WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI MAGAZINE
Summer 2004

Pure Genius

BY ANNA PERLEBERG

William R. Tincher William R. Tincher '53 earned a political science degree at the University of Wichita before attending Washburn University Law School. Due to a glitch with his undergraduate degree, he actually walked for both degrees on the same day. He later received not only Washburn's Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1983, but Wichita State's 1984 Alumni Achievement Award.

Tincher spent the Eisenhower administration as chief prosecuting attorney for the Federal Trade Commission, winning both criminal and civil antitrust lawsuits and receiving the FTC's Distinguished Service Award. He then took over as president and CEO (1961) and chairman of the board (1968) of Purex Industries, which then made only liquid bleach. Under his leadership, Purex grew and diversified to produce, by 1971, "drugs, toiletries, swimming pool chemicals, industrial solvents, mobile homes, aircraft maintenance, flour, fresh produce and vegetable seeds." He retired in 1984 at 57, "the age most people become CEOs," says his son Dwight.

He enjoyed tennis, traveling and a fine cigar — his first was given him by Winston Churchill, who admonished, "Every man needs a vice." He was a devoted family man and "overachiever" with a photographic memory. Dwight recalls the family was audited by the IRS, and their agents "came away knowing more about IRS law than they had before."

Bill Tincher died April 21 in Santa Ana, Calif.

 


IN MEMORIAM

Pure Genius

William R. Tincher '53 earned a political science degree at the University of Wichita before attending Washburn University Law School.

The Pleasure of Her Voice

Annette R. Daniels '84 amassed critical acclaim as a mezzo-soprano in performances with numerous opera companies throughout the United States.

Knight Administrator

When Robert Kindrick came to WSU as vice president of academic affairs and research in August 2000, he advised students not to be surprised to find him teaching classes.

Posting Success

Lawrence A. "Larry" Wallace '42 studied and played hard at the University of Wichita, where he majored in economics and was a quarterback on the football team.

In Memoriam

Remembering Shocker Legacies