Bill Archer obit

Archer Center Mourns the Passing and Recognizes the Enduring Legacy of Congressman Bill Archer (1928 – 2026)

 

He was not on the list.

Former U.S. Representative William Reynolds Archer, Jr., the visionary namesake and founder of the Archer Center, passed away on July 4, 2026, at his farm in Stanley, Virginia. He was 98 years old. His passing on the 250th anniversary of America’s founding is a fitting final tribute to a lifelong patriot who dedicated his life to his family, his faith, his nation, and the State of Texas.

Descended from some of Germany’s earliest settlers to Texas, Congressman Archer followed a deep family tradition of public service. He served as a Captain in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War, later transitioning to local politics as a council member and mayor pro tempore for Hunters Creek Village. He served two terms in the Texas House of Representatives, earning a reputation as a reformer who championed transparency and good government.

In 1970, Archer was elected to the United States House of Representatives, winning the Houston congressional seat vacated by President George H. W. Bush. Over his 30-year tenure representing west Houston, Archer won every reelection with at least 80% of the vote. He was widely revered in Washington for his integrity, civility, and fierce commitment to bipartisan cooperation. Under the "Archer Rule"— a philosophy stating that no member of the Texas Delegation should speak ill of another—he championed respect and collaboration across party lines.

During his final six years in office, Archer served as the Chairman of the powerful U.S. House Ways and Means Committee when America enjoyed some of its most successful economic times. In this role, he spearheaded major landmark legislation, including:

The 1997 Balanced Budget Act, achieving his two-decade goal of balancing the federal budget included in a bill giving Americans tax relief.

Sweeping Welfare and Healthcare Reforms, working closely with President Bill Clinton to extend the life of Medicare.

Archer Medical Savings Accounts (MSAs), paving the regulatory pathway for modern Health Savings Accounts (HSAs).

Middle-Class Tax Relief, including expanding IRAs, easing the estate tax, and creating the $500 per child tax credit.

"My dad would often tell me that while it was rewarding to pass major legislation, he felt his greatest accomplishment was in helping individual people," said William “Reyn” Archer III, his eldest son. "He cared deeply for the power of one person achieving their best. Through the Archer Center, he leaves a lasting legacy of that desire for Texas and Texans."

Upon his retirement from Congress in January 2001, Archer established the Archer Center in partnership with The University of Texas System to cultivate future generations of leaders. The center expanded on a high school internship program he started during his first year in Congress in 1971.

“The University of Texas System is fortunate, proud, and honored to have Congressman Archer’s name permanently associated with our work and our mission,” said Chancellor John M. Zerwas, MD. “Through his extraordinary legacy of leadership and public service, thousands of Archer Fellows have been exposed to the highest ideals of civic engagement and inspired to carry those values forward in their own lives and careers.”

Since 2001, more than 2,200 undergraduate, graduate, law, and medical students have participated in the Archer Fellowship Program. In the spring of 2026, Mr. Archer made his final public appearance at the Library of Congress to celebrate the program's landmark 25th anniversary. Today, Archer Fellows intern across the White House, Capitol Hill, federal agencies, nonprofits, and international organizations. Alumni have gone on to build impactful careers, earning prestigious honors including Rhodes, Marshall, Truman, Fulbright, and Schwarzman Scholarships.

"Chairman Archer believed profoundly in the power of public service and invested in students long before they recognized their own potential," said Katie Romano, executive director of the Archer Center. "Every Archer Fellow — past, present, and future — carries his legacy forward."

Funeral arrangements are pending, and further information will be shared as it becomes available.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to the Archer Center to support the continued education of future public servants.