ROY IDE

IDE--Roy William ("Bill"), III. Roy William ("Bill") Ide III passed peacefully surrounded by family on July 8, 2025, after living every day of his 85 years to the fullest. He was a towering figure in the legal community and a fierce advocate for civil rights, a fair and just legal system, and the rule of law. He will be remembered for his unwavering love and commitment to his family and friends, believing in them with an energy so intense that it keeps them going through every hurdle of life. After earning his J.D. from the University of Virginia in 1965, Ide began his legal career clerking for the Honorable Griffin Bell on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He would later tell his grandchildren that witnessing the legal dismantling of segregation in the South was one of the most formative experiences of his life. Bill deeply admired the civil rights attorneys who appeared before the court, arguing for the desegregation of schools, police departments, and public institutions across Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. Inspired by the historic transformations taking place in the courtroom, Ide left the Fifth Circuit with a clear understanding of the law as a sacred tool and protector of constitutional rights. Ide made his imprint on Atlanta's civic and legal community. He co-founded Georgia Legal Services as a young lawyer, was essential to the creation of the Metro Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), and was a founding member of the team that brought the 1996 Olympics to the City. He helped elect Atlanta's first Black mayor, Hon. Maynard Jackson, and was dear friends with Hon. Andrew Young. Ide spent the majority of his law practice at the firm that became Dentons. He served as the Senior VP, general counsel, and secretary of Monsanto Co. Ide was elected the 117th President of the American Bar Association from 1993-1994. Ide served as counsel to the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, Chairman of the ABA's Rule of Law Initiative, General Counsel and Chair of the Executive Committee of the EastWest Institute, General Counsel of Monsanto, and a member of the board of directors of Albemarle Corporation and Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Inc. Ide also served as a senior fellow and co-founder of Emory University's Directors Institute, a Trustee of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights, and on the Board of Trustees for Clark Atlanta University. Perhaps Ide's proudest professional accomplishment came in the past few years with the creation of the American Bar Association Task Force for American Democracy. This group of nonpartisan legal, business, and civic leaders is mobilizing lawyers around the country to rise and honor their obligation to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States and the rule of law. Ide was predeceased by his beloved wife of 54 years Gayle Oliver Ide. He is survived by his second love, Lucy Carpenter Vance, and his children Logan Ide (Cameron), Jennifer Ide (Matt Reynolds), Lucienne Ide (Humberto Garcia-Sjogrim) and his 16 adoring grandchildren, Lindie, Ivy, Lucie, Chanel, Isabel, Wilson, Diego, Madeline, Oscar, Evelyn, Leo, Grace, Will, Josh, Ellie and Hannah, whom he loved dearly. Bill's passing leaves a gaping hole in our hearts and lives, but his legacy lives on through the boundless energy he put forth into the world. In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to support Bill's legacy through a donation to the Task Force for American Democracy (www.democracy-taskforce org/billidepledge), Atlanta Legal Aid www.atlantalegalaid.org or Georgia Legal Services www.glsp.org/ where the family will establish scholarship funds with legal aid for summer clerkships for law students going into legal service work. Please indicate Bill Ide Memorial Fund on any contributions. A celebration of life will be held on Thursday, September 11, 4pm, at the Atlanta History Center, with a reception to follow. If you would like to share a photo or a memory with the Ide family, or in the event you cannot make the celebration in person and would like livestream information, please email idefamilyphotos@gmail.com.