William Steger

William Merritt Steger (August 22, 1920 – June 4, 2006) was an American politician and United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.

William Steger
AP Wirephoto of William Steger (1953)
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
In office December 31, 1987 – June 4, 2006
Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
In office December 1, 1970 – December 31, 1987
Appointed by	Richard Nixon
Preceded by	Seat established by 84 Stat. 294
Succeeded by	Richard A. Schell
Personal details
Born	William Merritt Steger (1920-08-22)August 22, 1920 Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Died	June 4, 2006(2006-06-04) (aged 85) Tyler, Texas, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Education	Dedman School of Law (LL.B.)

Education and career

Born on August 22, 1920, in Dallas, Texas, Steger received a Bachelor of Laws from the Dedman School of Law at Southern Methodist University in 1950. He was in the United States Army Air Forces as a Captain from 1942 to 1947. He was in private practice of law in Longview, Texas from 1951 to 1953. He was the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas from 1953 to 1959. He was in private practice of law in Tyler, Texas from 1959 to 1970. He was the Republican candidate for State Governor of Texas in 1960. He was a Republican candidate for United States House of Representatives from Texas in 1962. He was the Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas from 1969 to 1970.

Federal judicial service

William Steger shaking hands with Republican Presidential Candidate Richard Milhous Nixon.

Steger was nominated by President Richard Nixon on October 7, 1970, to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, to a new seat created by 84 Stat. 294. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on November 25, 1970, and received his commission on December 1, 1970. He assumed senior status on December 31, 1987. His service was terminated on June 4, 2006, due to his death in Tyler.

Honor

The federal building in Tyler, Texas, bears the name of former Judge William M. Steger.

The William M. Steger Federal Building and United States Courthouse was named in Steger's honor.

External links

• William Merritt Steger at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
• "William M. Steger: The Campaign for Governor of Texas, 1960," by Mike Lantz. East Texas Historical Journal, pp. 50 – 61. Fall, 2004. Vol XLII - No 2.
• The Texas House of Representatives passed a memorial resolution for Judge Steger on May 14, 2007, that contained biographical information about him, see: "80(R) HCR 234 - Introduced version - Bill Text". www.legis.state.tx.us.
• Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections, Governors, 1960; U.S. House, 1962
• "Obituary at Legacy.com".
• William Steger obituary, Burks Walter Tippit Funeral Directors, Tyler, Texas
• Tyler Morning Telegraph, June 5, 2006
• "D. Bryan Hughes". mesotheliomalawfirm.com. Archived from the original on August 7, 2011. Retrieved September 26, 2011.