"Billionaire Son Leading Charity Work, Bill Gates' Father Passes Away, 'Always Wanted to Resemble My Father'"

William H. Gates Sr., Senior Lawyer, Passes Away at 94
Influenced Bill Gates' Childhood Education and Play
After Retiring from Legal Profession, Managed Son's Couple's Charity Foundation

William H. Gates Sr., the father of Microsoft founder Bill Gates, passed away on the 14th (local time). Gates Sr. co-managed the charitable foundation of his son and daughter-in-law and promoted various philanthropic activities. / Photo by 'Gates' Note' website capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] William H. Gates Sr., the father of Microsoft (MS) founder Bill Gates, passed away at the age of 94 on the 14th (local time) at his home in Seattle, USA.

On the 15th, Bill Gates posted an article titled "Remembering My Father" on his website "Gates Notes," stating, "My father peacefully passed away the day before, surrounded by family," and added, "We will always miss him."

Gates Sr. died from Alzheimer's disease. Regarding this, Bill Gates said, "He was 94 years old and his health was deteriorating," adding, "My father's wisdom, generosity, and empathy had a great impact on many people around the world."

Bill Gates described his father as "the hardest-working and most respected lawyer in Seattle" and "also the most public leader in our community."

He also added, "My father and I maintained a relationship closer to friends or colleagues rather than a typical father-son relationship," and "He saw only the good in everyone and treated everyone specially."

Gates Sr. is said to have had a tremendous influence on his son Bill Gates since he was young. / Photo by Bill Gates YouTube capture

Gates Sr. is known to have had a profound influence on his son since Bill Gates's childhood.

According to Bill Gates's father's autobiography "The Road Ahead," published in 2009, Gates Sr. emphasized reading education from an early age. Every summer, he spent vacations with his son at a cabin resort, especially allowing Bill Gates to freely play games and have fun. These experiences laid the foundation for Bill Gates to later establish MS, an IT company with a market capitalization exceeding $1 trillion (approximately 1.18 trillion KRW).

Gates Sr. was also a key figure in helping his son establish the charitable organization "Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation." After retiring from the legal profession in 1994, he managed the foundation on behalf of his son and daughter-in-law, who were busy running MS.

Bill Gates recalled, "In the 1990s, Melinda (Bill Gates's wife), my father, and I were watching a movie together. I asked my father, 'How can I get more donation-related mail?' and he readily said, 'I will help you.'"

Gates Senior with his son Bill Gates (right) in 2003 / Photo by Yonhap News

Later, Bill Gates established the "William H. Gates Foundation," the predecessor of the "Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation," and entrusted its operation to Gates Sr. Over the years, Gates Sr. led the foundation in supporting health, education improvement, and poverty alleviation projects in the U.S. and other countries.

Even after Bill Gates merged several charitable foundations in 2000 to create the "Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation," Gates Sr. continued to serve as co-chair alongside his son and daughter-in-law.

The foundation has supported polio eradication, reduction of infant and maternal mortality rates, establishment of schools in third-world countries, and agricultural support projects in Africa. It has also contributed hundreds of millions of dollars toward AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) vaccine development.

In his tribute on "Gates Notes," Bill Gates wrote, "My father often said that being Bill Gates's father was a very wonderful experience," and "But everything I have done throughout my life was to be like my father."

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