William Egan Colby
- Category : Law-CIA
- Type : GP
- Profile : 5/1 - Heretical / Investigator
- Definition : Split - Small (20)
- Incarnation Cross : LAX Individualism 2
Biography
American government official, attorney, diplomat and Director of the CIA. During WW II, Colby entered the U.S. Army, 1941-1945, where he was awarded the Silver Star and Bronze Star. He passed the New York State Bar in 1947 and worked as a lawyer 1947-1950. As an attaché with the American Embassy he served in Stockholm 1951-1953, Rome 1953-1958 and Saigon 1959-1962. He was Chief of the CIA Far East Division in Washington, DC, 1962-1967, and CIA Director 1973-976. In 1977, he entered into partnership in a law firm, making considerably more than he did when working for the government.
Colby is the author of a memoir, "Honorable Men, My Life in the CIA," 1978. He also wrote a book on Vietnam, "Lost Victory," 1989. He never really liked the business of spying. A devout Christian and rigid Catholic, he was a stern and precise man.
He married in 1945 with five kids; one died. In the early '80s his marriage broke down, and he made a second marriage.
His body was found 5/06/1996 on a marshy riverbank on the Wicomico River near Rock Point, MD, after missing for a week on a camping vacation. At his cabin, the computer was still running and a glass of wine was on the sink. He had talked to his wife and told her he was going out in the canoe, and it was speculated that he had a heart attack while taking out the canoe.