SAN ANTONIO — Retired banker and civic leader William R. “Bill'' Sinkin, who led the charge to bring HemisFair '68 to San Antonio and in recent years used his birthday celebrations to raise awareness about solar power, died Monday. He was 100. Sinkin was a philanthropist, activist, banker, entrepreneur, teacher, father and husband, who had a penchant for bow ties — which were de rigueur at his birthday celebrations.

He is widely credited with bringing HemisFair '68 to fruition, an event that many say was the catalyst that changed the face of San Antonio.