Winston T. Threshold III was a wealthy local industrialist in Jackson, Mississippi. He was a widower and became the second husband of Beverly Bevins Gates following her divorce from Paul Gates.
He had built, and did own in 1998, the Oak Springs Motel. Following their marriage, he had put in his will that upon his death, the Oak Springs Motel would become the sole property of Beverly Bevins Gates Threshold.
He was a major stockholder and a member of the Board of Directors of the Big Thunder Lodge.