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Detroit business mogul William \

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Detroit business mogul William “Bill” Pickard died peacefully Wednesday at the age of 83 at his home in West Palm Beach, Florida, surrounded by loved ones, according to a statement from the Pickard family.

Pickard, one of the nation’s most successful Black entrepreneurs, was a philanthropist, education advocate and mentor, his family said in the statement. He was the founder and chairman of Global Automotive Alliance (GAA).

He was named as a Detroit News Michiganian of the Year in 2002 and awarded the Michigan Lifetime Humanitarian Award by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2019.

Funeral arrangements were incomplete but will be announced soon, according to the family’s spokeswoman, Jocelyn Coley.

“On behalf of our family, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for the love and support during this difficult time,” the Pickard family said. “Your kindness has provided immense comfort.”

Pickard was born in the small town of LaGrange, Georgia, before his family moved to Flint, according to a personal finance article published in 2017.

He received a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Western Michigan University, a master’s degree in social work from the University of Michigan and a doctorate in higher education administration from Ohio State University.

While Pickard initially wanted to be a social worker, he shifted his focus to entrepreneurship. He started as a McDonald’s franchisee in Detroit in 1971, according to his biography on Global Automotive Alliance’s website.

He founded the Global Automotive Alliance in 1989. The company provides contract logistics, procurement, quality containment, warehousing, freight forwarding and contract assembly services, according to its Linkedin.

Pickard was a co-managing partner of MGM Grand Detroit and a co-owner of five Black-owned newspapers including the Michigan Chronicle. As a big supporter of education, Pickard was appointed to the Board of Trustees at Western Michigan University by Gov. Rick Snyder in 2016 and served until 2018 when he stepped down for personal reasons, according to the university.

As a Western student, Pickard was a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. He donated more than $3.5 million to the university supporting a range of scholarship funds and grants as well as two residence halls and a conference room on campus.

The residence halls and conference room are named after Pickard and his classmates Ron Hall Sr., founder and chairman of Bridgewater Interiors, and former Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer, according to the university.

He also received an honorary degree from Grand Valley State and served on its Board of Trustees for 11 years. Pickard started two funds there to support students and diversify the student body, according to the university.

Pickar’s philanthropy extended to several Detroit causes including the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, the Motown Historical Museum, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and the Wayne County Community College District, according to the State Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity.

He also served on several business and non-profit boards, including the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Detroit Black Chamber of Commerce, Michigan National Bank and Business Leaders for Michigan.

Pickard is also the author of “Millionaire Moves: Seven Proven Principles of Entrepreneurship,” a guide for future entrepreneurs based on his own professional journey, according to the 2017 personal finance article.

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