William (Bill) James Hawkinson (11/15/1928 – 2/15/2016) was born to Marie (Sandvik) and Godfrey Hawkinson of Crosby, North Dakota. He lived in Crosby through high school where he excelled in academics, sports and student government.

Declining a full scholarship to the University of North Dakota, Bill instead moved to Chicago for a brief period to pursue a medical degree before moving to California and joining the Marines. Upon leaving the service, he attended USC where he earned a degree in business finance. Bill was then accepted to USC's law school but left after a year to accept a position at Union Bank. Bill became a municipal bond trader and had a successful career for more than forty-five years at a number of different companies.

He loved golf and travelling and was a voracious reader.

He is preceded in death by his wife Kathleen (nee Schiess), and his three brothers, Chester, Howard and Robert. He is survived by his three children, Suzanne (Soukup), John and James and by his three grandchildren, Jeff and Laura Soukup and Kristina Hawkinson.