C. William Fechtig

Rhine Ernest LLP welcomed C. William Fechtig as a partner on April 1, 2008. He is currently based in the Firm's Evansville, Indiana Office where his civil practice principally involves coal, oil and gas and real estate law. Bill resides in Evansville, Indiana, with his wife Frances. They have three daughters: Amy, who lives and works in Allen, Texas; Mary, also a lawyer, who lives and works in San Diego; and her twin sister Martha, also an Illini grad, who lives and works in Evansville. Prior to joining Rhine Ernest LLP, Mr. Fechtig served Of Counsel in the Henderson, Kentucky law office of Stoll Keenon Ogden PLLC from May 1, 2001, through March 31, 2008.

Mr. Fechtig earned a B.S. in Agriculture in 1952 and his J.D. in 1960, both from the University of Illinois. While in law school, he earned membership in The Order of the Coif, was a member of the University of Illinois Law Forum in 1958-1960 and Editor-in-Chief in 1959-1960.

Mr. Fechtig served on active duty as an infantry officer in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1952 to 1955 and was a Rifle Company Commander upon his release to inactive duty. He was in the Active Reserve from 1955-1957 and attained the rank of Captain in July, 1956. He was discharged in December of 1962.

Mr. Fechtig was a general practitioner in Carmi, Illinois, for twenty-seven years with an emphasis in real estate and mineral law, contracts, and appellate law. During this period of time, he also handled numerous major felony defense cases including nine murder trials and one capital murder trial.

In October 1987, Mr. Fechtig became In-House Counsel for Marathon Oil Company in the legal department of its Robinson, Illinois, refinery. With Marathon and later with Marathon Ashland Petroleum, LLC, Mr. Fechtig had primary responsibility for crude oil acquisition matters in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Michigan. He also served as primary attorney for Marathon Ashland Pipe Line, LLC regarding its real estate matters nationwide. He retired from Marathon on March 31, 2001.

In the year 2000, Mr. Fechtig helped establish the College of Law Class of 1960 Fortieth Reunion Endowed Scholarship (the first Endowed Scholarship established by any class of the law school) and recently established the C. William Fechtig Scholarship at the College of Law.

Bar Admissions

• State of Illinois
• U. S. Supreme Court
• U. S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals
• U. S. District Court, Southern District of Illinois
• U. S. District Court, Central District of Illinois

Areas of Practice

Coal, Oil and Gas Law; Real Estate Law; Contracts and Appellate Law.

Education

University of Illinois B.S. Agriculture, 1952; J.D., 1960; The Order of the Coif; University of Illinois Law Forum, 1958-1960; Editor-in-Chief, 1959-1960.

Memberships

• Illinois State Bar Association (Unauthorized Practice of Law and Grievance Committee)
• Mineral Law Section Council (Chairman 1998-1999)
• Attorney Registration Disciplinary Commission of the Supreme Court of Illinois (Inquiry and Review Boards)
• University of Illinois College of Law John E. Cribbet Society
• University of Illinois Presidents Council
• Energy and Mineral Law Foundation

Community Involvement

• Licensed Pastor of The United Methodist Church
• Pastor of a three church charge in southern White County, Illinois since 1987
• University of Illinois College of Law Board of Visitors (third term)
• Class of 1960 Fortieth Reunion Endowed Scholarship (Helped Establish)
• C. William Fechtig Scholarship at the College of Law (Established)