Springs attorney killed in Illinois after being hit by car while cycling
A prominent Colorado Springs adoption attorney, former Colorado Springs School District 11 board member and avid cyclist was killed Saturday when he was hit by a car in Pontoon Beach, Ill.
William Thomas Beltz, known to his friends as Tom, was riding a bike behind his wife when he was hit by a car while crossing a road, according to the Belleville News Democrat. He was pronounced dead at a hospital. Witnesses said that the 84-year-old driver of the car had a green light and police said that no charges are expected to be filed. Beltz was 64.
“There’s a hole in all of our hearts, it’s just a shock that he’s gone,” said John Sabo, a friend and former business partner of Beltz. Sabo said his friend died doing what he loved. Beltz and his wife took their bikes on vacation with them as often as possible and had ridden all across the country. They had logged more than 60,000 miles on the bicycles.
Beltz was well-known in Colorado Springs and had 35 years' experience as an attorney. At the time of his death he was a partner at the law firm Beltz & West, which he co-owned with Daniel West.
Sabo said Beltz was one of the first attorneys to develop an expertise in private adoptions when parents who wanted to give up their child went through an attorney instead of an agency. He completed almost 3,000 adoptions, Sabo said.
“He had done a lot of great things as a lawyer,” said West, his partner. “He was a very dedicated attorney and just a great guy.”
Along with his work as an attorney, Beltz was active in the community. He was a former member of the District 11 school board as well as the Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission.
He grew up in Michigan, where he received a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University in 1970. He received his law degree from Washington University in 1973.
Beltz is survived by Mary, his wife, and their sons, Bill and Mick.
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