Q&A
INTERVIEW
WITH A BUSINESSMAN WHO VALUES US:
BUSINESSMAN BILL FRAZER AUBREY R. TAYLOR: What was life like for you as a child growing up? BUSINESSMAN BILL FRAZER: I grew up in a neighborhood with lots of families with lots of kids, plus we had a lot of family and friends of my parents who were always around our house. The one thing that was paramount was to be respectful of other people no matter who they are or how different they appear to be. We were also expected to work for whatever we wanted. My parents provided all the basics, everything else was up to me. So from an early age I had some sort of job, ultimately leading to waiting on tables in high school and throughout college. AUBREY R. TAYLOR: What did you dream of becoming as you were a child growing up? BUSINESSMAN BILL FRAZER: I wanted to own a restaurant. AUBREY R. TAYLOR: Did you achieve your childhood dream, or did it evolve into something different? BUSINESSMAN BILL FRAZER: Let’s just say I haven’t stopped dreaming. I got a job working in the lease accounting department of the Texas Land Office my junior year in college. It paid a whole lot better than restaurant work and allowed me to get some experience in my major and finish school. That led to a job offer in Houston with a major accounting firm, Ernst & Ernst, and my career as a CPA took off. However, working in the restaurant industry taught me a lot about people, and solidified what my parents taught me about hard work, always dealing honestly with people and being respectful. AUBREY R. TAYLOR: What is your mission in life? BUSINESSMAN BILL FRAZER: To live according to the Seven Christian Habits: A personal relationship with God, daily personal prayer, regular study of the Bible, adjusting my will to God’s will, service to others, maintaining a relationship with people who serve God, and maintaining stewardship of the resources provided to me. AUBREY R. TAYLOR: Do you have a recent accomplishment you would like to share? BUSINESSMAN BILL FRAZER: I give thanks each day for the loving relationship I have with my wife, Jean. We’ve been married for over 42 years and have 2 wonderful children, now grown and “out of the house”, who remind us of how truly blessed we are. But I also like to tell as many people as I can about two organizations I serve. One is with Volunteer Interfaith Caregivers – Southwest. Its mission is to help frail, elderly, and health-impaired people in the southwest Houston area remain independent in their own homes and to be able to meet their health care needs to preserve their quality of life. Our basic service is to help them meet very critical transportation needs, such as trips to doctor appointments and
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to the grocery store. Such basic needs are critical in helping them remain in their existing homes. Transportation needs of seniors is a growing problem in this City and we all need to do more to address these issues. As a Board member I’ve been able to help this group raise needed operating capital and to address some critical issues in data management and volunteer outreach. This group must be able to keep track of the seniors who need our services as well as volunteers who provide free transportation. Better computer and data systems help us deliver better service. The other organization I work with is a skilled nursing home in Baytown, which is part of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas. As a Trustee I’ve been able to help the permanent staff solve some pressing financial issues. This has enabled the facility to keep up with falling Medicaid reimbursements and to utilize donations more effectively. Most of our residents rely completely on Medicaid funds for a place to live. These funds are woefully short of actual cost of care, and we are able to bridge the gap to provide a safe, clean and caring home that our residents and their families can be proud of. AUBREY R. TAYLOR: What is your outlook for 2015? BUSINESSMAN BILL FRAZER: My goal for 2015 is to help the residents of the City of Houston how we can better utilize the resources we have to solve some very difficult and important issues. To do this will require being honest in our assessment of our pension systems and the condition of our streets and other infrastructure. It is a difficult task and it won’t be easy. But I firmly believe that by addressing these difficult issues now we will become better organized and the skills and hard work of the best and brightest people in the City will develop meaningful solutions. AUBREY R. TAYLOR: What advice would you give to someone out there striving to achieve their dream? BUSINESSMAN BILL FRAZER: Andrew Jackson’s mother gave him the following advice, and I’ve always liked to repeat it when someone starting their career asks me what advice I’d give. “Andrew….in this world you will have to make your own way. To do that you must have friends. You can make friends by being honest, and you can keep them by being steadfast. You must keep in mind that friends worth having will, in the long run, expect as much from you as they give to you.”
ON THE COVER BUSINESSMAN BILL FRAZER – Frazer plans to put his vast experience to work for the people of Houston should voters choose to elect him on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2015.