Alanson Work Willcox (July 30, 1901 – April 27, 1978)[2] was an American lawyer who served as general counsel to the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare.
During that period an important part of his role involved ensuring that the Social Security Act could be defended against constitutional challenges.
[1] In the sixties he was appointed as general counsel to the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare[4] and was deeply involved in the Social Security Amendments of 1965 which resulted in creation of the Medicare program.
Amongst those he climbed with were Bill House[6] (who was a key member of the 1938 American Karakoram expedition to K2), Elizabeth Woolsey and his brother William B.
[7][8] As well as climbing in the European Alps,[1] he also joined Fritz Wiessner, Bill House and Elizabeth Woolsey in 1936 on an expedition to attempt the first ascent of Mount Waddington which, at the time, was Canada’s highest unclimbed peak at 4,019 m (13,186 ft).