William Evan Timmons

December 27, 1930 –– October 1, 2025

William Evan Timmons, 94, a retired and well known business executive and Washington consultant, former government official and advisor to four presidents, and Republican Party activist, died on October 1, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Mr. Timmons, the only child of Owen W. and Doris (Eckenrod) Timmons, was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee on December 27, 1930. He attended public and private schools and graduated from the Baylor School in his hometown where he played football, basketball, and baseball. In 1950 at the outbreak of the Korean War he enlisted at age 19 in the U.S. Air Force and served for four years, mostly overseas, with the 20th fighter bomber wing, the first unit to be deployed with tactical nuclear weapons. Timmons had Top Secret, Cryptographic and "Q" clearances. He received his undergraduate degree in foreign service from Georgetown University and studied for a master's degree in government at George Washington University.

For six years, Mr. Timmons was an aide to Senator Alexander Wiley (R-WI), administrative assistant for six years to Representative William E. Brock (R-TN), and served for six years in the White House under Republican Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford in the capacity of Assistant for Legislative Affairs during the most turbulent times when Congress was controlled by the opposition party. As the President's principal spokesman on Capitol Hill Mr. Timmons had to handle difficult confirmations with the Senate, including Gerald Ford's and Nelson Rockefeller's nominations to be Vice President, Cabinet members, and Supreme Court nominees. He struggled successfully with Congress over issues relating to the Vietnam War and legislative efforts to control the administration's foreign and military policies. Mr. Timmons had the challenging assignment of working for President Nixon and Members of Congress during the impeachment proceedings. He was an active participant in significant legislative accomplishments of the Nixon and Ford administrations in national security, economic, and domestic programs, many of which have been overshadowed by the Watergate scandal. After government service he held special commissions dealing with international trade policy from Presidents Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, and Ronald Reagan. In 1973 Mr. Timmons was a delegate to the International Peace Conference on Viet Nam held in Paris. In 1982 President Reagan appointed Timmons to the U.S.-Japan Advisory Commission.

Involved since 1956 in many Republican political activities at local, state, and national levels Mr. Timmons managed William E. Brock's successful campaigns for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1962, 1964, 1966 and 1968. He was also active in the 1964 Goldwater-for-President effort, was manager for Tom Van Sickle and Jack McDonald in their successful campaigns for chairmen of the Young Republican National Federation in 1965 and 1967, was placed in charge of congressional relations for the Nixon/Agnew campaign in 1968, and was the National Political Director for the successful Reagan/Bush election of 1980. Senator Bob Dole named Timmons Inspector General during his unsuccessful 1996 presidential campaign.

Additionally, he developed a reputation as a master of political conventions and was the convention manager for Richard Nixon in both 1968 and 1972, Gerald Ford in 1976, and Ronald Reagan in 1980 and 1984. In 1988 he served as a convention advisor to Vice President George Bush who was then seeking his party's presidential nomination; at the 1996 national convention he was a senior consultant to Republican National Chairman Haley Barbour; and in 2000 he again was a convention advisor to the Bush/Cheney campaign and to GOP Chairman James Nicholson.

Mr. Timmons widely known as "BT" was involved in the 1968-69 Nixon transition, was Deputy Director of Ronald Reagan's 1980-81 transition, and had a major role in planning several other presidential transitions. He was recognized by both Republicans and Democrats as an expert in interregnum affairs and management. He testified before Congress, addressed college students, and wrote several papers on the mechanics and importance of presidential transitions.

Mr. Timmons was chosen the Outstanding National Young Republican of the Year for 1965 and in 1970 received both the Achievement Award from the Georgetown University Alumni Club and the Distinguished Service Award from Baylor School Alumni Association.

The deceased retired from the federal government in 1975 when many Members of the Senate and House of Representatives (both Democrats and Republicans) spoke on the Floors of their chambers to praise Timmons for his talents and exceptional service to the President and to Congress. "BT" was a founder of Timmons and Company, a respective and highly successful firm representing many premier American corporations and associations in their government relations activities. During 33 years at Timmons and Company he held positions of president and chief executive officer, chairman of the board of directors, chairman of the executive committee, and finally chairman emeritus of the corporation.

Bill Timmons also founded two other consulting companies – Snomit International and Global USA – in which he was an investor and director. Additionally, he personally represented the Chrysler Corporation and Pratt & Whitney in negotiations with their Japanese interests.

Mr. Timmons belonged to All Saints Episcopal Church in Chevy Chase and enjoyed membership in the Society of Cincinnati, Sons of the American Revolution, and many historical and genealogical societies for whom he wrote numerous articles. He was a member of the Columbia Country Club, Cherrydale-Columbia Lodge 42 AF&AM, a 33rd degree Scottish Rite Freemason, and a former member of the American Legion, Chamber of Commerce, Capitol Hill Club, George Town Club, F Street Club, and St. Alban's Tennis Club. Over a period of years, he served on many boards of directors or advisory committees for educational, charitable, and service organizations, including Radio Free Europe/Liberty, the Georgetown University Graduate School of Business, the Graduate School of Government and International Affairs at the University of South Carolina, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the Jamestown Foundation, the Center for the Study of the Presidency, the Breakthrough Type 1 Diabetes (Formerly JDRF), and Encapsulife.

Survivors include Mr. Timmons' wife, the former Mimi Bakshian, and two children: Kimberly Gibson (Tom) and William Timmons, Jr. (Cheryl), both of Washington, DC. Timmons' daughter Karen Barker and son in law Chris Barker predeceased him. He had nine grandchildren: Ryan Taliaferro (Eleonore); Grace Timmons; Fenner (Victoria); Lucy (Hunter Heflin), and Will (Jeannie) Gibson; Kit, Anna, Claire, and Laura Barker as well as great grandchildren Isabel and Tomás Gibson.

While "BT" had a long history of participation in the military, government service, politics, business, and non-profit organizations his true passion was his devotion to his family: wife, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and many much loved in-laws.

A private interment will be at the Oak Hill Cemetery, and a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.