The dazzling river floats of the 2008 Texas Cavaliers’ River Paradehave long glided down the Paseo del Rio; the confetti from brokencascarones has been swept from the streets; and San Antonio’s 10–daycitywide party fondly referred to as Fiesta is now but a happy memoryfor natives and tourists alike.
But for William “Bill” H. Atwell II, who reigned as this year’s capeand–saber donning King Antonio LXXXVI of the Texas Cavaliers, it’sback to business as usual as president of Atlee Development Inc.—aleader in the development and design of medical office buildingsthroughout the country.
As King Antonio, Atwell had little time for rest from April 18 toApril 27 as duty required him to participate in more than 120 officialFiesta events that had him rising at the crack ofdawn and returning home well after dark.
“It’s a distinct honor to serve as King Antonio,and we’re elected by our peers to serve in thisposition,” says Atwell, a Texas Cavaliers membersince 1995. “I enjoy putting forth a good lightabout the Cavaliers and what they do for the cityand for children in Bexar County.”
The Texas Cavaliers is a local men’s civic andpatriotic organization of community and businessleaders. About 300 men from the ranks ofthe Cavaliers provide equipment and logistics tostage the annual River Parade. From transportationand preparation of the barges, to placingseats along the river and overseeing ticket sales,the organization donates time and resources tosupport children’s charities.
As part of his duties, Atwell, 47, distributedmore than $300,000 to 50 local children’s charities,including this year’s Charitable Honoree, theChildren’s Bereavement Center of South Texasthat provides grief support to children, teens andyoung adults who lost a loved one.
“To date, the Cavaliers have distributed morethan $1.5 million to the community through the Texas Cavaliers CharitableFoundation,” says Arthur Cavazos, Texas Cavaliers spokespersonand president of Cavazos Public Relations & Advertising Inc.
Five years ago, Atwell came up with the idea of getting local schoolchildrento design the cover of the Texas Cavalier’s River Parade programbook.
“I thought since we’re helping out kids, it would be a good ideato get kids to participate in our parade,” he says, “and because publicschools don’t have money for art supplies, why don’t we ask everyschool in Bexar County to create a drawing about the River Parade.”
The plan included having 10 winners, one from each City Councildistrict. “As an incentive to get students to participate,” Atwell says,“we award the winners with $1,000 to be used for art supplies for theirschool.” (This year’s winner was Ismael Pena, a fifth grader at Palo AltoElementary in District 4.)
With an itinerary that involved a flurry of appearances at parties,parades, schools, balls, military bases and receptions, Atwell now hastime to catch up on his work as he sits behind a pine–and–galvanizedpipe desk he made by hand. He also built the tall, pipe plan rack thatholds numerous blueprint drawings.
“I had seen a picture of a desk like this, but couldn’t find one,” the1980 Alamo Heights graduate says, “So I figured I could make it myself.”
After graduating in the mid–1980s from Bradford College, with amarketing degree, Atwell worked for the family real estate business.Later, he left to work for Aequus Real Estate Services as a broker, althoughhe knew he wanted to get into real estate development.
As luck would have it, Atwell met his business partner, Zachry S. Lee,after Lee moved here from Dallas in 1997. The two soon began seekingdevelopment projects. Their first major contract called for the developmentof the Tesoro building on U.S. Highway 281.
However, their next project for Methodist Healthcare Systemled to their niche in medical office buildings.During the late ’90s, Methodist officials soughtto add a cost–effective medical office space tothe already existing Methodist MetropolitanHospital on McCullough Avenue. They approachedAtwell and Lee about pricing anddesigning the 100,000–square–foot building.
“They said if you can build this for thatrate and in that amount of time, you’ve got adeal,” Atwell says. “Both Zach and I realizedmaybe there’s something with this medical officebusiness and we should look into it a littleharder. Now medical office buildings are primarilywhat we do.”
In 1998, Atwell co–founded Atlee Developmentwith Lee, chief financial officer andtreasurer.
“Atlee did exactly what they said theywould do,” Mark Bernard, CEO of MethodistMetropolitan Hospital, says on Atlee’s Website. “Our 100,000–square–foot medical officebuilding was built economically and on time.Atlee exceeded our expectations.”
Three of Atlee Development’s currentprojects include a 90,000–square–foot medical office building inClarksville, Tennessee; a 38,000–square–foot building in Fort Wayne,Indiana; and a 120,000–square–foot building in the Medical Centerarea.
“We deliver to our clients exactly what they want for the best priceand timing possible,” Atwell says.
Observing the friendly company president behind his desk in apair of jeans, short–sleeved, button–down shirt and scuffed–up, browncowboy boots, one imagines him to be a good ole’ Texas boy, who hasa ranch somewhere where he likes to escape on weekends.
He does.
“I’ve got a small ranch south of San Antonio, and I spend a lot oftime there,” Atwell says. “I love to fish and hunt. I’ve always got a project.I’m always building something, and I’ve got a D–6 bulldozer thattakes a lot of my time.”
When he’s not spending time at the ranch, Atwell enjoys homelife with his wife, Wendy, and three daughters in San Antonio.
