University of the Pacific

One of the most prominent supporters of Pacific Athletics, Bill Gaines was Central Valley born a bred as a graduate of Manteca High School and Modesto Junior College before his World War II service as a bomber pilot.

As it relates to Pacific, Gaines was a member of the Quarterback Club since 1947 and a board member for 35 years. He was also a charter member of the Casaba Club (a basketball boosters group) and a director for 20 years. 

In his 50 years of contributions to Pacific Athletics, Gaines was most notably one of the charter members of the Pacific Athletic Foundation in 1970 and captained the membership drive for 10 years. He was an avid football fan, attending every Tiger home football game from the end of World War II up until the program's end in 1995.

Outside of Pacific, Gaines belonged to a number of civic organizations and helped found the Stockton Boys and Girls Club and develop the Stockton Metropolitan Airport.