William E. "Bill" Cleator. Sr. (May 25, 1927–February 10, 1993) was an American Republican politician from California.

Bill Cleator was born in California and served in the Navy. In 1972 he started his custom office furniture manufacturing business, Cleator Furniture, in San Diego.

In 1979 Cleator was elected councilman of San Diego for 1979–1986 and was known as a rather as an outspoken populist. When Mayor Pete Wilson was elected to the U.S. Senate, Cleator was briefly acting mayor of San Diego from January to May 1983. He ran for mayor in 1983 in a special election, but was defeated.

Cleator caused an uproar in February_1983 during a visit by Britain's Queen Elizabeth II. Trying to be helpful on a harbor tour, he briefly, lightly touched the queen's back and said "This way, your Majesty," which apparently is against royal protocol.

Cleator ran again for Mayor in 1986 and was defeated in the primary election.

Cleator helped start the San Diego Cruise Industry Consortium in the 1980s, which was able to get cruise ships to stop at a new downtown cruise ship terminal.

He died of cancer in Point Loma, San Diego, California and is buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. Bill Cleator Community Park in Point Loma is named for him.

See also

• Oral history interview, San Diego Historical Society

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