HCC honors Bill Callegari with Honorary Degree
Jun 12, 2023
Graduation is always a highlight of the spring at Houston Community College (HCC) and this year, more than 1,700 students graduated at HCC’s spring graduation at NRG Stadium. One of the most notable individuals to receive his degree wasn’t a student. Community leader William “Bill” A. Callegari received an honorary degree for his longstanding support of HCC. Callegari holds a special place in the hearts of both the HCC and Katy communities.
HCC trustee Dave Wilson nominated Callegari for this distinguished recognition. HCC Northwest President Dr. Zachary Hodges said this is a well-deserved honor and long overdue.
“Bill is an icon in Katy, having served on the school board, then as a Texas state representative, and he’s also been on my business steering committee for the past 28 years,” said Hodges. “He and Glenn Hegar were both very instrumental leading the effort to bring a complete higher education program and infrastructure to Katy that resulted in new campuses for UH and HCC.”
Community involvement has been an important part of Callegari’s life and career. Before his election to the Texas State Legislature, he was involved in numerous activities in both the Katy and Houston areas, including local chambers of commerce and various professional and civic organizations. He served on the Katy ISD Board of Trustees in the mid-80s and was a republican precinct chair for approximately 20 years.
Callegari has been a licensed professional engineer in for more than 50 years. During his tenure in the Texas House of Representatives he worked on many complex issues including pension reform, water policy, eminent domain, private property rights, hurricane protection, transportation reform, and government streamlining.
Callegari is a native of Cottonport, Louisiana. He graduated from Louisiana State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural engineering and received his Master of Science degree in civil engineering from the University of Houston.