William H. McNichols served for twenty-four years from 1931-1955, the longest term of anyone in Denver's history as city Auditor. Born in Nevada, Iowa on October 31, 1874 and raised on a farm in Nebraska, William came to Colorado in 1894 and settled in Aspen. His intention was to join his brother and pursue a career in mining. He had been inspired by early speeches concerning metal mining issues made by a young orator from Nebraska named William Jennings Bryan. McNichols was to recall later, "My first vote in a presidential election was for Bryan."
In 1901 Mr. McNichols began his fifty-year career in public service having been Elected Treasurer of Pitkin County. In 1904, he married Cassie Warner, the daughter of an Aspen attorney. The couple raised four children, two girls, Dolores and Rita, and two boys, William Jr., and Stephen. The two sons were one day to become Mayor of Denver and Governor of Colorado, respectively. Following his term as Pitkin county treasurer, he was elected to the office of county assessor.
In 1909, when Mr. McNichols' term as County Assessor had expired, the family moved from Aspen to Denver. Intending to leave the arena of public life, he took a job checking supplies at the Gibbons Construction Company. In 1911, William McNichols returned to public service accepting the position as Chief Clerk of the State Board of Land Commission. He remained in this position until 1917 when he was appointed Deputy State Auditor. He was named Deputy Secretary of State, holding this position until late 1920.
For the first three months of 1921, Mr. McNichols accepted a special assignment in the State Legislature to audit all outstanding state land issues. At this point, he attempted for the second time to retire form public service. But while in the process of finding another job, a call came from George Begole who had just been elected City Auditor. Asking McNichols (Billy or Mr. Mac as he was known by friends) to fill in temporarily as Deputy City Auditor. Exactly ten years later, in 1931, Begole, now the newly elected Mayor, appointed McNichols from Deputy City Auditor to City Auditor of Denver to fill the two remaining years on Begole's third term.
In 1933, Mr. McNichols, ran on his own for the office he already held as City Auditor and was overwhelmingly elected (as he was in four subsequent elections).
The citizens of Denver felt particularly safe knowing Bill McNichols was the "watchdog" of City government. They believed in McNichols' ability to safeguard the municipal funds. Committed to his duty by provision of the City Charter, he did in fact frequently clash with administrative and municipal officials concerning questionable expenditures.
A man of great integrity, Mr. McNichols never attempted to cloud over any personal controversies, always keeping in mind the legal provisions specified in the City Charter. In March, 1951 while seeking his fifth full term as Auditor, he was quoted by the Denver Post Newspaper as saying "I have served the good people of this splendid community for a period of time equal to five four-year terms. During those years I have, at times, differed with administrations upon matters of procedure. But never have such differences been based upon personalities, political considerations, or for any reason other than an honest difference of opinion as to whether or not the transactions involved were in harmony with requirements of the law under which operations of the City are to conform."
In addition to his responsibilities as Auditor, he was an active member of the Democratic Club, a past grand exalted ruler of the Elks, and a member of the Knights of Columbus, and the Eagles. In 1953, suffering a stroke from which he never completely recovered, he retired from office. In 1956, his son, Stephen McNichols, was elected Governor of Colorado. William McNichols died at the age of 84 on March 1, 1959 at his home on South Clarkson following a long illness. Thereafter, his other son, William H. McNichols, Jr., succeeded Tom, Currigan as Mayor of Denver.