William Brandom

WILLIAM S. BRANDOM William S. Brandom, a lifelong resident
of Clay County, MO, died July 4, 2001. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m.
Saturday, July 7, at the Hillside Christian Church, 900 NE Vivion Road, Kansas
City, MO. Private entombment at Mount Moriah Terrace Park Cemetery. Friends may
call 6-8 p.m. Friday at the McGilley Antioch Chapel. In lieu of flowers, the
family suggests contributions to the Hillside Christian Church Brandom Concert
Series. Bill Brandom was born October 18, 1927, in Kansas City, MO. He grew up
in Liberty and graduated Liberty High School. Bill served in World War II in the
United States Navy, serving in the Philippine Islands and was recalled to active
duty in the Naval reserve and assigned to the First Marine Division, Fleet
Marine Force, during the Korean War. He served in the Invasion of Inchon and was
wounded at the Chongiin Reservoir, where he was a recipient of the Purple Heart.
In 1949, Bill was married to Elizabeth Ann Johnson, granddaughter of W.D.
Johnson, former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of William Jewell College. In
1952, Bill graduated from William Jewell College, receiving a B.A. degree. In
1955, he received his law degree from the Cumberland School of Law of Samford
University. Bill was a member of the Kappa Alpha Order and the Phi Alpha Delta
legal fraternity. While in law school he was elected to Who's Who in American
Colleges and Universities, received the Law Student Achievement Award of the
Wall Street Journal and graduated the valedictorian in his class. Bill practiced
law from 1957 to 1968 when he was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Clay County.
Bill was known statewide for his toughness on the war against drugs, writers of
bad checks and those that failed to pay child support. The departments that he
designed were used as prototypes in many other county jurisdictions across the
United States. Because of Bill Brandom, Clay County became a place where
criminals tried to avoid. In 1983, Bill retired from the Prosecuting Attorney
position. Bill Brandom was a member of the Clay County Bar Association, the
Kansas City Bar Association and the American Bar Association. He was admitted to
practice law before the United States District Court and the United States
Supreme Court. In 1983, Bill was the recipient of the "Clarence Kelley Law
Administrator of the Year" award. In February, 1994, he was appointed Presiding
Commissioner of Clay County by Governor Mel Carnahan, where he served until
December, 1994. As a result of Bill Brandom's many years of dedicated service to
Clay County, the Law Enforcement Center in Liberty, MO, was dedicated in his
name in January, 2000. Bill was a member of Hillside Christian Church for more
than 30 years and served as elder, trustee, board chairman, Stewardship and
Finance Chairman and legal counsel. During their time together, Bill and his
wife Ann enjoyed traveling to many parts of the world. Their favorite spot was
Hawaii where they spent many winter months together. Bill was preceded in death
by the love of his life, his wife of 49 years, Elizabeth Ann Brandom, his
parents, Thomas Martin Brandom II, and a granddaughter Elizabeth Ann Brandom. He
leaves many friends including five children and their spouses, Bill and Cindy
Brandom, Placentia, CA, Bob and Linda Brandom, Parkville, MO, Debbie and Loren
Miller, Cincinnati, OH, Laura and Mike Couch, Kansas City, Scott and Susan
Brandom, Kansas City, his brother, Richard Brandom, Sikeston, MO, and his
sister, Jane Heilbron, Overland Park, KS, plus 14 grandchildren, Melody, Dustin
and Brooke Brandom, Matt and Sally Brandom, Jason Merrill, Brandie and Cody
Miller, Steven, Stephanie and Kevin Couch, and Joshua, Joel and Jacob Brandom.
(Arrangements: McGilley Antioch Chapel)
