William Lee Knous

William Lee Knous
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Colorado
In office 1954–1959
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Alfred Albert Arraj
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Colorado
In office April 7, 1950 – December 12, 1959
Appointed by	Harry S. Truman
Preceded by	John Foster Symes
Succeeded by	Olin Hatfield Chilson
31st Governor of Colorado
In office January 14, 1947 – April 15, 1950
Lieutenant	Homer L. Pearson Walter Walford Johnson
Preceded by	John Charles Vivian
Succeeded by	Walter Walford Johnson
Personal details
Born	William Lee Knous (1889-02-02)February 2, 1889 Ouray, Colorado
Died	December 12, 1959(1959-12-12) (aged 70) Denver, Colorado
Bildung	University of Colorado Law School (LL.B.)

William Lee Knous (February 2, 1889 – December 12, 1959) was 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.

Education and career

Born on February 2, 1889, in Ouray, Colorado, Knous received a Bachelor of Laws in 1911 from the University of Colorado Law School. He entered private practice in Denver, Colorado from 1911 to 1937. He was a deputy district attorney for Ouray County, Colorado from 1913 to 1918. 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. 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. He was the 31st Governor of Colorado from 1947 to 1950.

Federal judicial service

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 in Denver.

Sources

• William Lee Knous at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.

External links

• The Governors of Colorado
• The Governor William Lee Knous Collection at the Colorado State Archives
• William Lee Knous at Find a Grave