Bill Suter was born in Ohio and moved to Kentucky with his family when a child. He attended Millersburg Military Institute for 12 years and in 1955 entered Trinity University in San Antonio, graduating in 1959 as an ROTC student with a commission in the Army Reserve. Jeanie Suter was born in Texas, lived in New Orleans with her family and entered Trinity University one year after Bill, graduating in three years. The two met there, fell in love and were married after graduation. They moved to New Orleans, where Bill attended Tulane Law School with the Army’s permission after he had received a Tulane scholarship. Jeanie taught English and other subjects in New Orleans public schools. After completing law school Bill went on active duty, attended the JAG school in Charlottesville, VA, and then was assigned to Fort Richardson, AK, where he began his career as a judge advocate.
Next for Bill was the JAG Graduate Program in Charlottesville followed by three years as a professor there. Then the family was off to Thailand. Jeanie and their two young boys lived in Bangkok while Bill was stationed in Korat and later at Army headquarters in Vietnam. Bill’s next assignment was in the Pentagon, after which came assignments with growing responsibilities and rank to the 101st Airborne Division, the Charlottesville JAG school as commandant and to positions in Washington. After being promoted to Major General, his final position before retirement in 1991 was Assistant Judge Advocate General of the Army.
The day after his retirement, Bill was appointed the 19th Clerk of the Supreme Court. He served in that important position for 22 years, greatly improving the administrative procedures of the Court. At his retirement celebration on June 12, 2013, Chief Justice Roberts paid tribute to Bill for his “tremendous contribution to the operation of the Court”, stating that “during his tenure he has met the needs of 2 chief justices and 14 associate justices with calm, confidential and disciplined proficiency” and had forged an effective internal management team.
During the later years of his Army career and all of his years at the Supreme Court, Bill was in great demand nationwide as a guest lecturer at university law schools, presenting a total of 41 such lectures. He also received awards from many legal associations and Honorary Doctor of Laws Degrees from six universities.
During most of Bill’s stateside assignments, Jeanie taught in on-base and local high schools. She earned her master’s degree when they were at Fort Campbell, KY. She retired from teaching in 2006, about seven years before Bill’s retirement from his position at the Supreme Court.
Bill and Jeanie moved to Falcons Landing in April. Their two sons live nearby with their families in Loudoun County. Bill and Jeanie own a lake house on Lake Anna, where they spend as much time as possible. Their children and four grandchildren visit the lake house frequently.
We are fortunate to have Bill and Jeanie join us. Please give them a warm welcome!
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