It is with a heavy but grateful heart that we share the news of the passing of our chairman, partner, mentor and friend, Bill Gates on Monday, May 10, 2021.
In addition to being an exceptional business leader, he was a life-long learner and enjoyed mentoring others to higher achievement levels. He was revered by many in the third party logistics industry and considered one of the leading authorities in warehousing. Bill was recognized in the 3PL discipline as the CEO of Standard Corporation, a Columbia, SC based company he led to national prominence before being acquired by UTiW. He retired from UTi Worldwide in 2011 and in 2013 became chairman of the board for Sunland Logistics Solutions.
Bill often appeared as a guest lecturer and speaker for numerous universities and professional associations. He served as a board member and President of the Warehousing Education Research Council. He also served as a President for the local Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals Roundtable.
Bill served in the United States Marine Corp, achieving the distinction of Captain while serving in field and staff positions in various parts of the world including Hawaii, Japan, and Washington DC. As he returned to civilian life, he began a career in logistics and earned a post graduate degree for MS Logistics Systems Management in 1984.
He was an avid fly fisherman and lover of the outdoors. He loved traveling, listening to music with a nice glass of wine, and grilling on college game days.
His authenticity, compassion, and ability to inspire others earned Bill the deep admiration from many who had the opportunity to work with him. His management approach is reflected in his favorite leadership quote from former U.S. Senator, Alan Simpson, “If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don’t have integrity, nothing else matters.”
