What does a life of quiet leadership, unshakable integrity, and tireless advocacy really look like?
William Allen Quinlan: His Life and Times
paints an extraordinary portrait of a legal mind and moral force who shaped policy and lives from behind the scenes. Born in 1909, Quinlan became the first editor-in-chief of the University of Chicago Law Review, co-authored the Code of Fair Competition for the baking industry under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and spent four decades as a Washington attorney championing America’s small businesses before Congress and federal agencies.
A poet, family man, devout Catholic, and lifelong Republican, Quinlan lived at the intersection of law, faith, politics, and public service. He married twice, raised three children, and found joy in golf, hunting, and fishing. With his Irish-born second wife, he remained deeply involved in Irish-American affairs through the Ancient Order of Hibernians. But his later years were marked by tragedy, following an accident that shadowed his final days.
Told by his son with deep reverence and insight, this biography captures the legacy of a man who lived honorably, spoke wisely, and worked tirelessly for others. Rich in historical context, family legacy, and political advocacy, it will resonate with readers of legal biography, Irish-American history, and stories of quiet but impactful lives.
Discover the story of a man who stood for the “little guy”—and never stopped fighting for justice.