BLISS, Justice William L. "Bill"

BLISS, MACDONALD, MCGRUDER, CONLEY, TEMPLE, SENNETT, WITWER

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 11/11/2014 at 16:00:27

The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Saturday, March 08, 1941, Page 16

THEY STARTED HERE
No. 49 in a Mason City Series of Success Stories

W. L. Bliss, Supreme Court Justice

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In Biblical days, when King Solomon was in his prime, people thought they had complex problems that were extremely difficult to solve. And so they were, so much so that Solomon made quite a name for himself in deciding the disputes and solving the problems that arose during his day.

But if human relations and conflicting rights were involved then, there is no word that can adequately describe their complexity today. For the tremendous advance in civilization, brining with it greatly widened spheres of interest and activity, has greatly increased the tangles into which human affairs can be knotted.

So if Solomon was wise centuries ago, the men who are called upon to act as judges today should be the supermen of the intellectual world. Whether they are or not may be open to question. But certain it is that their work calls for the acme of intellectual ability, the wildest education and specialization in the field of law and a liberal understanding of philosophy and common sense.

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Many of these men live up to the standards set for them far better than most people realize. One of these is Mason City's Justice William L. Bliss, now a member of the Iowa supreme court after having served for nearly 35 years as one of North Iowa's finest attorneys.

Judge Bliss was born on a farm near Polk City, Dec. 13, 1876, the son of Wentworth H. and Ellen MacDonald Bliss. His ancestry included one man, Thomas Bliss, who came to America in 1635, landing at Braintree, Mass., after voyaging from Devonshire, England, in a tiny sailing ship.

In 1878 the Bliss family moved to Panora, where young Bill Bliss grew through boyhood to young manhood. He was educated in the public schools there and attended a unique institution, the Guthrie county high school. He was graduated from high school in 1895.

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For a couple of years after he finished his high school education the young man worked, finally entering Drake university at Des Moines. At first he took a liberal arts course but after two years of study in this department he took up the study of law.

Interested not only in school books but also in athletics was the Guthrie county youth. In those days the center rush and flying wedge were the main emphasis in collegiate football, so Bill Bliss's (sic) fighting spirit and rugges physique made him right at home on the gridiron.

After taking a prominent part in Drake athletics, the youth accepted a football coaching job at Spencer high school in the fall of 1902. A year later he served as football coach at the old Still College of Osteopathy in Des Moines.

But it was in the law that Bill Bliss had his career and he knew it. So in February of 1904 he came to North Iowa to win recognition and respect in the legal profession.

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It was not only a legal career that William L. Bliss found in North Iowa, for he also found a wife. He was married June 6, 1906, to Margaret A. McGruder at Britt. Judge and Mrs. Bliss are the parents of three children, Mrs. D. V. Temple of Mason City, Mrs. Jay Conley of Chicago and Robert L. Bliss, now a student at the University of Michigan.

Judge Bliss became associated with John A. Senneff at Britt and in this year that followed both men proved themselves formidable antagonists in any court battle.

In 1911 the two men were separated for a time when Mr. Senneff came to Mason City to enter practice here. But three years later Bill Bliss joined him in Mason City as a member of the firm of Senneff, Witwer and Bliss. His partner, in addition to his former Britt associate was the late Robert M. Witwer.

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Down through the years until his election to the state supreme court in 1938, W. L. Bliss through able practice in his profession built up an enviable reputation as one of the ablest attorneys in the state. He was of a scientific turn of mind as well as legal, and took a great interest in astronomy and biology. He learned, as does every attorney, a good deal more about the law then was ever taught him in law school.

And he didn't forget what he knew. Nor did he forget that hard work is a requisite of real success. Judge Bliss in his Mason City practice showed himself to have a solid grasp of all the fields of general practice. He was an able trial lawyer and knew where he stood legally in any case at all times.

By 1932 the reputation of Mason City's W. L. Bliss was well established throughout the Iowa legal profession. A republican, he was appointed to the Iowa supreme court by Gov. Dan Turner to fill the vacancy left by Judge John M. Grimm of Cedar Rapids. The term was a short one, however, lasting only from Sept. 26 to Dec. 5 of that year.

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The Iowa republican lawyers recognized Judge Bliss at the same time by naming him a candidate of thier party for a full term on the supreme court bench.

But that was the year that Franklin D. Roosevelt skyrocketed into the political horizon, carrying the fortunes of the democratic party with him. So the Iowa G.O.P. went down to defeat for the first time in a good many years. and with it went the candidacy of Mason City's W. L. Bliss.

Judge Bliss was succeeded by Justice Richard Mitchell and he returned to his law practice in Mason City. Four years alter, on July 18, 1936, his fellow attorneys again honored him by making him the republican nominee for the bench.

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But it was another Roosevelt year and it was not until 1933 that the Mason Cityan finally was elected to the court. Since then he has served ably in passing on the decisions of the lower courts and otherwise participating in the intricate affairs of the high court.

In the last half of 1939 Judge Bliss served as chief justice.

Today W. L. Bliss has nearly four years of his term ahead of him in a public post that calls for the highest integrity. Intellectual ability and honesty, a great education both in theory and practice and a constructive social philosophy. And, after those four years are up, he undoubltedly can have another term if he wishes it.

Judge Bliss is the type of man of whom Mason City should be and is proud. The courts are the jealous guardians of democracy and the rights of individual citizens. An the man who sits on the supreme court must be the best the legal profession has produced for he can not cry.

NOTE: William L. Bliss served as an Iowa Supreme Court justice from September 27, 1932 to December 5, 1932, and again from January 1, 1939 to April 16, 1962.

Margaret A. (McGruder) Bliss was born February 12, 1882, and died April 20, 1955. William died January 29, 1969 at the age of 92 years, 47 days. Margaret and William were interred at Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City, Iowa.
SOURCE: The Political Graveyard

Photograph courtesy of Globe-Gazette

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, November of 2014

Cerro Gordo Biographies maintained by Lynn Diemer-Mathews.
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