William H. Gates, Sr., brings a distinguished career in law and many years of public service to his role as Co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Bill earned his bachelor’s and law degrees from the University of Washington, following three years of U.S. Army service in World War II. He became a partner in the law firm of Shidler McBroom Gates & Lucas in 1964, guiding it through growth and mergers that would eventually establish Preston Gates & Ellis, one of Seattle’s leading law firms.

A successful and prominent attorney, Bill has served as president of both the Seattle/King County Bar Association and the Washington State Bar Association. His many other leadership positions include past chairmanship of the Washington Courts 2000 Committee and the American Bar Association House of Delegates. His awards and honors include the 1992 American Judicature Society Herbert Harley Award and being named the 1991 University of Washington Law School Distinguished Alumnus.

Bill has served as trustee, officer and volunteer for more than two dozen Northwest organizations, including the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce and King County United Way. In 1995, he founded the Technology Alliance, a cooperative regional effort to expand technology-based employment in Washington. He also has been a strong advocate for education for many years, chairing the Seattle Public School Levy Campaign in 1971 and serving as a member of the University of Washington’s Board of Regents since 1997.