Bill Mattoon, known as a quiet, docile guy, could be “flat scary” in plays he was in with the Impossible Players of Pueblo.
Mattoon, a well-known trial lawyer who usually did corporate work, was just as good in the courtroom, said former U.S. Rep. Ray Kogovsek of Pueblo. Mattoon died at 82 after fighting Parkinson’s disease for several years.
“He was the epitome of a good lawyer,” said Kogovsek, “because he fought tooth and toenail for his client. And he never left bad blood between him and another lawyer.”
Mattoon was longtime attorney for the Pueblo Water Board.
“He loved trial work and was very good at it,” said Jim Gerler, an attorney friend.
The Impossible Players, sometimes called the Imps, was formed more than 45 years ago by a handful of people, including Mattoon, who liked to meet and read plays together.
Once night, a member said, “We ought to stage a play,” said Mattoon’s daughter Tracey Mattoon-Amos of Pueblo.
Another member said, “That’s impossible.” And the name was born.
They first acted on the second floor of a storefront and now have a home in a former church.
“Bill had a great face, thought he looked like Walter Matthau and always wanted to be the leading man,” said former theater colleague Michael Lynch. “But he was always cast as the villain, and he made it look very easy. When we did ‘Wait Until Dark,’ he was flat scary.”
“He was a showman,” Kogovsek said.
The Imps put on four shows a year. Two generations of Mattoons have followed Bill Mattoon and acted with the Imps.
William F. Mattoon was born in Albuquerque on April 29, 1929.
He graduated from the University of Colorado law school and was a judge advocate general for the Air Force.
He told people he had thought of a career onstage but chose the law instead.
He married Laura Dietert on Aug. 3, 1957.
In addition to his wife and daughter, he is survived by two other daughters, Judy Mina of Colorado Springs and Leslie Street of Littleton; his son, Rick Mattoon of Pueblo; and eight grandchildren.
Virginia Culver: 303-954-1223 or vculver@denverpost.com
