Lewis Roca Retired Alumni Bill Johnson Receives 2022 Founders Medal from Alma Mater 

Honors & Recognitions

06/29/2022

Lewis Roca congratulates retired Partner, William (Bill) Johnson, who was a recipient of the 2022 Founder’s Medal by his alma mater, Coe College. This award is Coe College’s highest honor, granted by the board of trustees to those of “rare and exceptional distinction.” Johnson graduated from Coe College in 1953 and received his J.D. from the University of Colorado in 1958. Throughout his career, Johnson received national recognition in two fields, banking & law. He is known for pioneering the “one bank holding company” concept, which ‎has been used by banks throughout the United States. He also developed a number of innovative financial tools which financial institutions still use today. In his legal practice, Johnson provided representation and advice to banking clients on ‎formation, operation, and the financing of financial institutions, ‎acquisitions, mergers, and sale transactions as well as internal ‎changes of ownership. He also provided extensive litigation advice to financial institution ‎clients. Johnson was awarded this medal due to his great professional accomplishments and his generous philanthropy. He and his wife Linda have endowed 2 scholarships at Coe College, one for students in Iowa and one for students in Colorado. His gifts and scholarships have touched countless Coe students, and made an everlasting impact on the College.

One of Johnson’s long-time partners and close friend, Jim Lyons, described the many attributes leading to Johnson’s success during the Coe College award ceremony which can be viewed here beginning at minute 25:15. All of our former and current colleagues at Lewis Roca congratulate Johnson on this prestigious award.

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