Entrepreneur
William W. Sherrill during his time with the Jamaica Corporation
Sherrill’s first solo venture was Tropicoa, Inc., which he formed to produce bamboo fencing made from Mexican bamboo. However, the venture quickly ran aground after he encountered multiple problems with permits in Mexico. In spite of this setback, Sherrill’s friends Welcome Wilson, Johnny Goyen, Jack Valenti, and Welcome’s brother Jack Wilson invited him to join the Jamaica Corporation, where he helped develop Jamaica Beach on Galveston Island. Sherrill also initiated the development of Tiki Island, located between mainland Texas and Galveston Island.
After working in the federal government for five years, Sherrill began work for the nation's largest conglomerate at the time, Gulf and Western Corporation. At Gulf and Western, Sherrill became a member of the Board of Directors as well as the president of Associates Corporation of North America, one of Gulf and Western’s subsidiaries. These positions provided him with considerable perks, but he soon found that the working environment of “big corporate America” was not for him.
Sherrill went on to found Sherrill Financial Consultants where he offered consultations to varied businesses. He also found success in turn-around operations in which he helped declining businesses get back on their feet.
Homestead Bank Plaque, 1966
Sherrill held the position of president of Homestead Bank and executive vice president of Jamaica Corporation at the time of his appointment to the FDIC in 1966.
Jamaica Beach Tour Guide Map, 1960s
Jamaica Beach was developed by the Jamaica Corporation which was the brainchild of Welcome Wilson, another distinguished UH alum.
William W. Sherrill with ATM, approximately 1972
Sherrill bought the first commercially used ATM for his office building at Associates Corporation, where he was president. Sherrill left after three years when he discovered that “many individuals were focused first on their own success and only secondarily on achieving the objectives of the business.”