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B UCKE YE B ARRISTERS A HISTORY OF THE 12 5YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE LEGAL PROFESSION contents Special appreciation to William R. Van Aken for the original comprehensive 100-year 7 Preface history he and his colleagues prepared in 1980 that served as the foundation for this 125- year edition. Julia A. Osborne, Esq., Author Part 1 Contributing editors for the 2005 edition of Buckeye Barristers include: Richard C. Bannister Kenneth A. Brown, Esq. 19 Chapter 1: Ohio State Bar Association—First Steps Colleen Buggy Debby Cooper 23 Chapter 2: Beginnings of the Ohio State Bar Association Denny L. Ramey Nina Sferra 25 Chapter 3: The Early Years William K. Weisenberg, Esq. * * * 31 Chapter 4: A New Decade Copyright © 2005 by Ohio State Bar Association 35 Chapter 5: A New Century, A New World All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this work in any form whatsoever without permission in writing from the publisher, except for brief passages in connection 41 Chapter 6: War and More with a review. For information, please write: 51 Chapter 7: How the ’2 0s Roared The Donning Company Publishers 184 Business Park Drive, Suite 206 Virginia Beach, Virginia 23462-6533 61 Chapter 8: Voices of the Depression Steve Mull, General Manager 69 Chapter 9: Wartime Mentality and Recovery Barbara Buchanan, Office Manager Kathleen Sheridan, Senior Editor 73 Chapter 10 : Into the Jet Age Dan Carr and Andrea L. W. Eisenberger, Graphic Designers Stephanie Bass and Lynn Parrott, Imaging Artists 79 Chapter 11: Home Sweet Home Mary Ellen Wheeler, Proofreader Scott Rule, Director of Marketing Travis Gallup, Marketing Coordinator 85 Chapter 12 : Leading to a Century of Service Anne Cordray, Project Research Coordinator Dennis Walton, Project Director P art 2 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Osborne, Julia L. 93 Preface to Part 2 Buckeye barristers : 125 years of service : a history of the Ohio State Bar Association / by Julia L. Osborne. p. cm. 95 Chapter 13 : Beginning the Second Century ISBN 1-57864-300-7 (alk. pape r) 1. Ohio State Bar Association—History. 2. Bar associations—Ohio—History. I. Title. 97 Chapter 14 : The Association on Alert kf332.o35.o3546 2005 340’.0 6’0771—dc22 107 Chapter 15: Better Relations and a New Plan 2005000480 Published in the United States of America by Walsworth Publishing Company 117 Chapter 16 : Casemaker, Public Education and More 125 Chapter 17 : Building for the Future 133 Chapter 18 : So Many Changes, So Little Time 147 Chapter 19 : The 21st Century—2000 to the Present pre face 157 Chapter 20 : How a Bill Becomes a Law— with Help from the Association 165 Chapter 21 : A Sum of the Parts 177 Chapter 22 : The Affiliates 187 Chapter 23 : Law Practice Today … and Tomorrow s a visiting judge for ohio’s common pleas A courts, H on. Richard M. Markus does not mince words. “The Ohio State Bar Association,” he says, “provides greater services to its members than any other organization.” Markus, who was president of the Association in 1991 –1992 , retired from his position as senior litigator for Porter Wright Morris and Arthur, Cleveland, in 1998 and works now about half-time, serving on the bench in 27 counties throughout the state. He goes on to say of the Association, “Its activities are unheard of in other states.” Ohio lawyers and other legal professionals generally agree with this characterization of the Ohio State Bar Association. The voluntary Association represents approximately 26 ,000 members of the bench and bar in Ohio, as well as nearly 5,000 law students and 550 paralegals. According to attorney Thomas M. Taggart, of counsel to Heather G. Sowald, Columbus, representative of the 2001–2004 OSBA Board Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease, Columbus, and president of the of Governors; OSBA president, 2004–2005. Asso ci ation for the 1997 –1998 term, the organization is “more entre preneurial and more forward-thinking in terms of services to its members than any other association I know. And it has been equally strong in thinking of ways to increase non-dues revenue …. A very significant percentage of Ohio lawyers look to it for all sorts of services.” At the ripe old age of 125 , the Association is more active than ever. The organization that had its beginnings in a meeting hall in Cleveland in March 1880 has evolved into one of the strongest bar associations in the United States with clear and comprehensive services for all attorneys who choose to join, with a commitment to providing the public with legal information— and with a vision for the future. Services to all Both the young lawyer needing to find a particular cite to seal a position on a first case and the seasoned practitioner who wants 7 to meet with peers and discuss general legal philosophies are well vention, and even organized recreational travel. Its pub lications served by the Association. It offers new research tech niques as include the award-winning bimonthly Ohio Lawyer magazine well as strong advice and assistance to the legislature regarding and the weekly Ohio State Bar Association Report, published issues of importance to the legal community. It serves both its since 1928 , as well as newsletters and numerous electronic members and the public by promoting high standards in the publications. (The Ohio State Bar Association is the only administration of justice and the practice of law. association in the country to provide a weekly publication Others familiar with the Association point to more positives. including case sum mar ies, legislative reports, and other up-to- “I first joined in ’ 75 or ’ 76 ,” says Kathleen B. Burke, a partner the-minute legal information to its members.) with Jones Day, Cleveland, who became the group’s first female president in 1993 . “One of the senior partners here got me involved.” Burke says, “The group improves the public percep- Building appeal tion of lawyers, not just with public relations cam paigns, but The Association is housed in a comfortable yet sophisticated with activities that help increase the public understanding of the building that opened in 1991 , steps away from a scenic river- law. It helps make the legal system accessible to all.” bank and minutes from the state’s capitol. A plaque just inside the Burke still serves on two state bar committees while devoting three-story, Williamsburg-style structure praises the time and ad ditional time as an Ohio delegate to the American Bar effort expended by Leslie W. Jacobs, the Association’s president Association. She continues, “The Association helps lawyers to for the 1986 –1987 year, to make the building a reality. Kathleen B. Burke, Cleveland, Hon. Richard M. Markus, Cleveland, representative of the 1989–1992 OSBA Board become familiar with, and take advantage of, the technology representative of the 1986–1989 OSBA Board Jacobs, a partner with Thompson Hine, