It's Not the Destination . . . It's the Journey

H.A. "Skip" Walther
Walther, Antel, Stamper & Fischer, P.C.
Columbia

A little defensiveness seems to creep in whenever someone asks: “How is it that YOU got to be [fill in the blank]?” All of us hear this from time to time from our friends, usually after some successful project or event that contradicts their world view. Many attorneys hear the question relative to their representation of a famous client or to a lucrative conclusion to a case that received publicity. For me, the latest rendition of this question ends with “Bar President?” In the past, it was some tennis accomplishment that began this colloquy for me, as I have spent more than a few hours engaged in competitive tennis.

I want to tell you that my tennis career took off when I defeated John McEnroe one day many years ago, and that I honed my stroke production by regularly drilling with Andre Agassi, but I cannot, because I don’t think I was ever within three states of either of them while holding a racket.

The same cannot be said of our Immediate Past President and basketball fanatic – Tom Burke. Those of you who know Tom have no doubt heard about the day (actually two) that he took Larry Bird to the hoop, or the day he got in a fight with Joe Montana on a basketball court, or the day when he showed up Willie Wilson in the lane. If he hasn’t told you about these exploits, make sure you ask him. You know: “You dunked on Larry Bird?” He says the tales are true, but it doesn’t matter, because the storytelling is spectacular. I just haven’t seen any pictures.

But isn’t it odd that an achievement on or in court invariably engenders the raised eyebrow and incredulous inquiry? So here is why I am the one writing this article, and it does not involve a Burkian legend about F. Lee Bailey or Racehorse Haynes.

I have been very fortunate: to be the son of a legal secretary who worked for some of the best attorneys in the state, and who has shown me great patience and love; to be the stepson of Scott Wright, a legendary federal judge with an acute and unwavering sense of right and wrong; to be friends with a host of truly exemplary legal pros such as Herb Willbrand, Dale Doerhoff, Lou Leonatti, Judge Ann Covington, Maurice Graham, Lou Cottey, Gary Stamper and others who demonstrated what it is to practice law with great dignity; to have fine partners like Stamper and Rusty Antel and Marsha Fischer; and perhaps I was most fortunate to attend law school at the University of Missouri when some of the finest legal scholars in the nation were teaching there, such as William Fratcher, Elwood Thomas and Joe Covington.

I opened a solo practice in Columbia in 1988, and my good fortune continued. One local attorney – Dave Knight – started referring clients to me on a very regular basis, sometimes multiple clients in a single day, simply because he wanted to help. That kind of friendship kept my mortgage current. Fortunately for me, there were several others whose friendship I enjoyed and who were willing to elect me to the Board of Governors. Becoming an officer requires the assent of a majority of governors, and many years of their friendship all played a part in achieving this post.

Along the way, I published the local county bar newsletter and aired TV segments on legal issues and hosted a radio talk show and volunteered on several boards and commissions. Invariably for most attorneys, serving on a board leads to the chairmanship or presidency. That type of experience is both invaluable and apparent, and does wonders for a law practice. It also serves to enhance the true image of lawyers, which is that of service to community.

Perhaps another answer is that it took time and effort and energy. Can there be real achievement in any endeavor without these factors? While it took my time and effort and energy, it also took many, many friends. I had an uncle who practiced law in Boone County for many years prior to his death, and he made it very clear how proud he was to be an attorney, how his most valued friends were attorneys, and how the bar was the finest organization to which he belonged. He was right.

Enjoying the practice of law and bar work has led me to this honor and I relish the opportunities to serve our bar that the next year will bring.