Bill Gates Sr.
He was the steady, principled anchor behind one of history's greatest fortunes, channeling his son's wealth into a global force for public health and justice.
1925–2020 (age 95)·American attorney and civic leader·Birthday: November 30·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Bill Gates Sr. lived a life of profound impact, first as a respected pillar of the Seattle legal community and later as the guiding conscience of the world's largest private foundation. A tall, gentle man with a fierce sense of civic duty, he co-founded the law firm Shidler McBroom & Gates and led bar associations, known for his integrity and commitment to progressive causes. His greatest role began when his son's success created an unprecedented opportunity. He helped establish the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, serving as its co-chair and applying his legal mind and moral compass to steer its vast resources toward fighting disease, poverty, and inequity. He was the bedrock upon which a philanthropic empire was built.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Bill was born in 1925, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bill Was Born
The biggest hits of 1925
#1 Movie
The Gold Rush
Bill's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1925Born
The Scopes Trial debates evolution in schools
Home: $4,366President: Calvin Coolidge"Sweet Georgia Brown" — Ben Bernie
1930Started school
Pluto discovered
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,510President: Herbert Hoover"Body and Soul" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: All Quiet on the Western Front
1938Became a teenager
Kristallnacht and the escalation toward WWII
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $2,850Min wage: $0.25/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Begin the Beguine" — Artie ShawBest Picture: You Can't Take It with You
1941Could drive
Pearl Harbor attack brings the US into WWII
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,060Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Chattanooga Choo Choo" — Glenn MillerBest Picture: How Green Was My Valley
1943Could vote
Allies invade Sicily; Battle of Stalingrad ends
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,290Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I've Heard That Song Before" — Harry JamesBest Picture: Casablanca
1946Turned 21
United Nations holds its first General Assembly
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $5,150Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Prisoner of Love" — Perry ComoBest Picture: The Best Years of Our Lives
1955Turned 30
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1965Turned 40
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1975Turned 50
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1985Turned 60
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1995Turned 70
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2005Turned 80
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2020Died at 95
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
Key Achievements
- Co-founded the law firm Shidler McBroom & Gates (later K&L Gates) and served as president of the Washington State Bar Association.
- Was a founding co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, shaping its early strategy and governance.
- Successfully campaigned for Washington State to adopt a state income tax to fund education and services, via Initiative 1098.
- Authored the book 'Showing Up for Life: Thoughts on the Gifts of a Lifetime,' reflecting on his values and experiences.
Did You Know?
He served as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army during World War II.
He was a longtime board member of Planned Parenthood and a champion of reproductive rights.
He and his wife, Mary, raised three children: Kristianne, Bill, and Libby.
Despite his son's fame, he was often simply called 'Bill' or 'Big Bill' by friends and colleagues in Seattle.
“Each of us has been given a gift: the gift of life. What we do with our lives is our gift back.”
