Bill Sinkin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bill Sinkin
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Solar San Antonio: founder and chairman of Solar San Antonio
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William R. Sinkin
May 19, 1913 San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
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| Died | February 3, 2014 (aged 100) San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
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| Education | Attended University of Texas at Austin, 1933–1934 |
| Occupation | founder, Solar San Antonio |
| Spouse(s) | Fay Bloom (married 1942–2009) |
| Children | Lanny Sinkin, Richard Sinkin |
William R. Sinkin (May 19, 1913 – February 3, 2014) was an American community leader. He worked hard for fairness, teamwork between countries, and clean energy in San Antonio, Texas.
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About Bill Sinkin's Life
William Sinkin was born in San Antonio, Texas, on May 19, 1913. He studied at San Antonio College and then earned a business degree from the University of Texas in 1934. After college, he worked for his father's clothing company. Later, he became very successful in banking.
In 1942, he married Fay Sinkin. Fay was known for her dedication to public health and water issues. She passed away in 2009. After retiring from banking in 1987, Bill became a financial consultant.
Working for Fairness
Throughout his life, Bill Sinkin worked to create more opportunities for everyone.
- In 1945, he helped start Goodwill of San Antonio. This group helps people with physical or mental challenges find jobs.
- He led the San Antonio Housing Authority (SAHA) from 1949 to 1953. He worked to make sure more people from different backgrounds could be part of local government. He even hired the first woman to be an executive director at SAHA.
- When he took over Texas State Bank in the 1960s, the bank started helping more minority groups and small businesses.
- He also founded the Urban Coalition of San Antonio in the 1960s. This group helps communities deal with social and economic issues. They work on topics like education, jobs, health, and fighting poverty.
In 1976, Bill Sinkin helped improve relations between the U.S. Jewish community and Mexico. He led a group to meet with Mexico's President to discuss important ties between the two countries.
HemisFair: A Big Event
Bill Sinkin played a major role in organizing HemisFair. This was a huge international fair held in San Antonio in 1968. It was the first international fair in the Southwestern United States.
HemisFair celebrated San Antonio's 250th birthday. Its theme was "Confluence of Civilizations in the Americas," showing how different cultures came together. More than thirty countries had exhibits there. Bill Sinkin was the first president of the group that organized the fair. Today, the area is called HemisFair Park. Bill continued to help plan the future of this important public space for the rest of his life.
Focus on Clean Energy
After retiring from banking in 1987, Bill Sinkin spent most of his time promoting clean energy. He was a lifelong supporter of using energy sources that don't harm the environment.
- In the 1980s, he put one of San Antonio's first major solar power systems on the roof of his bank.
- In 1999, he founded Solar San Antonio. This group works to make San Antonio a leader in solar energy.
- He helped start Build San Antonio Green in 2003, which encourages green building practices.
- He helped San Antonio become a Solar America City.
- He worked to get a solar water-heating system installed at the county jail.
- He encouraged CPS Energy, a large energy company, to start a program that helps people put solar panels on their roofs.
Bill worked closely with his son, Lanny Sinkin, on many of these projects at Solar San Antonio.
Awards and Recognition
Bill Sinkin received many awards for his work:
- In 1966, he received the National Brotherhood Award.
- In 1984, he was named "banker of the year" by the Small Business Administration.
- The William R. Sinkin Eco Centro at San Antonio College was named in his honor. It is a community center focused on environmental sustainability.
His Final Years
Bill Sinkin passed away on February 3, 2014, at the age of 100. He left behind his two sons, Lanny and Richard, three grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
