William M. McAllister
Encyclopedia
William Menzies McAllister (August 21, 1896 – October 13, 1986) was an American
politician and jurist in the state of Oregon
. He served as Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives
in the 1940s, served on the Oregon Supreme Court
, and was Chief Justice of the court for eight years beginning in 1959.
with an LL.B. and was a member of the Delta Theta Phi
legal fraternity. He would marry Jean Middleton McAllister, a 1931 graduate of Willamette University
. After graduation, he worked in the state of Washington for three years. McAllister then started a law firm in Medford
, in Jackson County, Oregon
, where he remained for 25 years. The firm is now called Brophy, Mills, Schmor, Gerking, Brophy & Paradis, and was founded in 1942.
from Medford, Oregon
. He served in the House until 1948. McAllister was selected as Speaker of the Oregon House for the 1943 legislative session. During World War II
he was a United States Army
captain.
In 1948, he won election to the Oregon State Senate
, and served in that chamber during the 1949 session. Also in 1948, and again in 1952, William M. McAllister was a delegate from Oregon to the Republican National Convention
, with his wife serving as an alternate in 1948. From 1948 to 1951 he was on the Oregon State Bar
's board of governors, followed by the state bar examiners board from 1954 to 1956.
On August 24, 1956, William M. McAllister was appointed to the Oregon Supreme Court
as an associate justice. Oregon Governor Elmo Smith
appointed him to replace Earl C. Latourette
. Later that year McAllister won election to a full six-year term. In 1959, he was chosen by his fellow justices to serve as Chief Justice of the court. He served in this role until 1967, in which he both replaced and was replaced in that position by William C. Perry
. In 1959, McAllister was a member of the Conference of
State Chief Justices. He served as the chairman of that group in both 1964 and 1965. McAllister won re-election to the bench in both 1968 and 1974. In 1973, he was the first active judge to serve on the American Bar Association
's board of governors. He then resigned from the court on December 31, 1976, and was replaced by Hans A. Linde
.
, the first recipient of that award. His had two children with his wife Jean, William and Kathryn. William McAllister died in Salem, Oregon
, on October 13, 1986, at the age of 90 years old.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician and jurist in the state of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. He served as Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives
Oregon House of Representatives
The Oregon House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 60 members of the House, representing 60 districts across the state, each with a population of 57,000. The House meets at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem....
in the 1940s, served on the Oregon Supreme Court
Oregon Supreme Court
The Oregon Supreme Court is the highest state court in the U.S. state of Oregon. The only court that may reverse or modify a decision of the Oregon Supreme Court is the Supreme Court of the United States. The OSC holds court at the Oregon Supreme Court Building in Salem, Oregon, near the capitol...
, and was Chief Justice of the court for eight years beginning in 1959.
Early years
William McAllister was born on August 21, 1896. In 1928, he graduated from Willamette University College of LawWillamette University College of Law
Willamette University College of Law is a private law school located in Salem, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1842, Willamette University is the oldest university in the Western United States...
with an LL.B. and was a member of the Delta Theta Phi
Delta Theta Phi
Delta Theta Phi is a professional law fraternity and a member of the Professional Fraternity Association. The smallest of the three internationally recognized law fraternities , Delta Theta Phi is the only one of the three major law fraternities to charter chapters in the United States at...
legal fraternity. He would marry Jean Middleton McAllister, a 1931 graduate of Willamette University
Willamette University
Willamette University is an American private institution of higher learning located in Salem, Oregon. Founded in 1842, it is the oldest university in the Western United States. Willamette is a member of the Annapolis Group of colleges, and is made up of an undergraduate College of Liberal Arts and...
. After graduation, he worked in the state of Washington for three years. McAllister then started a law firm in Medford
Medford, Oregon
Medford is a city in Jackson County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2010 US Census, the city had a total population of 74,907 and a metropolitan area population of 207,010, making the Medford MSA the 4th largest metro area in Oregon...
