This month marks the official retirement of Bill Baird, PE, RPLS, whose name has been synonymous with Baird, Hampton & Brown for more than three decades.
While Bill stepped away from his day-to-day leadership role last December and has spent the past several months helping ensure a thoughtful transition, this month marks the close of an extraordinary career spanning more than 50 years in the engineering profession.
In 1992, Bill joined Merlin Hampton and Les Brown, sharing the belief that clients are best served when talented professionals work together across disciplines. That philosophy became the foundation of Baird, Hampton & Brown, a firm built on collaboration, technical excellence, integrity, and lasting client relationships. More than 30 years later, those same principles continue to define who we are.
Throughout his career, Bill never stopped being an engineer. Even while leading a growing company, he remained deeply involved in projects, solving complex challenges, mentoring younger engineers, and serving clients with the same hands-on approach that earned their trust decades ago. His influence can be seen not only in the roads, schools, utilities, parks, and developments that shape communities across Texas, but also in the people he mentored and the culture he helped create.
Today, BHB has grown from a three-person partnership into a multidisciplinary firm of more than 140 professionals serving clients across Texas. That growth is a direct reflection of Bill‘s vision, not simply to build projects, but to build a company that would continue to thrive long after any one individual stepped away.
As Bill begins this next chapter, we celebrate not only his remarkable career but the enduring legacy he leaves behind. His commitment to doing the right thing, treating people well, and delivering exceptional work remains woven into the fabric of our firm.
On behalf of our principals and employees, thank you, Bill, for your vision, your leadership, your mentorship, and the foundation you’ve built.
Congratulations on your retirement. We wish you and your family all the best in the years ahead.
Your name may be on our building, but your legacy lives on in our people.

