HLSA-DC & the Harvard Black Alumni Network Present:
Honoring The Life and Legacy of William T. “Bill” Coleman,
HLS ‘46: Pioneer, Public Servant, Legal Legend
William T. Coleman Jr. ’46: 1920-2017
February 25, 2025
5:30 – 8:00 p.m.
O’Melveny & Myers
1625 Eye Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20006
In Person Only
Coming on the heels of the 70th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education decision this past year, this program will honor “Bill” Coleman for his life and legacy, including his instrumental role as a co-author in the brief writing of the Brown litigation. Coleman graduated first in his class at HLS in 1946 and went on to shape the law and society as a formidable legal mind, inspiring public servant, and revered member of the Harvard community.
Coleman is honored at the National Constitution Center for his civil rights efforts. He is widely recognized for his many academic, legal, and governmental/public policy achievements.
In addition to graduating first in his HLS class and serving as one of the first Black editors of the Harvard Law Review, Coleman became the first African American Supreme Court law clerk (to Hon. Justice Frankfurter). These weren’t Bill’s only “firsts”: He also became the first African American member of the Union League in Philadelphia in 1973.
Coleman, a Philadelphia native and a summa cum laude graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, struggled to find a legal position in Philadelphia due to discrimination. According to an HLS biography, when Coleman finally was hired by a firm in New York City (Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison), it was the first time that a major NYC firm had hired an associate of color. Coleman eventually landed at the law firm of Dilworth Paxson where he served with distinction for many years as a partner.
During his incredible life, Coleman served in the U.S. Armed forces and later helped to desegregate the military. He argued 19 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and was a critical force for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund alongside the Honorable Thurgood Marshall.
A variety of reasons brought Mr. Coleman to Washington, D.C. over his career, including working as Assistant Counsel to the Warren Commission. Coleman served as the 4th Secretary of the Department of Transportation in the Ford Administration. In 2020, the federal agency building was named in honor of Coleman and Hon. Norman Mineta, also a former Transportation Secretary.
Coleman returned to private law practice and served as a partner in the Washington D.C. office of O’Melveny & Myers where he argued several cases of national significance before the Supreme Court. He also served as a director of several major corporations, and in later years received several honorary college degrees.
President Bill Clinton awarded Coleman the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. Coleman also received the Harvard Medal from the Harvard Alumni Association (among other Harvard honors).
Coleman passed away in Alexandria, Virginia in 2017, at age 96.
For a more complete biography, click here.
This Program will include opening remarks from a representative of O’Melveny & Myers on Coleman’s contributions there, and additional reflections on Coleman’s life and legacy from:
Reginald Brown (HLS ‘96), Partner, Kirkland & Ellis (Moderator).
Roger A. Fairfax, Jr. (HLS ’98), Dean, Howard University School of Law
Lawrence G. McMichael, Chairman, Dilworth Paxson
The event will be held at the Washington, D.C. offices of O’Melveny & Myers at 1625 Eye Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20006
The event is In-Person ONLY.
The event will begin promptly at 5:30 p.m. with a reception featuring complimentary light food and drink. The event will end promptly at 8:00 p.m.
Attendance is free. Harvard alums and one guest per alum will be permitted to register.
We look forward to seeing you there!
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