The family of William Lewis Hinshaw II, of Lawrenceville, Ga., announces with great sadness that on November 9th, 2022, at 5:29 pm, he “slipped the surly bonds of Earth” en route to his final destination with our Lord. While this was always the destination of the flight plan filed eighty-one (81) years ago, the journey was grander than few would have dared imagine, except for him.
Bill, as most knew him, was the eldest son of W. Lewis and Blanche Dean Hinshaw of Greensboro, North Carolina. Born on May 5th, 1941, to humble beginnings, he led a joyous life full of personal and professional successes.
Bright, naturally curious, and hardworking, Bill helped build the very house his family would occupy for more than fifty (50) years. When applied to school, these traits bore success in the arts, academics, and athletics. As an honor roll student and class President at Gillespie Park School, he also excelled in the band and as a member of the school football team. Bill then transitioned to Greensboro Senior High School where he enjoyed continued success in all three areas. Acting success manifested in being a cast member in each of the three annual school plays. He enjoyed the academic successes of honor roll, Debate Team Captain and winner of a prestigious national speaking and writing contest. The latter afforded him the trip of a lifetime to historical places along the East Coast and culminating at the model United Nations in New York City. At this event, Bill was selected as one of the 120 Senior Representatives from high school students across the country. This spirit of collaboration and achievement would fuel Bill’s professional endeavors for the rest of his life. However, it was success on the athletic field that led to his receipt of an Athletic scholarship from The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina.
At The Citadel, Bill’s focus narrowed to academics and athletics. Athletically, he was a four (4) year letterman who played on the victorious 1960 Tangerine Bowl and 1961 Southern Conference Champion teams. While athletic success brought Bill to The Citadel, it was his academic prowess that would earn him the coveted Gold Stars awarded to those on the Dean’s List. This success, in conjunction with his natural and evolving leadership abilities, culminated in his graduating from The Citadel in 1963 as a Distinguished Military Graduate and appointment as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army.
Professionally, Bill flourished as a “servant leader” long before that title would ever be coined. Volunteering for the most difficult training, he attained the qualifications of Paratrooper, Jumpmaster, Ranger and Expert Infantryman. These qualifications served him well at the 82nd Airborne Division and subsequent combat experiences in the Dominican Republic and Republic of Vietnam. In Vietnam, Bill served as an elite South Vietnamese Ranger Battalion Advisor. Having little contact with American forces in Vietnam, he formed strong bonds with the nationals he served and fought with. He was proud to call many his friend. At the moment of its awarding, Bill’s unit, the 52nd South Vietnamese Ranger Battalion was the only Vietnamese unit to be awarded the Presidential Unit Award. He was also personally decorated for heroism on several occasions.
To harness Bill’s leadership skills and combat experience, he was then assigned to the Army ROTC program at the University of Alabama. While preparing future officers for military service, Bill also attended class and earned a Master’s Degree. However, the greatest accomplishment of his time in Tuscaloosa was his marriage to Lisa Bolton. They would depart the University of Alabama and Tuscaloosa together as Bill transitioned his service to country from the Army to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
During his twenty-four (24) years as a special agent, Bill enjoyed tremendous success as both a law enforcement tactician and organizational leader. He was an early adaptor of explosive, ordinance, and disposal (EOD) tactics, SWAT techniques and tactics, as well as emerging technologies as a Deputy Director in the Laboratory Division. Bill was known as an innovative thinker and problem solver. Concurrent to his tactical success, Bill’s organizational abilities and human connections formed bonds that endure to this day. The culmination of his FBI career was his selection as the Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the Atlanta field office.
Upon retirement from the FBI, Bill continued his service to the country as the Inspector General (IG) of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). He was then approached by Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) to apply his unique leadership and problem-solving skills to innovate law enforcement agencies across the country.
Success in the private sector led to one last posting. After leaving SAIC, Bill joined his life partner of thirty years in business. Together, Bill and Lisa formed L&B Homebuilders. L&B Homebuilders successfully served homeowners in the North Atlanta suburbs. Sensing a change in the housing market, they left the building business in 2007.
No longer bound by the constraints of a formal vocation, Bill could now focus his time and energy on the apples of his eye – his grandchildren. Of all the accolades and titles garnered through a lifetime of service and work, the one that meant the most was Grandfather.
Bill’s professional successes were many. However, what was most important and rewarding for him were the personal connections forged in everyday experiences with others. He was a great mentor, communicator, and motivational force for all he met – no matter their station or position. Bill’s passion was service to his fellow man. This service was the manifestation of his belief that love is an action verb. To many who knew Bill, this active love was a seminal moment in their lives. These connections were Bill’s pride and joy. Bill’s broad knowledge and skills allowed him to be many things to many people. However, his goal was to be what you needed at that moment for you to succeed.
He will be missed by all that knew him. We ache for the loss of daily interaction but rejoice at the abatement of the illness that caused suffering. Bill succumbed to the combined effects of Agent Orange.
Bill is survived by two brothers, Edward Hinshaw of Orangeburg, South Carolina and David Hinshaw of Atlanta, Georgia.
His nuclear family – wife Lisa, son William’s family (Lisa, Olivia, Vivian) and son Jonathan’s family (Sara, Morgan, Brent) – will miss him deeply.
A formal service will be held on Wednesday, November 16th at 3:00pm at Grayson United Methodist Church in Grayson Georgia. A PRIVATE inurnment will be held at Georgia National Cemetery at a later date.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Blazer Scholarship fund in care of George Murray, SFSAFBI, Box 684145, Marietta, Ga 30068 (Checks Payable to: SFSAFBI-ATL).
Condolences may be sent or viewed at www.wagesfuneralhome.com. Tom M. Wages Funeral Service, 120 Scenic Hwy., Lawrenceville, GA 30046 (770-963-2411) has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Posted in: Wages Funeral Home
Posted on: 2022-11-14
Link to original obituary: https://www.wagesfuneralhome.com/obituaries/William-Hinshaw-3/#!/Obituary