Lambert, Kathryn L. W.

English

University of Montana

Montana Law Review Volume 52 Issue 1 Winter 1991 Article 2 January 1991 The Honorable William Wallace Lessley Kathryn L. W. Lambert Water Master Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/mlr  Part of the Law Commons Let us know how access to this document benefits you. Recommended Citation Kathryn L. W. Lambert, The Honorable William Wallace Lessley, 52 Mont. L. Rev. (1991). Available at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/mlr/vol52/iss1/2 This In Memoriam is brought to you for free and open access by ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Montana Law Review by an authorized editor of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact scholarworks@mso.umt.edu. IN MEMORIAMThe Honorable William Wallace LessleyMay 27, 1907-March 29, 1990On March 29, 1990, we lost Judge Lessley. He had a stroke atthe breakfast table the preceding day, and slipped into uncon-sciousness within the hour. Thus ended the life of one of Mon-tana's great public servants.William Wallace Lessley was born May 27, 1907, in Fayette,Missouri, to Herbert and Anna Lessley. When he was a young boy,the family moved to Bozeman where they operated a farm alongSourdough Creek. He graduated as valedictorian from GallatinCounty- High School in 1925 and continued his academic excellenceat Central Methodist College (B.A. English, 1929; distinguishedalumnus, 1952), the University of Washington (M.A. English, 1935)and the University of Michigan (J.D., 1938).Judge Lessley was admitted to the Montana Bar in 1938. Heopened an office on Main Street in Bozeman, bringing the Boze-man bar membership up to six members. He was elected GallatinCounty Attorney in 1940. His practice was cut short, however,when he enlisted as Private in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942.He rose through the ranks while serving three years in the China-Burma-India Theatre. "Pop," as his men called him, was in chargeof coordinating the 459th Twin Dragon Squadron's intelligencegathering missions. He received a battlefield commission of Major,was awarded the Bronze Star medal, and retired as LieutenantColonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. Pop hosted the 1987 reun-ion of the 459th in Bozeman.Upon returning to Bozeman, he married his long-time sweet-heart, Eula Mae Walton, a.k.a. "Mrs. L." He made it very clearthat although he was Judge W.W. Lessley, "The Judge" for short,Mrs. L. clearly was "The Boss." How many of us have heard howhe walked through the kitchen door with an inflated ego and Mrs.L. brought him back to earth with a reminder for him to take outthe garbage.1Lambert: THE HONORABLE WILLIAM WALLACE LESSLEYPublished by ScholarWorks at University of Montana, 1991MONTANA LAW REVIEWAfter serving a second term as Gallatin County Attorney,Judge Lessley embarked on what would become the longest judi-cial tenure in Montana history. He was elected judge of the Eight-eenth Judicial District in 1949 and served in that position until1982. During his tenure, Judge Lessley also sat on the MontanaSupreme Court more than fifty times and wrote more than twenty-five majority opinions. He was appointed Chief Water Judge in1979 and was elected Water Judge for the upper Missouri in 1982.He was serving in both capacities at the time of his death.Judge Lessley was a role model for community and profes-sional involvement. He was extensively involved with the Montanaand American Bar Associations, serving on numerous committees.He also was highly active in the First Methodist Church, where hetaught youth and adult Sunday school for many years, served onthe board of trustees and was lay leader of the Montana MethodistConference. Additionally, Judge Lessley was involved in severalother community service organizations. He was a founder of theBig Brothers program, was a Boy Scout Merit Badge counselor andserved as president of the popular Museum of the Rockies.The scarlet thread throughout Judge Lessley's long career wasservice-service to his community, to his state, to his country, andto God. His life is a story of public service.As those who knew Judge Lessley will attest, teaching was inhis blood. He had taught English in Great Falls during the 1930s,serving as debate and speech coach as well. He always delighted in"holding class" with his Water Masters and challenging them.(While the Judge enjoyed these sessions, some of the Masters didnot .... )Judge Lessley was a great storyteller as well. In particular, Iremember one trip to Jordan. On our way out of town, I innocentlyasked, "So you Served in China. Were you a pilot?" And on thereturn trip, I asked him, "Did you enjoy being a county attorney?"The answers to those questions filled the trip; he talked for hoursand the stories ranged from hair-raising to hilarious.Another story he frequently told was about his first day as dis-trict judge. As he recounted in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle:During a recess he heard his secretary politely attempting to keepout a brusque farmer intent on seeing the judge. The man in biboveralls and old hat was Lessley's father, Herbert."I want to tell you one thing," the elder Lessley said to hisson."When you have finished this job I want you to be able tolook anyone in the eye and tell them to go to hell.""Through the years I think I have learned what he meant,"[Vol. 522Montana Law Review, Vol. 52 [1991], Iss. 1, Art. 2https://scholarworks.umt.edu/mlr/vol52/iss1/2THE HONORABLE WILLIAM LESSLEYLessley said. "He meant to be honest, not to give favors and callthem as I see them. I think I have done that."1We miss Judge Lessley. Montana water users miss him. Andall of us who adhere to his model of commitment to public servicedo him a great honor. Far more importantly, as he would quicklyadmonish, we serve the public good.-Kathryn L. W. Lambert, Water Master1. Bozeman Chronicle, Mar. 30, 1990, at 1, col. 1.1991]3Lambert: THE HONORABLE WILLIAM WALLACE LESSLEYPublished by ScholarWorks at University of Montana, 19914Montana Law Review, Vol. 52 [1991], Iss. 1, Art. 2https://scholarworks.umt.edu/mlr/vol52/iss1/2

