Bio for Bill McBride

 

Bill McBride was shaped by the lessons of his upbringing – work hard, attain knowledge, get an education and help others along the way.  Bill McBride has not forgotten those lessons and he has not forgotten where he comes from.

 

McBride grew up in the Lake County town of Leesburg, Florida.  Educated in public schools, McBride learned from his always-working father and mother that education and hard work were the keys to success.  The boy from Lake County became managing partner of Holland & Knight, the largest law firm in Florida and the fifth largest in the nation.  Those lessons, along with unsurpassed leadership skills, and his innate drive to help others, has put McBride at the forefront of every venture he’s attempted.

 

Early Achiever

 

McBride’s success started early in life.  As a delegate from Leesburg High School he was elected as Governor of Florida Boy’s State in 1962.  McBride was a member of the National Honor Society, senior class President, Mr. LHS, served as Leesburg Student City Mayor, and was Florida’s 1963 Scholar/Athlete runner-up.

 

McBride was awarded a football scholarship to the University of Florida, but a knee injury ended his football career.  He gave up his scholarship and worked to earn what he wanted – a college education.  He waited tables at the University Inn, shelved books at the UF library and worked vacations as a union busboy and waiter at a hotel in New York’s Catskill Mountains.  By clearing tables and serving others he earned the college education he wanted.

 

Decorated War Veteran

 

At the end of his first year of law school at the University of Florida, McBride volunteered for the Marines in 1968 in order to serve in the Vietnam War.  He was the leadership Honor Graduate of his Marine Corps Basic School Class and President of his Class’ Mess Night.  He also has the distinction of graduating number one from the United States Army Ranger School.  Despite the controversy over our country’s involvement in Vietnam, McBride was drawn to serve his nation out of his sense of patriotism.  He served as a Marine platoon commander aboard ships in the South China Sea, and in 1970 volunteered again to lead infantry Marines in Vietnam.  For his combat duty in Vietnam in 1970 he was awarded the Bronze Star with a Combat “V”.  Following his time in Vietnam, McBride returned to Quantico, Virginia as an instructor to Marine officer candidates.  Upon his discharge he had attained the rank of Captain, USMC.

 

McBride returned to law school at UF.  But once again, his studies were interrupted when then-incoming American Bar Association president Chesterfield Smith tapped McBride as his assistant during his term as President and President-elect of the ABA.  McBride returned to law school where he graduated with honors in 1975 and was a member of Law Review.

 

Respected Business/Civic Leader

 

In 1975 he joined his mentor, Chesterfield Smith, at the law firm of Holland & Knight.  McBride worked at Holland & Knight offices in Bartow, Lakeland, Tallahassee and Bradenton before joining the Tampa office in 1977.  By 1992 he was elected the managing partner of the 300-plus lawyer firm.  Under McBride’s leadership as the firm’s chief executive, Holland & Knight grew to the nation’s fifth largest with nearly 1400 attorneys and offices across the globe.

 

Despite McBride’s rise to the pinnacle of his profession, he has not forgotten where he came from.  His enduring connection to his roots, and his continuing lessons in giving and serving, benefits his community.  He has tirelessly led his community in the areas of health and human services, business development, transportation and unity.  A few of his community and political involvements include:

 

·         Member, Florida Supreme Court’s Commission on Gender Bias;

·         Chairman, first Hillsborough County Needs Assessment;

·         Campaign Chair, United Way of Hillsborough County;

·         Founding Chair of District VII Transportation Committee;

·         Chair, Board of Directors, United Way of Hillsborough County;

·         National Chair, Law Firm Pro Bono Project;

·         Chair, Great American Teach-In;

·         Chair, Florida Chamber of Commerce Foundation;

·         Member, Board of Directors, Florida Chamber of Commerce;

·         Chair, Board of Governors, Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce;

·         Board member and General Counsel of Tampa Chamber of Commerce;

·         President, Hillsborough County Bar Association.

·         Board Member, Enterprise Florida, Inc.

·         Board Member, Take Stock in Children Board of Directors

·         Chair, Investment Advisory Council of the State Board of Administration

·         Member, Florida Council of 100

·         Created Holland & Knight’s award winning Opening Doors For Children programs

·         Created Holland & Knight’s nationally-recognized Holocaust Remembrance Project

 

Growing up in the rural South in the 1950’s, McBride saw his share of bigotry and prejudice.  Even then, the young boy knew it was wrong and vowed that he would be different from many of those around him.  As an adult, McBride has pushed to unify and improve the lives of citizens from different walks of life.  Awards for his leadership in these areas include:

 

·         Tree of Life Award from the Jewish National Fund;

·         Silver Medallion Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews;

·         Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drum Major Award for Human Rights;

·         Judeo Christian Health Clinic’s Citizen of the Year;

·         James M. “Red” McEwen President’s Award for Service and Leadership;

·         Person of Vision Award from Prevent Blindness of Florida;

·         University of Tampa Distinguished Public Service Award;

·         2001 Easter Seals Community Champion;

·         Tampa Bay Business Hall of Fame.

 

Committed Father, Husband

 

Despite his busy schedule, McBride relishes some very important roles – coach and manager of his children’s Little League teams.  McBride enjoys seeing his son, Bert, daughter, Lexie, and their teammates learn the same important lessons on the playing fields as he did.  McBride’s wife, Alex Sink is a prominent community and business leader who recently retired after serving as President of Bank of America in Florida.  She is active in many organizations including Emily’s List, The Nature Conservancy and her alma mater Wake Forest where she is Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees.  Bill, Alex and their two children live in Thonotosassa, a small rural community in eastern Hillsborough County.