William Ashby McCloy was born in Baltimore, Maryland on January 2, 1913 to Charles Herald and Anna McCloy, the second of five children. The family moved to Blendon, Ohio when he was a child. He traveled to China with his family when he was 15, which opened him to a world view. At age 17 he was studying at a prep school in White Plains, New York. McCloy then studied at the State University of Iowa, between 1930 and 33 where he received a B.A. in Art. He ultimately earned 4 degrees, including a Masters Degree in Fine Art from the University of Iowa, during which he studied printmaking with Mauricio Lasansky. McCloy married Patricia Hill in Cedar Rapids in 1936. He enlisted in the service in October of 1943 at Camp Dodge in Iowa.

He had a forty year teaching career at Drake University, the Universities of Wisconsin and Manitoba, ending his career as Chairman of the Art Department at Connecticut College between 1954 and 1972. He was a recipient of the Connecticut College Medal, which he also designed. He was active in civic matters.

William Ashby McCloy died in Uncasville, Connecticut on June 3, 2000.