William Stephen Holliday

Our loving grandad, father, brother, and friend William “Bill” Holliday passed away on April 14 at the age of 75.

A lifelong admirer of the natural world, Bill found joy in the quiet stillness of the woods, the birds overhead, and any trail he could follow into the mountains. Ever curious, he didn’t just observe the beautiful scenery of the outdoors, he studied it, learning all he could about subjects that captured his interest. He contributed his wealth of knowledge to the scientific community in so many ways, mapping hematite concretions in Palo Duro Canyon, charting the ages of trees, mapping the ranges of rare birds, solving asteroid rotational rates for the Minor Planet Center, and maintaining databases of rocks and minerals around the world and the receptions he picked up from his homemade shortwave radio. He was nothing if not precise, detailed, and consistent, always ready to share his research with others as curious as him. We have learned so much from him about the world around us and are better caretakers of the planet as a result.

Bill grew up exploring the caves and streets of his neighborhood of Alamo Heights in San Antonio. He studied geology at West Texas A&M University, where, on field trips through the Palo Duro Canyon and rockhounding outings to the mountains of New Mexico, he got to know and fell in love with his future wife, Ginger. They married on December 23, 1972.

For 40 years, Bill worked as a petroleum geologist in the oil and gas industry, raising Cathy and Sara in Corpus Christi, Texas. After a long career with numerous companies, he and Ginger settled in an idyllic homestead just outside New Braunfels, where they could watch the deer grazing in the front yard each morning (even naming some of them!), monitor the birds flitting through the shady oaks, observe the planets from a backyard observatory, and trace the banks of the Guadalupe River on regular walks with their beloved dogs. Many years later, his daughters were happy to have Bill move closer to their families, in Austin, where Bill lived just a few minutes from each.

Everywhere he settled, he found a new meaningful project: birds to track, lizards to monitor, trails to map. In Austin, he especially liked to take his recumbent bike, outfitted with his binoculars and notepad, down the Brushy Creek Greenbelt Trail, keeping tabs on the daily habits of the animals he found there. Along this path, there sits a “Wishing Tree,” a special juniper where passers-by hang “wishes” from notecards fastened with string. Bill took it upon himself to maintain this special spot, anonymously replenishing the notecards and pencils each time they ran low.

He was a doting grandad, taking time to share his love of the outdoors with each child and providing an infinite supply of good books to read. He joined his grandchildren at story times and playgrounds, offering a quiet, steady hand. His desire to help others rippled outward to other individuals, too, donating generously to education and literacy nonprofits, getting to know individuals at these organizations and giving of his time, expertise, and funds.

He is survived by his sister Helen, brother Fred, daughters Sara and Cathy, grandchildren Emily, Timmy, Lexa, Will, and Hugh, and a community of fellow hikers, citizen scientists, birders, and stargazers who will forever feel his absence on the trail, in the canopy, and in the vastness of the night sky.

A graveside service for Bill will take place on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at 1 PM at Mission Burial Park South in San Antonio, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Audubon Society, National Parks Foundation, or Breakthrough Central Texas, in honor of Bill’s lifelong commitment to protecting the planet, helping others, and inspiring wonder.