William E. Hancock, Jr. was chairman of the board of Hancock Buick in Columbia, South Carolina. He was honored for his contributions during his tenure as president of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) in 1975. At the time, Hancock prompted the formation of the New Car & Truck Dealers Election Action Committee, now known as DEAC.

The formation of DEAC unified the splintered political efforts of car dealers nationwide, giving them a strong voice in protecting their legislative needs and rights. Additionally, DEAC motivated automobile manufacturers to become increasingly involved in influencing government policy.