William Lee Knous
Encyclopedia
William Lee Knous was a Colorado
Democratic
state legislator, state Supreme Court justice and the 31st Governor of Colorado
, and a U.S. district judge.
He was born in Ouray, Colorado
, the son of John Franklin Knous and Julia (Bain) Knous. He graduated from the University of Colorado School of Law
in 1911.
, and subsequently became mayor
, city attorney
and deputy district attorney
, and in 1929, was elected to the Colorado House of Representatives. He was elected to the Colorado Senate in 1931, where he served as president pro tempore
in 1935 and 1936.
In 1936, he was elected to the Colorado Supreme Court
and moved to Denver, Colorado
. He was elevated to Chief Justice in 1946, and was elected governor of the state the same year. Running for re-election in 1948, he carried every county in the state but one.
. Knous was nominated by President Harry S Truman on March 1, 1950, to a seat vacated by John Foster Symes
. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
on April 4, 1950, and received commission on April 7, 1950. He served as chief judge from 1954 until his death on December 11, 1959. He was entombed in the Fairmount Mausoleum
at Fairmount Cemetery
in Denver.
According to the Colorado state archives, "He became the only man in the state ever to have occupied the highest seat in the legislative, judicial, and executive branches of government."
His son, Robert Lee Knous
, was subsequently a lieutenant governor of Colorado from 1959 to 1967.
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
state legislator, state Supreme Court justice and the 31st Governor of Colorado
Governor of Colorado
The Governor of Colorado is the head of the executive branch of Colorado's government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Colorado General Assembly, to convene the...
, and a U.S. district judge.
He was born in Ouray, Colorado
Ouray, Colorado
The historic City of Ouray is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Ouray County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 813 at the U.S. Census 2000 and 1,000 as of the U.S. Census 2010...
, the son of John Franklin Knous and Julia (Bain) Knous. He graduated from the University of Colorado School of Law
University of Colorado School of Law
The University of Colorado Law School is one of the professional graduate schools within the University of Colorado System. It is a public law school, with more than 500 students attending and working toward a Juris Doctor or Master of Law. The Wolf Law Building Located in Boulder, Colorado, and...
in 1911.
Political career
He moved to Montrose, ColoradoMontrose, Colorado
The City of Montrose is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Montrose County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the city population was 15,479 in 2005. The main road that leads in and out of Montrose is U.S...
, and subsequently became mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
, city attorney
City attorney
A city attorney can be an elected or appointed position in city and municipal government in the United States. The city attorney is the attorney representing the city or municipality....
and deputy district attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
, and in 1929, was elected to the Colorado House of Representatives. He was elected to the Colorado Senate in 1931, where he served as president pro tempore
President pro tempore
A President pro tempore is a constitutionally recognized officer of a legislative body who presides over the chamber in the absence of the normal presiding officer...
in 1935 and 1936.
In 1936, he was elected to the Colorado Supreme Court
Colorado Supreme Court
The Colorado Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of Colorado. Located in Denver, the Court consists of a Chief Justice and six Associate Justices.-Appellate jurisdiction:...
and moved to Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
. He was elevated to Chief Justice in 1946, and was elected governor of the state the same year. Running for re-election in 1948, he carried every county in the state but one.
Federal judicial career
In 1950, Knous was appointed to the United States District Court for the District of ColoradoUnited States District Court for the District of Colorado
The United States District Court for the District of Colorado is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of Colorado. The United States Congress organized Colorado as a single judicial district on June 26, 1876, by 19 Stat. 61...
. Knous was nominated by President Harry S Truman on March 1, 1950, to a seat vacated by John Foster Symes
John Foster Symes
John Foster Symes was a United States federal judge.Born in Denver, Colorado, Symes received a Ph.B. from Yale University in 1900 and an LL.B. from Columbia Law School in 1903. He was in private practice in New York City from 1902 to 1906, and in Denver from 1906 to 1921...
. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on April 4, 1950, and received commission on April 7, 1950. He served as chief judge from 1954 until his death on December 11, 1959. He was entombed in the Fairmount Mausoleum
Fairmount Mausoleum (Denver, Colorado)
Fairmount Mausoleum is a public mausoleum at Fairmount Cemetery in Denver, Colorado. The building was designed by architects Frederick E. Mountjoy and Francis W. Frewan...
at Fairmount Cemetery
Fairmount Cemetery (Denver, Colorado)
Fairmount Cemetery in Denver, Colorado was founded in 1890 and is Denver's second oldest operating cemetery after Riverside Cemetery. It was designed by German landscape architect Reinhard Schuetze...
in Denver.
According to the Colorado state archives, "He became the only man in the state ever to have occupied the highest seat in the legislative, judicial, and executive branches of government."
Family life
Knous married Elsie Marie Grabow on July 1, 1915. They had three children, William John, Robert Lee, and Merle Ray.His son, Robert Lee Knous
Robert Lee Knous
Robert Lee Knous was the 36th Lieutenant Governor of Colorado, serving from 1959 to 1967 under Stephen L.R. McNichols and John Arthur Love....
, was subsequently a lieutenant governor of Colorado from 1959 to 1967.