William H. McElnea Jr. ’44
William H. McElnea Jr. ’44 died in Colorado on September 10, 2010. Bill was a prominent and active member of the class, serving through the years in many positions: class treasurer, co-chair of the reunion committee, agent for the Alumni Fund and most recently president of the class (2005-09). He was a member of the all-Dartmouth WW II Navy fighting squadron called the Dartmouth Indian Unit. After four and a half years as a pilot he returned to Tuck School and then started his financial career on Wall Street. Bill’s prominent business career included years at Bankers Trust Co. and Empire Trust Co. in New York. He was a partner in Van Alstyne, Noel and Co., a New York investment banking company, and director and later president of Caesars World Inc., based in Los Angeles. After retirement Bill continued to serve on charitable boards, as well as his class involvement, and he and his wife, Barbara, traveled extensively. In the 50th reunion book Bill was quoted regarding the highlights in his life: “The material ones don’t really seem like highlights now. The past few years spent at our ranch in the high Rockies have been the most important: time with my wonderful wife, creating a beautiful ranch out of sage brush and empty land; luxuriating in the snow-covered mountains and the ‘simple’ life.” Barbara survives him, as do his sons Jeffrey ’71 and John. He will be remembered with military honors in Point Loma, California.
