Quick Facts
Biography
F. William McCalpin (8 November 1921 – 9 December 2009) was an American attorney, who throughout his career was a strong advocate for legal services within the American Bar Association.He was involved in a variety of leadership positions supporting both the private bar and legal services.He was named Chair twice of the national Legal Services Corporation and served on that organization's board of directors across four decades.Hillary Clinton, who served as Chair of the Legal Services Corporation between McCalpin's two terms as Chair, wrote of him, "He was an extraordinary man, a valued mentor and a true champion for equal justice and access to legal services for the poor. Through his work Bill changed lives and made an indelible impact upon the legal community."
McCalpin was a partner and counsel of the St. Louis, Missouri law firm Lewis, Rice & Fingersh, L.C..He was awarded in 1988 the American Bar Association Medal, awarded to recognize "exceptionally distinguished service by a lawyer to the cause of American jurisprudence." The F. William McCalpin Pro Bono Award, given by the Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, is named for him.In addition, Legal Services of Eastern Missouri dedicated the F. Wm. McCalpin Wall of Justice in 1999.
On November 19, 2010, the Legal Services Corporation dedicated its Conference Center Washington, DC, to McCalpin, formally naming it in his honor.
Besides local papers, The New York Times ran McCalpin's obituary on December 17, 2009.
Milestones
| Timeframe | Position |
|---|---|
| 1938 | Graduates from St. Louis University High School. |
| 1942 | Graduates from St. Louis University with a bachelor's degree in economics. |
| 1943 to 1945 (approx) | Served in the United States Marine Corps in the Pacific. |
| 1948 | Graduates from Harvard Law School and joins the law firm of what is now Lewis, Rice & Fingersh, in St. Louis. Becomes a partner in 1956 and retired from active practice in 1991. |
| 1950 to 1953 (approx) | Recalled to service in the Marines during the Korean War. |
| 1965-70 | Chairman of the American Bar Association Special Committee on Availability of Legal Services |
| 1965-70 | Director of the Legal Aid Society of the City and County of St. Louis and Member of the National Advisory Committee for the Legal Services Program of the Office of Economic Opportunity |
| 1973-1976 | First term as Chairman of the ABA Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defendants. |
| 1977-1978 | The Director of Missouri Legal Aid Society |
| 1979-1981 and 1993-2003 | Member of the Board of Directors of the Legal Services Corporation. Chair (1980-1982) |
| 1983-1985 | Second term as Chairman of the ABA Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defendants. |
| 1984-1986 | President of the American Bar Foundation. |
| 1986-1993 | Member, Board of Directors of National Legal Aid and Defender Association.President (1989-1992) |
| 1988 | Receives the American Bar Association Medal, the organization's highest honor. |
| 1996-2002 | Chairman of the American Bar Association Commission on Legal Problems of the Elderly |
| 2002-2009 | Member of the Board of Directors of the National Senior Citizens Law Center |
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Hillary Rodham | Legal Services Corporation Chair 1980–1981 | Succeeded by William F. Harvey |