The Colorado Law community lost a dear friend and supporter, Bill McClearn. A 1951 graduate of Colorado Law, McClearn was class president, member of the Law Review, and worked part-time as a law clerk at Holland & Hart during law school. After working in the Air Force JAG during the Korean War, he was hired by Holland & Hart as an associate in 1954, and became a partner at the firm in 1957.
John Husband, chairman of Holland & Hart, spoke of his former mentor鈥檚 character and contribution to the firm with highest praise. 鈥淗olland & Hart has had many of the best lawyers in the country practice law here,鈥� remarked Husband, 鈥渂ut Bill was the best of the best.鈥� Husband recalled how the senior veteran invested in the firm鈥檚 less experienced attorneys. 鈥淏ill was always available to help out younger lawyers, and his judgment was impeccable.鈥�
McClearn specialized in antitrust litigation, and appeared in many high-profile cases, arguing some before the United States Supreme Court. 鈥淲e have lost a giant in our profession,鈥� said Robert F. Hill (鈥�70), co-founder of Hill & Robbins, P.C. 鈥淏ill truly set the standard across the board and was a role model for many of us. Because Bill taught me so much, I have often said I should have received CLE credits for the antitrust cases I worked on with him.鈥�
Judge R. Brooke Jackson of the United States District Court for the District of Colorado spoke highly of McClearn鈥檚 integrity: 鈥淏ill set the standard for professionalism, civility, courtesy, ethics, and all the qualities we should most admire about a lawyer.鈥�
Even those who never personally met McClearn knew of his reputation and character. 鈥淏ill was a true legend,鈥� said Phil Weiser, dean of Colorado Law. 鈥淗is contributions to the legal community set the standard for professionalism and integrity.鈥澛犅�
McClearn complemented his law career with active civic engagement, serving as president of the Denver and Colorado Bar Associations and as a delegate to the American Bar Association Board of Governors.聽He received every award for distinguished service given by the bar, and was a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the American Bar Foundation, and the Colorado Bar Foundation. Colorado Law honored McClearn with the William Lee Knous Award in 1990, and a room in Colorado Law鈥檚 Wolf Law Building is named after him. In addition, the聽聽at Colorado Law provides support for a current law student who reflects McClearn鈥檚 values, with special consideration for demonstrated strength of character, high integrity, intellectual ability, academic excellence, and commitment to community service.