Simon, << SY muhn, >> William Edward (1927-2000), served as secretary of the treasury of the United States from 1974 to 1977. President Richard M. Nixon had appointed Simon deputy secretary of the treasury in 1972. In 1973, Nixon named him administrator of the Federal Energy Office (FEO). Simon held both offices until confirmed by the Senate as secretary of the treasury in May 1974. In September 1974, President Gerald R. Ford appointed him to an additional post, chairman of the Economic Policy Board. In that role, Simon served as Ford’s chief adviser on economic policy.
Simon was born on Nov. 27, 1927, in Paterson, New Jersey. He graduated from Lafayette College in 1951 and joined a New York City brokerage firm in 1952. From 1964 to 1973, he was a partner in an investment banking firm.
After leaving government service in 1977, Simon returned to investment banking. Simon was a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee for more than 30 years. He served as committee treasurer from 1977 to 1981 and as president of the committee from 1981 to 1985. He wrote A Time for Truth (1978) and A Time for Action (1980). Simon died on June 3, 2000.
