Archer, Bill

William Reynolds Archer, Jr., was born in Houston on March 22, 1928. He received his bachelor's degree in business administration from Rice University in 1946 and earned a law degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1951. Between 1951 and 1953 Archer served in the U.S. Air Force as a captain during the conflict with Korea. He went on to hold offices as city councilman and mayor pro tem for the city of Hunters Creek Village, Texas (1955-1962) and director of the Heights State Bank (1967-1970). Archer was elected to state office as a member of the Texas House from 1967 to 1970, and subsequently won election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1970 and served until his retirement in January 2001. He served as chair of the House Ways and Means Committee during the 104th-106th sessions of Congress.