Roll Call Tribute

William H. "Bill" Lewie, Jr. 
November 28, 1928 - July 15, 2023 

William “Bill” Lewie, Jr., 94, of Waco, passed away Saturday, July 15, 2023, at Ascension Providence Hospital in Waco with his family at his side.

Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday, July 18, 2023, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home. A private family funeral service followed by burial at Oakwood Cemetery in Waco will be held this week.

Bill was born November 28, 1928, in Gainesville, Texas, to William H. and Frankie Reed Lewie. He graduated from Gainesville High School and Texas A&M University in 1950. Bill married Jaqueline Lewie, June of 1955 in Austin, Texas. They moved to Waco in 1963.

Bill was the Owner and President of Waco Ready Mix Concrete and Neely Sand & Gravel. He was very involved in the City of Waco and recognized for his many accomplishments. Bill served on the City of Waco Planning Commission, served as President of the Ridgewood Country Club Board of Directors, active and served in many positions at Austin Avenue Methodist Church and served on the Board of Directors of Texas National Bank of Waco.

He loved to play golf with his regular group of friends at Ridgewood Country Club and to travel with Jackie to play golf courses, often accompanied by other couples who would travel with them.

Bill’s greatest joy in his life was his love for Texas A&M University. He especially loved to follow his Texas Aggie football team. He would travel with the team on the team bus to many out-of-town games. He could tell some of the greatest stories of the many road trips experienced with his buddies. They always had a big time, like going to the LSU games in Baton Rouge while going down the Interstate the wrong way with Governor Edwards on board.

In 1971, Texas Governor Preston Smith appointed Bill to the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents where he served until 1977. Prior to that, Bill was one of 30 Distinguished men who started the University’s Aggie Club, later named “The 12th Man Foundation” and served on the board foundation from 1975-1980, and as President of the foundation in 1979. Bill was proud of the fact that the foundation now has revenue of over $91 million. In 1988 he was awarded the Texas A&M Athletics Lifetime Achievement Hall of Honor. He was also a member of the Association of Former Students Board of Directors and Leadership Council.

Another accomplishment later in his life was being one of the founders of the Wiseman-Lewie-Worth Cardiology Unit at the College of Veterinary Medicine under the guidance of Dr. Michael DeBakey. The unit adds significant advancements to cardiovascular research, benefitting veterinary medicine.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Jackie; and his step-daughter, Jeri Lovelace.

He is survived by his daughter, Patricia Plemons and her husband Robert; his son, Kyle Lewie and his wife Kathy; step-son, Kent Garbett and his wife Karen, all of Waco; seven grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

The family would like to express their deepest appreciation to Summer Gardens Senior Living for their devotion and care these past years. A special thank you to Mona Boicu, and her family, Ileana, Maria, Diana and Mike. You all made his life and ours much better as we consider each of you as family.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Bill’s memory may be directed to the Animal Birth Control Clinic, 3238 Clay Ave., Waco, TX 76711.

The family invites you to leave a message or memory on our “Tribute Wall” at www.WHBfamily.com