William P Dixon

MADISON, WI - Bill Dixon could not abide injustice. He fought it all his life, often overcoming and defeating it. His partner in many of these battles, as in so much of his life, was his wife, Amy. His struggle has ended after 81 remarkable years. Bill died at home with Amy by his side on the night of January 8, 2025, following a bout of prostate cancer which began in 2024.

Bill was a civil rights attorney. He was a United States Ambassador, confirmed by the Senate at only 34. He managed the Democratic National Convention, a telethon for Norman Lear, and Wisconsin’s banking commission. Bill was a television commentator, a licensed private detective, and counsel to the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives during the impeachment of Richard Nixon.

Bill was a husband, a father, a grandfather and a great-grandfather. He was a patriot who believed in a duty to make America better; a golfer who knew he could make himself better; and a fierce advocate who made others’ lives better. Among his dearest friends were people loved by millions - Jimmy Carter, George McGovern, Jimmy Buffett and Hunter Thompson; as well as some other fine people only Bill could love. He had a huge heart, a giant sense of humor, and an even bigger sense of loyalty.

Bill loved being from Buffalo, New York and loved being in his homes in Monona, Wisconsin and Tubac, Arizona. He left Buffalo the day after his law school graduation and moved to Wisconsin. He knew it would be an important political battleground and wanted to help George McGovern. He did, taking a leave from his law firm to lead the McGovern primary victory and the state delegation to the convention in Miami.

After serving as counsel to Governor Pat Lucey, Bill was recruited by a Congressman and moved his family to Washington. Following the impeachment, where he was the only House staffer permitted to listen to the unedited Watergate tapes and wrote “The Dixon Memos” laying out the charges and evidence for members of Congress, he joined the House Banking Committee and drafted consumer legislation which still protects Americans today. As soon as possible, he found a way to get back to Wisconsin, where he led another primary victory, this time for Jimmy Carter, who then appointed him as the United States representative to the World Bank. He served Carter again in the next election, running the Convention in New York.

Then back to Wisconsin, where he served as Banking Commissioner. Washington and Denver were next, when he served as Senate chief of staff and national campaign manager for his friend Gary Hart. As soon as possible, he returned to Wisconsin, where he joined a small civil rights firm with offices in Madison and Chicago. At the time, there were only nine partners but Bill found it powerful enough to allow him to pursue his passion. As a newspaper profile quoted him, “I sue large corporations on behalf of the people and groups who have been messed over.” The nine partners also had one attorney who was of counsel, a Harvard grad named Barack Obama.

He hated injustice but he loved his family. He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Amy (Eberhardt); two children from his first marriage, Bill and Meaghan; Meaghan’s husband, Brad Clawsie; grandchildren, William Patrick Hill-Dixon, Haley and Ethan Clawsie; his great-grandson, Will Dixon; and his loving siblings, Pat M. Doyle, Thomas J. Dixon and his wife, Frances, Amber M. Dixon, and John L. Dixon. He was preceded in death by his son, Michael; his parents, William Joseph and Monica Lahiff Dixon; and his beloved brother-in-law, George Doyle.

A celebration of Bill’s life will be held in Madison when the sun shines brighter. In lieu of flowers, people are encouraged to donate to anyone involved in a good fight.

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson East

Funeral & Cremation Care

5203 Monona Drive

(608) 221-5420