacogdoches home on December 25, 2020.  Bill was born October 24, 1937, in Freer, Texas, to Carl Leroy Teague and Gladys Ethel Wade Teague, who both preceded him in death. He grew up in Abilene, Texas; attended Abilene Senior High School; and graduated from Hardin Simmons University with a BS in Medical Technology in 1960 and a commission in the US Army. A lifelong professing Christian, Bill was an active member of First United Methodist Church in Nacogdoches. He served on the Missions Committee; as a member of the FUMC Day School Board; and as a Sunday school teacher. While living in Houston, Bill was active on many levels at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church. Upon completion of his military obligation, Bill moved to Galveston, TX, where he enrolled in the Blood Bank Specialty course at UTMB. Bill excelled in the program and was soon attracted to Ortho Diagnostics in Raratan, NJ, where he worked with the team that developed RhoGam, the vaccine for Rh negative mothers that would protect their unborn babies. Bill’s gift of leadership propelled him quickly up the professional ladder with administrative stops in Florida and Austin, TX, before being hired in 1975 by the Harris County Medical Society as the founding CEO of Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center in Houston, a position he held until his retirement in 2006. Upon his retirement, he was named President Emeritus of Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center. As a committed Rotarian, Bill believed in the Rotary motto of “service above self” and lived that creed in all he did. While in Houston, Bill served the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo as a Lifetime VP; as a member of the Harris County Sports and Convention Board; a past President of the Rotary Club of Houston and was instrumental in seeing Rotary House International become a reality. On a professional level Bill was one of the few non-physicians to serve as President of the American Association of Blood Banks. Upon retirement Bill and Lynn moved to Nacogdoches, TX, where Bill continued his desire to serve others. He quickly became involved in community activities through the Nacogdoches Rotary Club; the Nacogdoches Booster Club; the SFASU Foundation Board and the Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce, where he served as interim President and CEO while the search for a permanent CEO was conducted. Bill’s passion beyond his family and his professional life was hunting, fishing, and his deep love for the sport of competing with his beloved Labrador retrievers. Bill approached this hobby with the same vigor and commitment as he did his professional career. In addition to hunting with and competing with his dogs, he was a Past President of the Master National Retriever Club and the current President of the MNRC Foundation.

Bill is survived by his wife, Lynn, with whom he shared almost 38 years of travel, adventure, and joy; his sons, whom he loved with all his heart - Tim Teague (Melissa Roberts) of Corpus Christi and Jim Teague (LeaAnn) of Baton Rouge, LA; and Pop’s greatest joy, his grandsons Wade and James also of Baton Rouge. He is also survived by mother-in-law Ruby Russell of Little Rock, AR and brothers-in-law Mike Russell (Melissa) of Jonesboro, AR, Phil Russell (Melinda) of Germantown, TN, and Steven Russell ( Tina) of Little Rock, AR. Additional survivors are his aunt Althea “Pinky” Wade Milby of Edna, TX, numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and his beloved dog “Cinder”.

Bill’s family wishes to express deep appreciation for the care given by NMC, MDACC, Drs. Gerard Ventura, Mark Cline, Lloyd Whitley, John Nguyen and Courtney DiNardo, The Hospice of East Texas, and Rhonda and Tenny, who made his last days more comfortable. A service celebrating Bill’s life will be held at a later date as will interment. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to First United Methodist Church of Nacogdoches, 201 E. Hospital Street, Nacogdoches, TX 75961; The Blood Center of East Texas, 3520 N. University, Nacogdoches, TX 75965, or The Master National Retriever Club Foundation, P.O. Box 444, Columbia, TN 38402-0444.

So remember, “All days are good, some are just better than others.” ~Bill Teague