Major General William "Bill" Acker USAF (Ret.)

Major General (Retired) William P. Acker San Antonio, Texas passed away the morning of 24 July 2018. He was a loving husband, father, brother, Eagle Scout and served his nation for 33 years as an Air Force officer. General Bill Acker was born in Chattanooga, TN, 22 October 1930, and lived in Greenville, SC until his college years. He attended Georgia Military College (GMC), the University of Georgia and Arizona State University. In 1952, he was commissioned a second lieutenant through the Air Force (AF) Reserve Officers' Training Corps program and served as an Air Force fighter pilot. He was assigned to five tours in San Antonio, TX, and was particularly proud to command the Air Force Recruiting Service at Randolph AFB and the Air Force Military Training Center, Lackland AFB. He retired as the commander of Third Air Force, in Suffolk, England. The General was a command pilot with more than 5,000 flying hours, including 2 combat tours in Southeast Asia. His military decorations and awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal and Air Force Commendation Medal. General Acker retired from active duty in July of 1985 and assumed the presidency of GMC. He is credited with expanding his alma mater with sports programs and off-campus learning opportunities at military installations. In 2017, General Acker was inducted as President Emeritus of Georgia Military College. General Acker is survived by his wife of sixty-three years, the former Nadine Giles of Milledgeville, GA, and three grown children; Patricia A. Griffin, Kathryn M. Sessions, and William P. Acker Jr, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 6:30pm to 8:00pm on 6 August 2018 at Porter Loring Mortuary North, 2102 N Loop 1604 E San Antonio, TX 78232. Graveside service for General Acker will be held on 7 August 2018 at Fort Sam Houston Cemetery, 1520 Harry Wurzbach Rd, San Antonio, TX 78209, at 10:45am and a Memorial Service will be held at 1:00pm at Universal City United Methodist Church, 90 Winn Ave, Universal City, TX 78148, with a reception to follow at 2:30pm at Army Residence Community at 7400 West Crestway, San Antonio, TX 78239. Donations can be made to the Air Warrior Courage Foundation, the Daedalian Foundation or the Major General William P. Acker Endowed Scholarship Fund at Georgia Military College, Milledeville, GA.