William Thaddeus Coleman III

 Coleman William Thaddeus III April 20, 1947 - November 17, 2024 It is with the heaviest of hearts that we mourn the loss of William "Billy" T. Coleman III, who left us on Sunday, November 17, 2024, at the age of 77. Billy joined his mother, Lovida, father (a former U.S. Secretary of Transportation), Honorable William T. Coleman Jr., and his sister, Lovite. The world and our lives will not be as bright for the loss of one of its most unique, shining stars. Cherished by his family, friends, and community, Billy was known for his eloquent doses of wisdom and brilliant perspectives, all the while sharing space with people from all walks of life with his warm and friendly spirit. Billy had the ability to light up any room entering with his sense of fun, humor, laughter, intellect and led his life with unwavering generosity and kindness. Billy met Allegra Saens Browne in Philadelphia and the two were married in 2003. Billy's eyes sparkled with pride when with their children, William Thaddeus Coleman IV and Amadeus Alexander-Browne Coleman. Their dinner table was full of discussions, debates, and a little intellectual competition. The eldest of three children, Billy was Born in Boston, Massachusetts though he spent most of his childhood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After graduating from Germantown Friends School, Bill received a B.A. from Williams College in 1970 and a J.D. from Yale University Law School in 1973. While studying at Yale, he became a friend and roommate of William J. Clinton, who would later become the 42nd President of the United States. Upon learning of Billy's death, President Clinton wrote the following: I liked and admired Bill very much. He was a brilliant lawyer and a good man with a fascinating family background. I loved the time I spent living with him and our other roommates at our beach house in Milford, where the debates our group had about law and politics shaped me for the rest of my life. I'll always be grateful for his friendship and his outstanding service as General Counsel of the Army during my Presidency. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and everyone who loved him. After graduating from law school, Billy was admitted to the Georgia Bar in 1973, the Pennsylvania Bar in 1976, and the Michigan Bar in 1976. He began his career clerking for the late Honorable Edward T. Gignoux, then the U.S. District Judge for the District of Maine. Billy then began an illustrious and fulfilling legal career as a labor law attorney practicing with several prestigious law firms including Hill Jones & Farrington in Savannah, Georgia, from 1973-1974. He moved his practice to Hamilton and Scheetz in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, PA where he became an associate, from 1975-1982 and continued his practice in Detroit, Michigan 1983-1994 where he became partner, and after hiring his lifetime best friend, Scott Gorland, they became lifetime best friends. During President Clinton's administration, Billy was appointed to serve as the General Counsel of the Department of the Army, serving the post from 1994 until 1999. Moving back to Philadelphia, he practiced law at Dechert, Price, and Rhodes from 2000-2002; and Berger Montague in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, before starting his practice. As for other professional accomplishments, Billy was the recipient of the Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Award, the highest civilian award given by the United States Department of Defense. He presented speeches on "The Aftermath of Adarand" at the Harvard Law School Symposium on Civil Rights and American Bar Association, Government Contracts Section, in Chicago, Illinois in 1995; the "Privatization and Outsourcing in the Defense Industry" at the Forbes Conference, Rebuilding America, in Washington D.C. in 1996; and the "Civilian Control of the Military" at the Partnership for Peace Status of Forces Agreement Implementation Conference in Garmisch, Germany, in 1996. As a crusader for justice, equity, and fairness, Billy served on numerous not-for-profit boards, including the Asian American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, where he served for more than a decade. In 2017, Billy suffered a series of medical setbacks that required him to end his time practicing law. He spent a good portion of his remaining years dedicating himself to honoring the legacy of his father via the installation of a bas-relief memorial at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia and the creation of an eponymous foundation. He is survived by his beloved wife, brother, stepdaughter Flavia, children William IV and Amadeus, and a host of family, friends, and former colleagues. Billy's love, light, and impact on the world will be cherished and never forgotten. In honoring Billy's life, we find strength and gratitude in the beautiful legacy he leaves behind. Memorial services are currently being planned for June.