William K. Van Allen, a founding partner of the Moore & Van Allen law firm, died early Thursday morning at age 96. Bill grew up in Rochester, New York where he was an Eagle Scout before attending Hamilton College. He was President of Chi Psi and graduated Phi Beta Kappa before entering Harvard Law School. He practiced with Hanson, Lovett & Dale in Washington, D.C. before and after World War II. Van Allen came to Charlotte in 1950 to join his Harvard Law classmate, Robert Lassiter, and James O. Moore. Lassiter, Moore & Van Allen was Charlotte's first firm to be located near the Square and by 1955, with five lawyers; it had become the largest firm in town.
Van Allen had a distinguished service record in World War II. After joining the Navy, he was assigned to several small vessels. In 1943 he was made executive officer of the USS Eldridge, a destroyer escort. The ship escorted convoys in the Atlantic from Norfolk to Casablanca, Oran and Bizerte in support of the Allies’ invasion of North Africa. During his last two years on the Eldridge, then Lieutenant Commander Van Allen served as captain of the ship. As the War wound down, the ship was ordered to the Pacific where it served until the end of the hostilities.
One of Van Allen's happiest WW ll experiences was when the Eldridge was in port for a week in early July 1944. His executive officer's wife came to meet the ship in New York and chanced to run into her college roommate, Sally Schall. An invitation was extended to Sally to attend the ship's party scheduled for that evening on the Starlight Roof of the Waldorf-Astoria. There she met and danced with the captain of the Eldridge, saw him three more evenings during the week, at the end of which they became engaged with the wedding scheduled for whatever date in November his ship might be in port. They were married November 11, 1944 at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Sally’s hometown of Charleston, SC. And according to Bill when he reflected on his life, “My greatest accomplishment was to marry Sally”.
Not all of Van Allen's combat experience occurred at sea. In the late 1960's, North Carolina National Bank Chairman and CEO Tom Storrs was invited to testify before a Congressional committee which was considering an amendment to the Bank Holding Company Act. Storrs asked Van Allen to assist him in the preparation of his testimony and accompany him to Washington for the hearing. One night during the trip, Storrs and Van Allen were returning from dinner to their hotel. Near the National Geographic Building they were accosted by armed robbers. Van Allen calmly and successfully negotiated the handover of his and Storrs' wallets to the thieves. Of that event Storrs says that "Bill Van Allen saved my life".
In addition to his development of a strong corporate legal practice, Van Allen had an exemplary career in community affairs including service on the boards of Johnson C. Smith University, the Mint Museum of Art, the United Way, Charlotte Country Day School, the Mercy Hospital Foundation, and the UNCC Foundation. He also chaired the Mecklenburg County Board of Public Welfare. In recognition of this record of service, the Moore & Van Allen law firm has named its annual award for pro bono work and civic accomplishment "The Sally and Bill Van Allen Public Service Award.”
Bill belonged to Christ Church where he served on the vestry. He was a member of the Charlotte Country Club (Past President), Charlotte City Club (Past President), Piedmont Club, Chevy Chase Club and the Holland Society.
Van Allen is survived by his wife, Sally, and their three sons: Kent and his wife, Kay, of Lynchburg, Virginia and their children, Sam, Charlie, Mercer and John; George and his wife, Betsy, and their children, Sally and Perrin; Peter and his wife, Barbara, of Washington, D.C. and their children, Caroline and Peter. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Carol Ragsdale of Charleston, SC and 5 nieces and nephews, Sally McGucken, Jane Clifford, Caroline Reutter, Smith Ragsdale and Charles Ragsdale.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday afternoon at Christ Episcopal Church, 1412 Providence Road in Charlotte. The family will receive friends at the Church after the service.
Memorials may be made to Hamilton College, 198 College Hill Road, Clinton, NY 13323, Southminster Foundation, 8919 Park Road, Charlotte, NC 28210 or Christ Episcopal Church, 1412 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC 28207.
Harry & Bryant Company is serving the family.
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