William Lee Knous

William Lee Knous (February 2, 1889 – December 12, 1959) was an American attorney serving as Chief Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court, the 31st Governor of Colorado and a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Colorado.

The National Governors Association states that he is the only person "to have occupied the highest seat in the legislative, judicial, and executive branches of government" in Colorado.<ref name="NGA" />

Early life and education

Born on February 2, 1889, in Ouray, Colorado, he was the son of John F. Knous of Pennsylvania Dutch descent.<ref name="Col gov bio" /> His mother, Julia Bain,<ref name="Col gov bio" /> was of Irish and Scottish ancestry. Both parents descended from men who fought in the Revolutionary War.<ref name="Logan">Template:Cite book</ref> In the early 1870s, John Knous moved from Iowa to Colorado, where he worked as a wagon boss and freighter that hauled supplies for the mining industry in Leadville.<ref name="Col gov bio" /><ref name="Logan" /> In Ouray, he drove a stagecoach between Ouray and Silverton.<ref name="Logan" /> He also mined and prospected before becoming the town marshal and undersheriff.<ref name="Col gov bio">Template:Cite web</ref>

As a boy, William Knous began a lifelong interest in fishing and hunting. He graduated from Ouray High School, where he was the class valedictorian.<ref name="Logan" /> He began working in the mines because it paid well. He played semi-pro baseball and entered local boxing matches, from which he earned money for college.<ref name="Col gov bio" /><ref name="Logan" /> Knous received a Bachelor of Law degree with honors in 1911 from the University of Colorado Law School.<ref name="NGA" /><ref name="auto" /> He was admitted to the bar in Colorado in 1911.<ref name="Col gov bio" />

Career

Knous as governor.

Knous entered private practice first in Ouray from 1911 to 1916, when he had fewer clients due to an economic downturn in the mining industry. He was a deputy district attorney for Ouray County, Colorado from 1913 to 1918, except a portion of one year from 1916 to 1917 when he wrote for legal publications in Rochester, New York. Realizing his preference to live in the Rocky Mountains, he returned to Colorado.<ref name="Col gov bio" /><ref name="Logan" /> He then worked with the Moynihan-Hughes-Knous law firm in Montrose, where he became a mining and irrigation legal expert.<ref name="Col gov bio" /><ref name="NGA" /> He was the Mayor of Montrose, Colorado from 1926 to 1930. He was a member of the Colorado House of Representatives from 1928 to 1930.<ref name="NGA" /><ref name="auto" /> A western conservative, he was interested in issues faced by cattle ranchers and water rights.<ref name="Logan" /> While in Montrose, he was the Chamber of Commerce president and city attorney.<ref name="Col gov bio" />

He was in private practice in Denver, Colorado to 1937. He was a member of the Colorado Senate from 1930 to 1936, serving as President pro Tem from 1935 to 1936. He was a justice of the Colorado Supreme Court from 1937 to 1947, serving as chief justice from 1946 to 1947.<ref name="NGA" /><ref name="auto" /> He helped solve a major oil workers' strike and other national issues when he served on the national War Labor Board during World War II.<ref name="Logan" />

He was the 31st Governor of Colorado from 1947 to 1950.<ref name="NGA" /><ref name="auto">Template:FJC Bio</ref> Under his administration, a bill was enacted to combat specific diseases and public health units were established. Support was increased for workmen's compensation and schools. The state system of accounts and controls was improved, and the general fund for the state increased to a significant surplus.<ref name="NGA" />

Knous was nominated by President Harry S. Truman on March 1, 1950, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Colorado vacated by Judge John Foster Symes. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on April 4, 1950, and received his commission on April 7, 1950. He served as Chief Judge from 1954 to 1959. His service terminated on December 12, 1959, due to his death.<ref name="NGA">Template:Cite web</ref>

Personal life

He eloped with Elsie Marie Grabow, a friend of his sister and a teacher, in 1916.<ref name="Logan" /> They had three sons, all of whom fought in World War II.<ref name="Logan" />

• Robert Knous was a state senator and lieutenant governor of Colorado<ref name="Logan" />
• Merle Knous was a state district judge<ref name="Logan" />
• William Knous was a district attorney in Montrose<ref name="Logan" />

He died of a heart attack on December 12, 1959, and was buried at Fairmount Cemetery.<ref name="Col gov bio" /><ref name="NGA" /><ref name="FJC">Template:Cite web</ref>

External links

• "The History of William Lee Knous" (video)
• Knous, William Lee, 1889-1959, Harry S. Truman Library
• Template:Find a Grave