, in Jackson County, Oregon
Jackson County, Oregon
-National protected areas:* Cascade–Siskiyou National Monument* Crater Lake National Park * Klamath National Forest * Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest * Umpqua National Forest -Demographics:...
, where he remained for 25 years. The firm is now called Brophy, Mills, Schmor, Gerking, Brophy & Paradis, and was founded in 1942.
Political career
In 1937, William M. McAllister represented Oregon house district 19. He was elected as a RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
from Medford, Oregon
Medford, Oregon
Medford is a city in Jackson County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2010 US Census, the city had a total population of 74,907 and a metropolitan area population of 207,010, making the Medford MSA the 4th largest metro area in Oregon...
. He served in the House until 1948. McAllister was selected as Speaker of the Oregon House for the 1943 legislative session. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he was a United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
captain.
In 1948, he won election to the Oregon State Senate
Oregon State Senate
The Oregon State Senate is the upper house of the state-wide legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. Along with the lower chamber Oregon House of Representatives it makes up the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 30 members of the State Senate, representing 30 districts across the state,...
, and served in that chamber during the 1949 session. Also in 1948, and again in 1952, William M. McAllister was a delegate from Oregon to the Republican National Convention
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
, with his wife serving as an alternate in 1948. From 1948 to 1951 he was on the Oregon State Bar
Oregon State Bar
The Oregon State Bar is a government agency in the U.S. state of Oregon. Founded in 1890 as the private Oregon Bar Association, it became a public entity in 1935 that regulates the legal profession. The public corporation is part of the Oregon Judicial Department...
's board of governors, followed by the state bar examiners board from 1954 to 1956.
On August 24, 1956, William M. McAllister was appointed to the Oregon Supreme Court
Oregon Supreme Court
The Oregon Supreme Court is the highest state court in the U.S. state of Oregon. The only court that may reverse or modify a decision of the Oregon Supreme Court is the Supreme Court of the United States. The OSC holds court at the Oregon Supreme Court Building in Salem, Oregon, near the capitol...
as an associate justice. Oregon Governor Elmo Smith
Elmo Smith
Elmo Everett Smith was an American politician, a Republican, and the 27th Governor of the state of Oregon, U.S., from 1956 to 1957.-Early life:...
appointed him to replace Earl C. Latourette
Earl C. Latourette
Earl Cornelius Latourette was the 32nd Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court and a Clackamas County Circuit Court judge...
. Later that year McAllister won election to a full six-year term. In 1959, he was chosen by his fellow justices to serve as Chief Justice of the court. He served in this role until 1967, in which he both replaced and was replaced in that position by William C. Perry
William C. Perry
William C. Perry was an American attorney and jurist in Oregon. He was the 34th Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court. He served in that role twice for a total of five years. Perry was appointed to the court by soon to be ex-governor Douglas McKay after McKay had already appointed him as a...
. In 1959, McAllister was a member of the Conference of
State Chief Justices. He served as the chairman of that group in both 1964 and 1965. McAllister won re-election to the bench in both 1968 and 1974. In 1973, he was the first active judge to serve on the American Bar Association
American Bar Association
The American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
's board of governors. He then resigned from the court on December 31, 1976, and was replaced by Hans A. Linde
Hans A. Linde
Hans Arthur Linde, is a German American attorney and former jurist in Oregon. Born in Germany, he also lived with his family in Denmark before immigrating to Portland, Oregon. After serving in the United States Army during World War II he graduated from college and law school. Linde then worked...
.
Later life and family
In 1976, McAllister was given the Distinguished Law Alumni Award from the Willamette University College of LawWillamette University College of Law
Willamette University College of Law is a private law school located in Salem, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1842, Willamette University is the oldest university in the Western United States...
, the first recipient of that award. His had two children with his wife Jean, William and Kathryn. William McAllister died in Salem, Oregon
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
, on October 13, 1986, at the age of 90 years old.