William Bagley
06/29/1928 - 06/09/2025
Bill Bagley (born William T. Baglietto), the first chairperson of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), passed away after a happy and extraordinary life. Born in San Francisco, in 1928, his family went bankrupt soon thereafter and had to move to what had been a vacation cabin in rural Marin County (Woodacre). Bill persevered, working his way through high school, college and law school with the Marin County Fire Department. He graduated from U.C. Berkeley in 1949, as a Phi Beta Kappa and the valedictorian, and from Berkeley School of Law in 1952, serving on the California Law Review. In 2002, he proudly received the UC Berkeley Alumnus of the Year award.
He practiced law for 63 years, 35 of those years as a partner with the national law firm Nossaman, LLP. He excelled at business, land use, water, transportation, public utility and public policy law. A notable legal achievement included defending the First Amendment before the United States Supreme Court.
Part time public service occupied his early career, serving in the California State Assembly from 1960 to 1974, representing Marin and Sonoma. Bill was a liberal republican, led even democratic members on the tabulated NAACP voting record, and traveled with Governor Nelson Rockefeller in the 1964 presidential primary. He authored transparency laws such as the California Public Records Act and Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act and advocated for civil rights. His published work "California's Golden Years: When Government Worked and Why" reflected on this era of political history.
In 1974, the passage of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission Act expanded the lightly regulated Chicago futures market into a worldwide industry. The Ford-Rockefeller administration appointed Bill to the CFTC in Washington, DC. He spoke in Europe and Tokyo on behalf of this burgeoning new industry. He also served on the Futures Industry Association Board of Directors, California Transportation Commission (Chair), Public Utilities Commission, and the University of California Board of Regents.
Bill is survived by his wife of 60 years Diane, children Lynn, Bill Jr., Walter, Shana, and Tracy (Chris) and his beloved grandchildren Nicholas, Julian, Nathaniel, Grant, and Layli. The family is deeply grateful for the love and support from Alexis, Camie, and all who cared for him.
He asked for no services but requested that memorial donations be made to the Bagley Minority Scholarship - The Achievement Awards Program, Cal Alumni Association, Alumni House, Berkeley, CA 94720 ([email protected] ).

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Published by San Francisco Chronicle on Jun. 22, 2025.

Memories and Condolences
for William Bagley

Sponsored by Monte's Chapel Of The Hills.

10 Entries

Martin Mattes

July 16, 2025

Sincere condolences to Diane and all Bill's family upon his passing. I had the privilege of serving under Bill during his tenure on the California Public Utilities Commission and then of being his colleague and partner for many years at Nossaman LLP. In his late incarnation as a militant moderate, Bill pledged to survive the first Trump administration and succeeded in doing so, but couldn't make it through the second one. The principles of justice, equality, and open government to which Bill was dedicated will survive and flourish in years to come with the help of the laws and policies he nurtured so well. We all should remember him for those lasting contributions to our Golden State.

John Scully

June 25, 2025

I only knew who William Bagley was by following local and state politics. I was always impressed by Mr. Bagley´s dedication to his constituents. He had a talent of working across political lines and getting things done. I wish we had that today in our state and country.

Jim Reed

June 24, 2025

I had the honor of working for Bill in his law firm in and in the Legislature when he chaired the Assembly Judiciary Committee. He was one the nicest, smartest, and most remarkable persons I have ever known. He made the world a better place.

Nancy

June 24, 2025

I did not know him, but I really appreciate that he helped shepherd the California Public Records Act and Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act through to law. He sounds like he was a man of integrity. Thank you!

Skip Corsini

June 22, 2025

Bill and my dad were childhood friends in Woodacre. I knew Bill when I worked in government relations for Bank of America. In my opinion he was the most effective elected official in Marin County history. He never played the party line, the last of the independent minds in public office in California.

Grady Means

June 21, 2025

Bill was a brilliant guy, pretty rowdy (stories I cannot tell), and with great political and human instincts. In his book - "California's Golden Years: When Government Worked and Why" - he made the very insightful argument that small amounts of lobbyist-funded, bi-partisan, partying and social gathering among the legislators (probably considered "illegal" today) created a deep comradery that led to real discussion, compromise and progress. I haven´t seen him in a long while, but I miss him.

John Rosenberg

June 21, 2025

I was a law partner of Bill from 1968 to 1974 when he went to Washington DC to chair the CFTC. He was a great mentor and attorney. I especially enjoyed lunching with Bill in Sacramento at Frank Fat's or Posey's where he knew everyone. Condolences to his family.

Andrea Corcoran

June 18, 2025

An iconic leader at CFTC and a good person. . Will be long remembered. Andrea Corcoran

Bob Gallagher

June 16, 2025

Having had the privilege of knowing Bill Bagley these past thirty plus years, I can personally attest to the apt description of both 'extraordinary' and 'happy'.

His love and devotion to family were enough to keep a smile on his face and his glass always full.

He considered his family his greatest accomplishment. Which made him all the more extraordinary.

We should all be fortunate enough to have a Bill Bagley touch our lives.