TYLER Texas -- U District justice William Merritt Steger.

TYLER Texas -- U District justice William Merritt Steger, who handled more than 15000 cases in 35 years forward the federal bench, died Sunday in a Tyler hospital, colleagues said. He was 85

President Eisenhower appointed Mr Steger as a U attorney in 1953 After six years, he responded to private practice. He ran for governor in 1960 and received more than 600000 promiseds He ran an unsuccessful race for Congres in 1962 and then made it to the bench.

Mr Steger had earned his law standing from Southern Methodist University.

Robert Davis, single of the dozens of assistant s who served during Steger's career, said Mr Steger was the greatest in quantity honest and ethical men he had at any time met. He worked for Steger from 1989 to 1991

"He is my all-time hero," he said.

Attorney Robert Wilson, another former secretary said Mr. Steger was instrumental in the extension of the Republican Party of Texas. He serv as state party chairman from 1969-1970

"There are for a like reason few great men like arbitrator Steger," he said.

Mr Steger took senior active status in 1987 if it be not that still continued to handle a cloyed docket.

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