Alan Sparks Ward, ’55, 1931-2024
Alan Sparks Ward
Alan Sparks Ward was born on January 1, 1931 in Wilmington, DE. He graduated from Alexis I. DuPont High School, where he won a scholarship to attend Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT. At Wesleyan, he earned his A.B. in English and developed a lifelong love for the theater, taking the train into New York City for as many shows as he could fit into a weekend. He continued this theater tradition with his family throughout his life. He considered becoming an English teacher before deciding on the law, earning his J.D. from the University of Chicago in 1955. While a law student, he supported himself by bartending and driving a cab. He served in government as Law Clerk for U.S. District Judge Richard Rodney in Wilmington; Assistant Chief of the Special Litigation Section at the U.S. Department of Justice; and Director of the Bureau of Competition at the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. In private practice, Alan was frequently involved in grand jury and other criminal and civil proceedings, and his trial work included representing clients charged with a variety of crimes in the 1968 riots. He joined Baker & Hostetler, LLC as a partner in the 1970s, practicing antitrust law until he retired in 2001, after which he continued to work as a consultant and lecturer, staying on top of the legal issues of the day. He loved the law and the opportunities it gave him to connect with people in so many vocations. He particularly enjoyed defending his Alma Mater Wesleyan in antitrust litigation. His breadth of knowledge and strong ethics earned him praise from all who had the pleasure of working with him. He was the author of publications on antitrust, a sought after speaker at Bar Association events, and in 2000-2001, served as president of the Soap and Detergent Association.
Read more at The Washington Post