William Franklin "Bill" Douglas

After a healthy and very happy 101 years, a member of The Greatest Generation, William Franklin (Bill) Douglas passed away in his sleep at home early Sunday morning February 8, 2026 in Wimberley, Texas. He was predeceased by wife Amy, son Larry and daughter-in-law Sherry and siblings Mac and Virginia. Bill is survived by son Phil and wife Lee Ann, son Jack and wife Anne, four grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and a host of family and friends.

Bill was born July 29, 1924 at St. Mary’s Infirmary in Galveston where his father was a City Commissioner. In Galveston, he was baptized at Sacred Heart Church and attended St. Patrick’s Elementary. He also attended public schools in El Paso. In Houston, he attended Hogg Jr. High and graduated John H. Regan High School in 1942 where he managed the school paper, lettered in track (won medals for Cross Country, Mile and Mile Relay events), was elected Chief Yell Leader in 1941 and elected 1942 Senior Class President. In the Houston Heights, he grew up with life-long friends Roy Nelson, Henry and Hedley Hichens and Dan Morse.

During high school Bill worked as a carhop at the Norhill Pharmacy for 10 cents an hour. He worked the summers of 1941 & 1942 in Southerland Springs, TX. at his uncle Gus Donaho’s dairy farm. In 1942 he took a job in the advertising department at Sears & Roebuck and enrolled at the University of Houston. After Pearl Harbor, Bill enlisted in the United States Navy.

Bill participated in the Navy’s V-12 training program for commissioned officers at Southwestern Louisiana Institute (SLI) in Lafayette, with Midshipman training at Northwestern University in Chicago. He received his recognition and was commissioned at Ohio State University.

1st Lieutenant Douglas served during WWII in the Pacific Theater as Gunnery Officer and Damage Control Officer aboard the USS LSM 121 (landing ship medium) and aboard the USS LST 850 (tank landing ship). He was stationed in the Mariana Islands, saw action in Guam, Saipan and at the Battle of Okinawa. Bill was held briefly as a POW on a Japanese trawler after a B-29 which he was aboard ditched in Kobe Bay. The flight crew was rescued by a US Navy submarine. In July of 1946, Lt. Douglas was Honorably Discharged from the Navy in Portland, Oregon, receiving a Bronze Star, an Asiatic-Pacific Ribbon, an American Theatre Ribbon and the Victory Ribbon for WWII.

Bill returned to Houston in 1946 where he earned a BBA in Marketing at the University of Houston in 1948. On March 11, 1949 he married his high school sweetheart, Amy Beth Batterson.

Together, they raised three WONDERFUL sons.

In 1949, family friend Dr. Joe Valenza proposed that Bill leave his marketing career with Sears, form a partnership and develop a retail prescription footwear outlet in Houston. They leased a small space on South Shepherd and opened Bill Douglas’ Shoe Box. Out of thin-air, they grew this tiny operation into a nationally respected business with ultimately thirteen “Bless Their Little Soles” Shoe Box locations in and around Houston.

Active in the national footwear industry, Bill served as a Director and as Chairman of the National Shoe Retailer’s Association. In 1975 he was recognized as Marketing Man of the Year by the American Footwear Industry. He served two years as President of the Prescription Footwear Association.

Bill was on the Executive Committee of the University of Houston Alumni Association, serving as chairman of the 1972 Annual Alumni Telefund. Bill served as president of the Houston Kidney Foundation for two years and in 1972 was elected V.P. of the National Kidney Foundation. He also served as a director at Greenspoint Bank and at Northgate State Bank.

At St. Vincent de Paul Church, Amy and Bill were active in the PTO, scouting and many other parish activities broadening the family’s circle of life-long friends. Later, they were members of St. Cecilia’s Parish. In Galveston they were members of Holy Family Parish, attending Mary Star of the Sea Church in Jamaica Beach where Bill enjoyed maintaining the gardens …Here again the circle of good friends expanded.

Bill and Amy built their first home in Jamaica Beach in the mid 60’s where the family enjoyed many weekends and summers making many lasting memories. They enjoyed travel with their sons to many beautiful and remote places. Most treasured were summers spent at YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park and sunsets on their porch swing in Jamaica Beach. In 2001 they completed a new home in Jamaica Beach, made the move from Houston, and again for Bill, calling Galveston Island home.

Bill’s remains will be placed together with those of Amy at the Houston National Cemetery. Together Forever!

Carpe diem

Plans for a memorial service are pending.