Raphael J. Moses III

Moses, Raphael J., III, "RAY" a nationally known water lawyer, died on Wednesday, June 8, 2011, at the age of 97. Mr. Moses founded the law firm of Moses, Wittemyer, Harrison and Woodruff, P.C. in Boulder, Colorado. Prior to 1962, his law practice had been in Alamosa, Colorado. Ray Moses was born in 1913 in Girard, Alabama, and raised in Alamosa, Colorado, by his paternal uncle Albert Moses and his wife Rosa Moses, after the death of his parents before his first birthday. He graduated from Alamosa High School in 1929, and the University of Colorado with his bachelor's degree in 1935 and law degree in 1937. He married college sweetheart Marian Beck (Becky) in 1938. His law practice in Alamosa was interrupted by World War II, where he served as a Lt. jg aboard the USS Bush, a destroyer. Ray Moses was rescued from the East China Sea, after the Bush was struck by a Japanese suicide bomber on April 6, 1945. He served the rest of wartime in Washington, D.C. Returning to Alamosa, with his wife and daughter Marcia, he resumed his law practice that evolved primarily, as he has said "almost accidentally," into that of water law. He represented drainage districts and irrigation districts, became active in the Colorado Bar Association, and joined the initial water law section representing the Rio Grande drainage system. This led to serving as attorney for the Colorado Water Conservation Board and representing Colorado in all its interstate matters, such as resolving litigation brought by New Mexico, Texas, and the Republic of Mexico over water delivery from the Rio Grande River. Mr. Moses argued before the United States Supreme Court, and wrote many articles on water law, some published internationally. A Chair at the University of Colorado Law School has been endowed in Mr. Moses' name, and a classroom has been named in his honor as well. Mr. Moses was president of the San Luis Valley Bar Association and the Colorado Bar Association, and a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the American Bar Foundation. He also served as Regent of the University of Colorado. He received many honors, including the Colorado Bar Association Award of Merit, the Honorary Order of the Coif from the CU Law School, the William E. Knous Award, the Norlin Award from the Associated Alumni of CU, and the University of Colorado Medal. Mr. Moses was widowed in 1976, and married Fletcher Lee Francis Westgaard in 1979. He is survived by Mrs. Moses, his daughter Marcia Moses Johnson and three step-children, Rolf Westgaard, Tora Westgaard Hellyer, and Gyda Westgaard Flanagan. In addition, family includes granddaughters Carol Johnson Norton and Jill Johnson Moreno, five great-grandchildren and seven step-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to the University of Colorado Law School, 2450 Kittredge Loop Road, Boulder, CO 80309.