The Honorable William Wallace Lessley

University of Montana School of Law

Montana Law Review
Volume 52
Issue 1 Winter 1991 Article 2
January 1991
The Honorable William Wallace Lessley
Kathryn L. W. Lambert
Water Master
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarship.law.umt.edu/mlr
Part of the Law Commons
This In Memoriam is brought to you for free and open access by The Scholarly Forum @ Montana Law. It has been accepted for inclusion in Montana
Law Review by an authorized editor of The Scholarly Forum @ Montana Law.
Recommended Citation
Kathryn L. W. Lambert, The Honorable William Wallace Lessley, 52 Mont. L. Rev. (1991).
Available at: https://scholarship.law.umt.edu/mlr/vol52/iss1/2
IN MEMORIAM
The Honorable William Wallace Lessley
May 27, 1907-March 29, 1990
On March 29, 1990, we lost Judge Lessley. He had a stroke at
the breakfast table the preceding day, and slipped into uncon-
sciousness within the hour. Thus ended the life of one of Mon-
tana's great public servants.
William Wallace Lessley was born May 27, 1907, in Fayette,
Missouri, to Herbert and Anna Lessley. When he was a young boy,
the family moved to Bozeman where they operated a farm along
Sourdough Creek. He graduated as valedictorian from Gallatin
County- High School in 1925 and continued his academic excellence
at Central Methodist College (B.A. English, 1929; distinguished
alumnus, 1952), the University of Washington (M.A. English, 1935)
and the University of Michigan (J.D., 1938).
Judge Lessley was admitted to the Montana Bar in 1938. He
opened an office on Main Street in Bozeman, bringing the Boze-
man bar membership up to six members. He was elected Gallatin
County Attorney in 1940. His practice was cut short, however,
when he enlisted as Private in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942.
He rose through the ranks while serving three years in the China-
Burma-India Theatre. "Pop," as his men called him, was in charge
of coordinating the 459th Twin Dragon Squadron's intelligence
gathering missions. He received a battlefield commission of Major,
was awarded the Bronze Star medal, and retired as Lieutenant
Colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. Pop hosted the 1987 reun-
ion of the 459th in Bozeman.
Upon returning to Bozeman, he married his long-time sweet-
heart, Eula Mae Walton, a.k.a. "Mrs. L." He made it very clear
that although he was Judge W.W. Lessley, "The Judge" for short,
Mrs. L. clearly was "The Boss." How many of us have heard how
he walked through the kitchen door with an inflated ego and Mrs.
L. brought him back to earth with a reminder for him to take out
the garbage.
1
Lambert: THE HONORABLE WILLIAM WALLACE LESSLEY
Published by The Scholarly Forum @ Montana Law, 1991
MONTANA LAW REVIEW
After serving a second term as Gallatin County Attorney,
Judge Lessley embarked on what would become the longest judi-
cial tenure in Montana history. He was elected judge of the Eight-
eenth Judicial District in 1949 and served in that position until
1982. During his tenure, Judge Lessley also sat on the Montana
Supreme Court more than fifty times and wrote more than twenty-
five majority opinions. He was appointed Chief Water Judge in
1979 and was elected Water Judge for the upper Missouri in 1982.
He was serving in both capacities at the time of his death.
Judge Lessley was a role model for community and profes-
sional involvement. He was extensively involved with the Montana
and American Bar Associations, serving on numerous committees.
He also was highly active in the First Methodist Church, where he
taught youth and adult Sunday school for many years, served on
the board of trustees and was lay leader of the Montana Methodist
Conference. Additionally, Judge Lessley was involved in several
other community service organizations. He was a founder of the
Big Brothers program, was a Boy Scout Merit Badge counselor and
served as president of the popular Museum of the Rockies.
The scarlet thread throughout Judge Lessley's long career was
service-service to his community, to his state, to his country, and
to God. His life is a story of public service.
As those who knew Judge Lessley will attest, teaching was in
his blood. He had taught English in Great Falls during the 1930s,
serving as debate and speech coach as well. He always delighted in
"holding class" with his Water Masters and challenging them.
(While the Judge enjoyed these sessions, some of the Masters did
not .... )
Judge Lessley was a great storyteller as well. In particular, I
remember one trip to Jordan. On our way out of town, I innocently
asked, "So you Served in China. Were you a pilot?" And on the
return trip, I asked him, "Did you enjoy being a county attorney?"
The answers to those questions filled the trip; he talked for hours
and the stories ranged from hair-raising to hilarious.
Another story he frequently told was about his first day as dis-
trict judge. As he recounted in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle:
During a recess he heard his secretary politely attempting to keep
out a brusque farmer intent on seeing the judge. The man in bib
overalls and old hat was Lessley's father, Herbert.
"I want to tell you one thing," the elder Lessley said to his
son.
"When you have finished this job I want you to be able to
look anyone in the eye and tell them to go to hell."
"Through the years I think I have learned what he meant,"
[Vol. 52
2
Montana Law Review, Vol. 52 [1991], Iss. 1, Art. 2
https://scholarship.law.umt.edu/mlr/vol52/iss1/2
THE HONORABLE WILLIAM LESSLEY
Lessley said. "He meant to be honest, not to give favors and call
them as I see them. I think I have done that."1
We miss Judge Lessley. Montana water users miss him. And
all of us who adhere to his model of commitment to public service
do him a great honor. Far more importantly, as he would quickly
admonish, we serve the public good.
-Kathryn L. W. Lambert, Water Master
1. Bozeman Chronicle, Mar. 30, 1990, at 1, col. 1.
1991]
3
Lambert: THE HONORABLE WILLIAM WALLACE LESSLEY
Published by The Scholarly Forum @ Montana Law, 1991
4Montana Law Review, Vol. 52 [1991], Iss. 1, Art. 2
https://scholarship.law.umt.edu/mlr/vol52/iss1/2


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