William Henry Becker
Encyclopedia
William Henry Becker was a United States federal judge
.
Born in Brookhaven, Mississippi
, Becker received an LL.B. from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law in 1932. He was in private practice in Columbia, Missouri
from 1932 to 1961, serving as special counsel to the Missouri Insurance Department from 1936 to 1944 and counsel to Governor Lloyd Stark in the Kansas City
criminal investigation taking place from 1938 to 1939. He was a U.S. Naval Reserve Lieutenant from 1944 to 1945, remaining in the U.S. Naval Reserve until 1947. He was a special assistant to director of the Economic Stabilization Commission of the United States from 1945 to 1946, and a special commissioner for the Supreme Court of Missouri
from 1954 to 1958.
On August 21, 1961, Becker was nominated by President John F. Kennedy
to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri
vacated by Albert A. Ridge. Becker was confirmed by the United States Senate
on September 8, 1961, and received his commission on September 18, 1961. He served as chief judge from 1965 to 1977, assuming senior status
on February 8, 1977 and serving in that capacity until his death, in Columbia, Missouri
.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
.
Born in Brookhaven, Mississippi
Brookhaven, Mississippi
Brookhaven is a small city in Lincoln County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 9,861 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Lincoln County...
, Becker received an LL.B. from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law in 1932. He was in private practice in Columbia, Missouri
Columbia, Missouri
Columbia is the fifth-largest city in Missouri, and the largest city in Mid-Missouri. With a population of 108,500 as of the 2010 Census, it is the principal municipality of the Columbia Metropolitan Area, a region of 164,283 residents. The city serves as the county seat of Boone County and as the...
from 1932 to 1961, serving as special counsel to the Missouri Insurance Department from 1936 to 1944 and counsel to Governor Lloyd Stark in the Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
criminal investigation taking place from 1938 to 1939. He was a U.S. Naval Reserve Lieutenant from 1944 to 1945, remaining in the U.S. Naval Reserve until 1947. He was a special assistant to director of the Economic Stabilization Commission of the United States from 1945 to 1946, and a special commissioner for the Supreme Court of Missouri
Supreme Court of Missouri
The Supreme Court of Missouri is the highest court in the state of Missouri. It was established in 1820, and is located in Jefferson City, Missouri. Missouri voters have approved changes in the state's constitution to give the Supreme Court exclusive jurisdiction- the sole legal power to hear -...
from 1954 to 1958.
On August 21, 1961, Becker was nominated by President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri
United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri
The United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri is the federal judicial district encompassing 66 counties in the western half of the State of Missouri...
vacated by Albert A. Ridge. Becker was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on September 8, 1961, and received his commission on September 18, 1961. He served as chief judge from 1965 to 1977, assuming senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
on February 8, 1977 and serving in that capacity until his death, in Columbia, Missouri
Columbia, Missouri
Columbia is the fifth-largest city in Missouri, and the largest city in Mid-Missouri. With a population of 108,500 as of the 2010 Census, it is the principal municipality of the Columbia Metropolitan Area, a region of 164,283 residents. The city serves as the county seat of Boone County and as the...
.