Dr. William Emery Pinney

Dr. William Emery Pinney (73) of McKinney, Texas, died Thursday, April 9, 2015. Graveside memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, April 15 at the Capital Memorial Cemetery in Pflugerville, Texas beside the Cook-Walden Funeral Home.

Dr. Pinney was born September 16, 1941, in Pensacola, Florida, to Robert Kenneth Pinney and Louise Emery Pinney. In 1964, he graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and in 1965, he graduated with a Master of Business Administration. He then completed his Doctor of Philosophy in Economics and Business Administration.

After arriving at General Dynamics in Fort Worth as an engineer in 1966, Bil was instrumental in designing a mathematical model used in the development of the F-111 and F-16 aircrafts. He also served as the Vice President of Marcon Industrial, Inc., a company performing engineering and business consulting for government and military projects. He quickly also found his way back to the academic world as an assistant professor at Texas Christian University in 1967. He joined the University of Texas at Arlington in 1969 and eventually Alcorn State University in Natchez, Mississippi, in 1998. He devoted over forty years to teaching and mentoring young people throughout his distinguished career. Dr. Pinney developed many undergraduate and graduate courses ranging from Business Statistics to Applied Mathematical Programming. He was also a coauthor of many textbooks in the Decision Sciences field and was active in the Southwest Decision Sciences Institute and the National Decision Sciences Institute, holding many committee and officer positions in these groups. In recognition of his many contributions, he was awarded the Outstanding Educator Award in 2003 by the Southwest DSI.

As an instructor, one of his greatest joys was working with dedicated students and seeing their potential unlocked with education. He inspired countless students throughout his career and encouraged many to enter the teaching profession as well. His unique teaching methods, textbook contributions, and willingness to accommodate any learning style brought complicated concepts into focus and launched lifelong understanding and professional development for his fortunate students.

In 1980, Bil married Ms. Van Chauvin and they experienced many adventures together including bird watching on many beautiful vacations throughout the world, sailing in the Caribbean, hot air ballooning, and even teaching clowning classes as Blossom and Uncle Will. While at home, they were also active members of the Episcopalian church and the Scottish Heritage Society, which gave Bil an excuse to proudly wear his kilt. He was a lifelong fan of golf and only stopped playing when his shoulders wouldn’t cooperate. They were married thirty years at her death in 2010.

Life then brought Bil back to Texas. He moved to McKinney and married Edna Boyce in 2014. They enjoyed spending their time with family members in this area, entertaining friends, and tending their dogs and cats.

We will all miss Bil for his intelligence, Santa Claus face, delicious homemade salsa, humor, honesty, and steadfast love. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle, cousin, and loyal friend. His time spent with family and friends was his greatest joy and he was so pleased with their many achievements, successes, and activities.

Survivors include his spouse Edna Boyce Pinney; daughter Laura Pinney Munson and husband David of Arlington; son Marc Emery Pinney and wife Amy of Dallas; grandchildren Drew and Audrey Munson and Eason, Amelia, and Rex Pinney; mother Louise Neisius of Jacksonville, FL; and many other sisters, brothers, cousins, nieces, and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial gift may be given to the Audubon Society or your local Humane Society.