Will (Bill) Leonard, former Chairman of the US International Trade Commission, died at the age of 83 on January 2, 2019, in his home in Shepherdstown, West Virginia.

Originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, Bill was the son of Will Leonard and Nellie Kenner. He graduated from Tulane University in 1956 and Tulane Law School in 1958 and moved to Washington, DC that year to take a position as legislative aide to Senator Russell Long of Louisiana. After serving under Senator Long for five years, Bill earned an advanced law degree from Harvard Law School before returning to Washington to work on the Senate Finance Committee.

In 1968, Bill was appointed to the Tariff Commission by President Lyndon Johnson. He served on the Commission until 1977, during which time he became Chairman of the renamed US International Trade Commission. He entered private practice and remained active in the international trade legal community, most recently as a partner with Adduci, Mastriani and Schaumberg LLP.

Bill enjoyed Cajun cuisine and cheering on local DC sports teams, but more than anything, he loved spending time with his family.

He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Maureen; his children Will (Nancy), Beth (Jim), Robert (Amy), Stephen (Odile), Christopher (Raquel), Colleen (Danny) and Leigh (Marcus); grandchildren Katie, Sara, Skye, Lindsay, Scott, Owen, Luke, Christelle, Nellie, Ariane and Eliza; and great-grandchild Will.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, January 11 at 11 AM at St. Bartholomew’s Church at 6900 River Road in Bethesda, MD, where visitation will begin at 10 AM.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Hospice of the Panhandle (www.hospiceotp.org/donate/).

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Will E. "Bill" Leonard, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.