Born to Carl S. and Effie Brininstool on August 21, 1926, William Henry Brininstool grew up on the family homestead 30 miles west of Jal, NM. After graduating from Jal High School, he attended the University of New Mexico and served in the United States Navy during World War II.
Bill and his wife Jo Ann Michell raised two sons on the same homestead where Bill spent his childhood, which was now the Brininstool Ranch. It was his intention to leave the ranch in better condition than when he inherited it in the 1950s. The ranch became a large successful cow and calf operation consisting of 50 sections of deeded , BLM, and state lease land. His conservation efforts showed his love of the land and in a way he cared for it and in the stories he told about it. As a pastime, Bill even raised and helped repopulate the region's Bobwhite Quail conveys for over 20 years!
Besides his love of the land, Bill also had a passion for helping the youth of Lea County and surrounding area. He supported school activities, not only in his home town of Jal, but also in Hobbs, Lovington, Eunice. He was proud of the youth athletic programs and contributed to their success. Most of all, Bill was active in the community 4-H Fair animals. A Lea County Fair Book was dedicated to Bill in recogition of his outstanding work with Lea County's 4 -H programs.
Bill also owned and operated XL Transportation, receiving many awards in that industry.
A third love of Bill's was travel, not only in the United States, but also around the world. This hard- working rancher made the time to visit almost every state in America, as well as Australia, Africa, China, Russia, and many places in between.
His desire to improve his ranch led to a desire to improve his community. Bill served as a Jal City Council member, Lea County Commisioner, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Chairman, and a Lea County Fair Board member. Besides the Award for Excellence in Grazing Management in 1984 and the 1971 and 1992 awards as Outstanding Consevation Rancher in Lea County, Bill was named Outstanding Citizen of Jal in 1980 and honored as a Lea County Pioneer.
Bill had a love for his family, his land, his country, and his community. He sought to improve all of them until passing on October 28, 2004.