Where were you born and raised, and what was your first job?
I was born in Chicago, and we moved to Oak Park when I was 10. I caddied for a couple of years when I was a freshman and sophomore in high school and made decent money for a 15-year-old kid. When I was 16, I started working part-time at a wholesale florist in Chicago where my dad was the manager. I worked there until I graduated from law school.
When and how did you decide to become an attorney?
I was always interested in history and law. I had a high school friend whose dad was a lawyer in Berwyn, and he would often talk to me and his son about his practice. He was a good guy and could spin a good yarn, and that kind of piqued my interest in becoming a lawyer.
What did you learn in law school and during your legal internships that has stayed with you?
I learned that you need to be prepared for anything you do with the law. I didn't do a lot of trial work, but you definitely have to be prepared for any kind of legal transaction. You need to spend the time that is necessary to do a good job for your clients.
What attracted you to the Brown, Hay & Stephens law firm?
I graduated from law school in 1972 and immediately started working for Chicago Title Insurance Company in Chicago. The people in my division would be sent to various offices of the company, and I remember being sent to Minneapolis during January when it was 10 degrees below zero. That made me certain that I didn't want to work in an office where it was really cold.
Then they sent me to Springfield twice because they were short a title examiner and asked if I would consider a transfer there. I talked to my wife to make sure she would be comfortable with that, and I took the position.
I got promoted to head up the Springfield office and got to know just about all of the lawyers in Springfield. I knew the Brown, Hay & Stephens lawyers were very good. I was very interested in the fact that they were the oldest law firm in Springfield and Abraham Lincoln was one of the first partners. I was kind of in the right place at the right time, because one of their attorneys who handled real estate transactions died suddenly, and the firm needed someone to come in and handle that kind of stuff. I spent 49 years with the firm, so it worked out fine for me.
Abraham Lincoln is the state's most famous attorney. What about his career as a lawyer do you admire?
I admire how he was really self-educated and was very honest. You've got to have the respect of your clients, and I think Lincoln had that respect throughout his career. Although he was a successful lawyer, Lincoln was a very humble guy and that really shone through.
What clients do you most remember from your career?
I was fortunate to work with Memorial Health and Springfield Clinic and did a lot of real estate and zoning work for them when they both expanded. I remember having to acquire the air rights for Springfield Clinic when they built the bridge building over Sixth Street. I warned them it might be a contentious issue, and it sure was.
One of the few jury trials I was involved with was with Consolidation Coal Company, which was being sued by a Montgomery County farmer who claimed its mining activities caused subsidence on his farm and hurt the value of his land. We had expert witnesses and the trial lasted several days. When it was over, the jury found in our favor. I just remember how tired and happy I was when the trial was over.
I've worked with other great local clients like Hanson (Professional Services) and developers like Charlie Adams and Frank Buraski. They were all just good people, and I enjoyed working with them.
How has the legal profession changed during your career?
It has changed immensely because of technology. When I started at Brown, Hay & Stephens we had one memory typewriter that could handle 300 words at a time. Most of our research was done by reading books. I remember when we first talked about getting a fax machine and asking if anybody would really use it. But the firm has always stayed ahead of the curve with technology.
Another big change is the number of female attorneys in the profession. We had hardly any female attorneys in Springfield when I started, but 20 years later about half of the law school graduates from my alma mater, Loyola University, were women.
Do you think the legal profession remains a noble calling?
I do. We'd often have discussions at partners' meetings about the practice of law, is it a business or a profession? It's really both, but we always tried to keep it a noble profession by doing the right and ethical things. I was always proud to be part of a firm with very high ethical standards.
What advice would you give to someone who is considering a legal career?
You need to be a good writer to be a good lawyer. You also need to be willing to work hard because it's not a nine to five job, for sure.
What may people be surprised to learn about you?
I promised my wife before we got married that someday we would have our own place with horses. Right now, we own five acres near Delavan where we keep our horses. That's really my wife's bailiwick; I was a much better lawyer than a ranch hand.
