William H. (Bill) Blaney Jr. passed away February 23, 2017 after suffering a brief illness following the celebration of his 92nd birthday. He was born February 10, 1925 in Dallas and was the son of William H. Blaney and Harriet Silvus Blaney. Bill graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Dallas, went on to obtain a Bachelor's of Science degree in chemical engineering from the University of Texas, and graduated from the Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program. While at UT, Bill met his wife of 64 years, the late Nancy Alexander Blaney. They were married in April 1947. Upon graduation in 1946, Bill joined the Dow Chemical Company and went to work at the Dow plant in Freeport, becoming a senior economic evaluation engineer.
In 1961, Bill made a career change and joined the venture capital firm of Gulf-Southwest Capital Corp. in Houston. After a couple of years, he moved on to become the Vice President and Manager of Corporate Finance for the Houston offices of the NYSE firms of Dempsey-Tegeler & Co. Inc. and then Rowles, Winston, & Co. Inc. In 1972, Bill opened his own firm, William H. Blaney Jr. & Associates, specializing in mergers and acquisitions, as well as venture capital. He loved business and loved helping people, serving as a “matchmaker” for those seeking to acquire or sell a business. In his words, his work went “directly to the heart of corporate strategy”, and his efforts led to a successful and deeply satisfying career.
Bill was a devoted husband and father and was blessed with a wide circle of friends from all over the world. His interests included snorkeling, skiing, and dogs. In his younger days, he enjoyed taking family vacations to hike and camp in the Rocky Mountains and racing Olympic class Star sailboats with his sons at the Houston Yacht Club. Bill and Nancy travelled extensively in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Many of their trips involved a research or adventure element. They participated in archaeological digs in Central America, were crew members on a three-masted, tall sailing ship doing scientific research on humpback whales, and participated on a research project that helped to measure a large volcano in Costa Rica.
Bill was a prostate cancer survivor for over 20 years and gave his time to several support groups. His health issues led to his interest in alternative medicine, and he went on to serve as Chairman of the American College of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine in Houston.
Bill's wife Nancy predeceased him in 2011. He is survived by his son, Jim Blaney of Sedona, AZ, Jim's wife, Martha, Jim's daughters, Alexandra and Hanna, his son Jeff Blaney of Santa Cruz, CA, Jeff's wife, Ellen Zeff, and his brother, Walter “Zaney” Blaney. The family is very grateful to Bill's caregivers at the Plaza at the Buckingham and especially to Bill's assistant and good friend Kathy Gibson, who helped Bill enormously in his final years.
A memorial service will be held Friday, April 7th at 2:00p.m.at St. Francis
Episcopal Church, 345 Piney Point Road, Houston. Immediately following the service, all are invited to join the family during a reception in a building adjacent to the church.
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