William A. Bartlett (BBA ’55)
Bill was known for his beautiful voice while he was a student at Sam Houston State and for years following his graduation. During his Army service and the time of his employment by Texaco as an accountant, Bill used his talent in the Army Choir, in church choirs, and on stage. His specialty was opera where he performed with the Houston Grand Opera and in many theatrical productions. Today he is better known for what his neighbors and friends call his “secret garden.” At his home in Houston, he has transformed five connecting patios into a paradise of approximately 1,000 orchids, ficus trees, dracaenas and peace lilies. The space is referred to as the orchid gallery by the Houston Orchid Society and was featured in the March 2009 issue of Orchids, the Bulletin of the American Orchid Society.