Oscar Wood Moyle III

Oscar Wood Moyle III 1938 ~ 2009 Utah lawyer and outdoorsman,Oscar Wood Moyle III, died April 20, 2009 of cancer. He was 71. The son of Oscar Wood Moyle Jr. and Dorothy Irvine Moyle, Wood was born in Salt Lake City March 6, 1938. At East High School he played right tackle on the undefeated varsity football team of 1955-56 and lettered in 14 activities. He was a National Merit Scholar. He was proud to be among the enlisted servicemen in the United States National Guard. Wood graduated from Stanford University, where he was a nationally ranked debater and president of the Delta Chi fraternity. Upon his graduation from Harvard Law School he joined the New York City law firm of Donovan, Leisure, Newton, and Irvine as an associate in 1963. In 1966 he returned to Salt Lake City to the firm of Moyle and Moyle. There, he worked with his father and continued the legacy of his grandfather, who founded the firm of Young and Moyle in 1892. He was a partner, shareholder, and the Chief Executive Officer of Moyle and Draper law firm and widely recognized for his expertise in trusts and estate planning. In 1967 Wood married Judith Covey Burton, also of Salt Lake City. They later divorced. Their children are Oscar Wood Moyle IV (Marianne Woolsey) of Park City and Rebecca Burton Moyle (Tyler Lange) of Berkeley, CA. Wood was admitted to practice in New York, Utah, the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second and Tenth Circuits, U.S. District Court for Utah, the U.S. Tax Court and U.S. Court of Federal Claims. He was deeply committed to the American and Utah Bar Associations and to professionalizing legal societies. He was past president of the Utah State Bar and a delegate to the American Bar Association from 1984-1986. He was chairman of the Utah State Bar Probate Code Committee, which drafted the Utah Uniform Probate Code and managed related legislative activities. He was president of the Western States Bar Conference in 1988-1989, and also lectured on Taxation and Probate Administration for the Utah and New Mexico Bars. He was elected a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (serving as state chairman from 1987-1993). He was a life member of the Fellows of the American Bar Foundation. His civic service also included serving on the Utah Judicial Conduct Commission. He was a mentor to many lawyers: chief among them is Walker Kennedy, III who was a devoted friend and comfort to Wood during his final illness. Wood counted among his close friends many members of the Utah Bar and bench. For over 30 years, Wood was vice president and general counsel for The Western States Machine Company, Hamilton, Ohio. He served as secretary of the Alta Club in 1980 and was a director of the club from 1993-95. He was a member of Salt Lake Rotary. Wood played club soccer for Alemania in Salt Lake City for a decade. He was a member of the New State Duck Club, and it was there that his fine Labradors earned their master's affection and the envy of other hunters. Wood enjoyed fishing in the Teton Valley of Idaho. He treasured the shooting partners who accompanied him to marshes from Brigham City to Mexico in pursuit of waterfowl, upland game, and gentlemanly camaraderie. Likewise, Wood maintained close relationships with classmates, and their visits during his sickness meant a great deal to him. Wood is survived by his children; his grandson, Oscar Wood Moyle V, son of Wood and Marianne; his sister, Dorothy Ann Palmer (Joe); and by his nephews and niece: Jim, Wood and Davis Palmer and Anne Palmer Peterson. Following a family graveside service at the Salt Lake City Cemetery at 11:00, a celebration of Wood's great mind and heart will take place at The Alta Club Friday April 24 at 12:30 p.m. Arrangement entrusted to Evan & Early Mortuary. The Moyle family suggests contributions in his memory to Ducks Unlimited, the Huntsman Cancer Institute, or your charity of choice.