William VanDercreek

2012 - 2012

William "Bill" VanDercreek

William "Bill" VanDercreek was born January 6, 1930 in Council Bluffs, Iowa to Arthur J. and Rita VanDercreek. Bill received a Bachelor of Science from Iowa State University and a Juris Doctor from University of Iowa School of Law. After graduating from law school, he served in the United States Marine Corps as a First Lieutenant, 1955-1957, while in the Marine Corps Bill attended the Naval Justice School in Newport, Rhode Island as a part of the Judge Advocate General's Corps. He then served as law clerk to Judge Martin D. Van Oosterhout, United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Following his clerkship, Bill received his LLM from Yale University, where he was a Sterling Fellow and assistant to Professor J.W. Moore, the leading authority on federal civil procedure. Bill began his teaching career at Southern Methodist University College of Law in Dallas, Texas, in 1959, concentrating on federal civil procedure and federal jurisdiction. He also enjoyed a diverse private practice, focusing on complex civil litigation, including antitrust, appellate, admiralty, and maritime law. Bill and his family moved to Tallahassee, Florida in 1968, having accepted a professorship at the newly established at Florida State University College of Law. He was instrumental in starting the nationally recognized Moot Court Program, serving as faculty advisor until his retirement. Bill's interest in the law extended to special programs focusing on international issues, facilitating the Summer Program in Law at Oxford, Oxford, England, and the Comparative Policy Studies Program for Yugoslav American Studies, Dubrovnik, Croatia. Bill is survived by his wife of 59 years, Catherine VanDercreek, and four children: Holly Kruse (Paul), Seffner, Florida; Greg VanDercreek, Dallas, Texas; Cary Langston (Lance), Tallahassee, Florida; Julie Shoff, Orange Park, Florida; three grandchildren: Whitney and Catherine Langston, Tallahassee; and Nicole Shoff, Orange Park. He was predeceased by his son, Peter David VanDercreek, in 2008. A Celebration of the Holy Eucharist in Thanksgiving for his life will be held at St. John's Episcopal Church, 211 North Monroe Street, Tallahassee Florida on Monday, February 27th at 3:00 p.m., with reception immediately following in the church court yard. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to the Florida State University College of Law Moot Court Program, St. John's Episcopal Church, or Big Bend Hospice.