Most folks have a career during their lifetime. William “Bill” Drinkard had a dozen.
His main three life works were:
- Sate legislator from Etowah and St. Clair Counties from 1978 to 1990.
- Real estate developer.
- Novelist, writing a successful science fiction work later in life
William Hartwell Drinkard III died July 9 at age 79 at his home in Springville.
He called more than one Alabama town his home: Montgomery, Cullman, Gadsden and Springville.
He spent his early years in Montgomery and Cullman. He graduated from Cullman High in 1965. He was a nephew of Cullman community leader Roy Drinkard, who is now the oldest living U.S. Marine and just turned 105 years old.
He graduated from Auburn with a BA in business and from Jacksonville State University with an MBA.
A visionary entrepreneur and businessman, Bill opened Alabama’s first Apple Computer store in 1978. That was on the early end of the Applization of America.
He served as CEO and administrator of the Holy Name of Jesus Hospital in Gadsden during the 1980s.
He served as chairman of the Cullman Downtown Redevelopment Authority and on the Alabama Historical Commission, the Alabama Chiropractic License Board, the Alabama Retail Association and the Gadsden Housing Authority.
Later in life, Bill worked at UAB Hospital in Birmingham in patient services, helping families whose loved ones were undergoing surgery. His calm demeanor and compassionate presence provided comfort to many during challenging times.
Bill was a lifelong learner and prolific reader. He had an early interest in science fiction. His intellectual curiosity led him to write ELOM, a science fiction novel published in 2008 by TOR, the world’s largest science fiction publisher.
He was fascinated by ancient cultures and built an impressive collection of artifacts from the Middle East and from pre-Columbian South America. His studies extended into philosophy and theology, and though he explored many belief systems, he remained firmly grounded in his childhood faith in Christ.
"It is a harsh life but a good one and it is one that all cherish." — Bill Drinkard
Jim ‘Zig’ Zeigler’s beat is the colorful and positive about Alabama -- her people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at [email protected].
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