Bill France, Sr.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_France_Sr.

William Henry Getty France (September 26, 1909 – June 7, 1992), also known as Bill France Sr. or Big Bill, was an American businessman and racing driver. He is best known for founding and managing NASCAR, a sanctioning body of US-based stock car racing.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Find a Grave

Birth: Sep. 26, 1909 Washington District of Columbia District Of Columbia, USA

Death: Jun. 7, 1992 Ormond Beach Volusia County Florida, USA

Auto Racing Pioneer. Born William Henry Getty France and often referred to as "Big Bill", he began racing cars in the Washington, DC area as soon as he was old enough to drive. In 1935 he relocated to Daytona, Florida, where he became the owner of a service station. In the late 1930s promoters began staging stock car races in Daytona Beach, and France was among the regular drivers. During World War II he used his mechanical ability in support of the war effort constructing vessels at the Daytona Boat Works. France returned to racing after the war, and in the late 1940s began an effort to combat unscrupulous promoters by forming an organization to promote and score races and guarantee purses. In 1948 France, Raymond Parks and others met at Daytona's Streamline Hotel and formed the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR). His success at establishing uniform rules, guaranteed purses and other initiatives brought stability to stock car racing and led to the sport's exponential growth, and France served as Chief Executive Officer until being succeeded by his son Bill France, Jr. in 1972. The senior France remained active in car racing until his death, including founding the International Motor Sports Hall of Fame in 1990. He was among the first inductees into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, and was the first inductee into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2010. (bio by: Bill McKern)

Family links:

Parents:

• William Henry France (1874 - 1949)

Spouse:

*Anne Katherine Bledsoe France (1904 - 1992)*

Children:

*William Clifton France (1933 - 2007)*

• Calculated relationship

Burial: Hillside Cemetery Ormond Beach Volusia County Florida, USA

Maintained by: Find A Grave Originally Created by: Bill McKern Record added: Jun 22, 2010 Find A Grave Memorial# 54008575

• Updated from Find A Grave Memorial by SmartCopy: May 10 2015, 15:41:53 UTC