Legal Practice Hall of Fame Class of 2023: William M. Claytor
William M. Claytor (“Bill”), born 1941 – began his educational journey at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee, continued at Truman University in Missouri, and then at University of Memphis, where he received a master’s degree and subsequently his Juris Doctorate. In 2008 he attended UNCC for a second master’s degree.
In 1979, he was employed in Charlotte by the Internal Revenue Service, as an Estate Tax Attorney. In 1973 he joined the Charlotte Law Firm of Haynes, Baucom & Chandler where, after fifty (50) years he continues to practice – now known as Baucom, Claytor, Benton, Morgan & Wood, P. A. His areas of practice include; Estate Planning, Estate Administration, Elder Law, and Business Planning.
Bill has served the Mecklenburg County Bar since 1972, serving on its Board of Directors, and as President in 1996. He served on the Mecklenburg Bar Foundation beginning in 1990 and was its Vice Chairman for two (2) years.
He chaired two (2) capital campaigns for the Mecklenburg County Bar, raising funds for the Bar Center as well as its Library. He also served on the Law Day and Society Committee. Bill was Mecklenburg’s Bar’s ABA representative in 1998 and served as the N. C. State Bar Council for nine (9) years and the Disciplinary Hearing Commission for three (3) years.
Bill’s community service activities are numerous including Central Piedmont Community College’s (CPCC’s) Board of Trustees for seventeen (17) years, and as Chairman for ten (10) of those years; serving on the boards of Goodwill Industries, The Alzheimer’s Association, the YMCA, Habitat for Humanity, and chairing the YMCA’s Prayer Breakfast Committee for ten (10) years. He has been a devoted Red Cross Platelet & Plasma Donor with over 1100 donations throughout his life.
He was the recipient of the North Carolina Order of the Longleaf Pine in 2016; the Louise M. Martin Award in 1995; an Olympic Torch Bearer in 1996, and 1978 Outstanding Young Men in America Award.
Bill was an adjunct instructor of American Literature at CPCC for twelve (12) years and a Deacon and Sunday School Teacher at his church for over forty (40) years.
Bill is married to Anne E. Claytor, and they have two (2) sons, Justin and Graham. They reside in Charlotte, NC.