2004 - BILL HELD

Bill was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1926 and passed away on May 16, 2003 in Houston, Texas. Bill attended college at the University of Illinois, Texas A&I, and graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in Horticulture and Agronomy.

For a while, Bill worked for his dad in the citrus industry in Texas but soon went to work for Dow Chemical Company.  Bill worked as a sales person in the Houston area selling herbicides for several years. In 1957, Bill along with his brother-in-law, Harold Fiedler, started Houston Spraying and Supply Company. 

Their company sold herbicide products and provided vegetation management services to a variety of customers in southeast Texas.  Bill also designed and developed spray equipment to meet the needs of their customers.  Bill helped start the Houston/Galveston Area Vegetation Management Association.  This association has been active for over 30 years, providing training to weed control applicators and was one of the industry’s first venues to discuss weed control issues. Bill also worked very closely with the major chemical manufacturers developing and testing herbicides.  His expertise helped the industry develop the products we use today.

Bill was married to Ethlyn for 51 years.  They had three children, Gregory, Valerie, and Ron.  Ron Held continues to run the business that his father and uncle started. Bill was an icon in our industry and a true professional.  He was highly regarded as someone you could count on to provide whatever you needed.  Bill always took the time to listen to you and give advice.  Bill was a master of making people feel good. I personally knew Bill and worked with him very closely.  I consider Bill as one of the mentors who helped me in my career.  All of us, who knew Bill, miss his friendly face.