Judge Willam J. Wolf
1877 - 1966
To his face, they respectfully addressed him as “Judge Wolf”; behind his back, he was affectionately known as “Bootie,” and it’s doubtful that a Saginaw public servant ever had more friends. William J. Wolf was born in Saginaw, August 27, 1877, and he was an enthusiastic and convincing hometown booster throughout a long and colorful life.
He was graduated from Saginaw High School and received his law degree from the University of Michigan in 1899. While at the university, he was a fast, slick-fielding shortstop on the varsity baseball team with a batting average to match his glovework. From 1893 to 1906, he played semi-pro and professional baseball in Michigan and neighboring states.
Later, he operated an east side billiards parlor and a well-patronized adjunct, “Bootie’s Messenger Service,” which did dry cleaning, pressing, clothing repair and delivered packages and messages. A downtown institution, it was headquarters for anyone interested in the latest baseball scores and other sports information.
The judge was always interested in baseball and was never happier than when he had a chance to chat with old baseball teammates and cronies from his playing days. He kept informed of the progress of important games, even when presiding over his court.
In the 1920s he served four years as a member of the Saginaw County Board of Supervisors and six years as a member of the old City Commission, predecessor of the present council-manager form of municipal government.
He was appointed a municipal judge in 1930, was elected the next year and was reelected every time he ran after that, winning his last term when he was almost 80 years old. Not surprisingly, Judge Wolf was considered to be one of Saginaw’s all-time winning vote-getters. In his 35 years on the bench, most of his errors were on the human side. He listened to plenty of phony hard-luck stories from those asking clemency from his court. Some fooled him and received an undeserved light sentence or probation, but Bootie always felt good about giving a first offender a break. He was never too busy to listen to family troubles and to help as much as he could. He personally straightened out many family situations with counsel that was as genuinely friendly as it was wise.
He was a leader in various traffic safety organizations and was chairman of the Saginaw County National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, a member of the Saginaw County and Michigan Bar Associations, the University of Michigan “M” Club, Germania Club, Pioneer Club and the Knights of Columbus. A devout churchgoer, he was a member of St. Andrew’s Church.
One of the proudest occasions in his life was on his 85th birthday when 200 friends and acquaintances gathered to help him celebrate. Another was in 1954 when he was honored by the Michigan State Bar Association as a 50-year member.
Still another unforgettable experience occurred in 1965 when he saw his grandson, John W. Wolf Jr. admitted to the Saginaw County Bar as the third generation in the family to have that distinction.
He was married to Catherine J. Edwards of Toledo, Ohio, on November 26, 1902. She died in 1947. They had six children: Mrs. Anthony Kaufman, Mrs. Norman Furstenberg, Mrs. Eugene Witchger, Miss Mary Wolf and Miss Kathryn Wolf and John W. Wolf.
Judge Wolf died September 23, 1966.
Paying tribute to his colleague, Mayor Pro Tem Henry Marsh said, “…most people find a visit to a municipal judge a most difficult experience. Judge Wolf dealt with them in such a way that he created a lasting impression of what justice really is.”