William "Bill" Thomas Cottle

William Thomas "Bill" Cottle, beloved family man, friend, retired energy executive, and rabid Auburn fan, died from complications of bladder cancer on April 23, 2025, at the Eagle's Trace Senior Living Community in Houston, TX. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Brenda (Hughes) Cottle; his two daughters, Michelle Cottle (Chris Orr) and Melissa Schultz (Jason Schultz); and his four grandchildren, Thomas Campbell Orr, Alexandra Isabelle Orr, William Phillip Schultz, and Luke Alexander Schultz. He was preceded in death by his parents, his older brother Pete, and his younger brother Bob.

Bill was born on December 24, 1945, in Tallassee, AL, the ultimate Christmas gift for his parents, Harold (Pete) and Annie Ruth. He never let his family forget that being a Christmas Eve baby meant that he got short-changed on birthday presents… Every. Single. Year.

Bill played football and baseball in high school, graduating from Tallassee High in 1964. He attended Auburn University on an ROTC scholarship, earning a Bachelor of Science in Education in 1968. On June 2, 1968, he married Brenda, even before receiving his naval commission. When it came to being with Brenda, Bill could never wait.

Bill was one of the few non-engineering majors selected for the Navy’s fledgling nuclear submarine program. His interview with the program’s legendary director, Admiral Hyman Rickover, is the stuff of family legend, as are the stories of his time aboard the U.S.S. John C. Calhoun.

Post-Navy, Bill found his professional calling in the nuclear power industry. He began at the Farley Nuclear Plant in Dothan, AL, in 1972. 31 years and more than a dozen moves later, he retired as the chairman of the board, president and CEO of the STP Nuclear Operating Company in Bay City, TX. Incapable of sitting still, he spent the next 15 years as a consultant and, later, a board member for FirstEnergy Corp. in Cleveland, OH.

Along the way, Bill not only earned the respect of his colleagues and employees as a gifted leader, he also amassed friends — so many friends — with his wicked wit, his generous spirit, and his sense of fun. Always looking to bring people together, he organized many a hunting trip, poker night, fishing outing, and cookout. But if you were going to watch Auburn football with him, you had best not jabber during the game — and you had best be prepared for some salty outbursts if the Tigers started doing badly.

Bill loved his work and his friends. He loved his daughters and their families. But the true love of his life was his wife, Brenda. Upon receiving his cancer diagnosis, Bill wasn't worried about the unpleasant course of treatment being prescribed. He was concerned about not being able to take care of Brenda. And he never stopped trying, even after the cancer and chemo unmasked the Alzheimer’s disease he had been holding at bay for who knows how long. Starting in December 2024, the decline was steep. But the thing Bill remembered most clearly for the longest was how much he wanted to see Brenda. When he passed, on the Wednesday morning after Easter, she was blessedly at his side.

The family would like to thank the staff at Eagle's Trace Continuing Care facility, the caregivers from Family Tree Private Care, and the medical team from Bayou City Hospice, all of whom took care of Bill with enormous skill and affection in his final months.

A memorial service is planned for a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to MD Anderson Cancer Center or the Alzheimer’s Association.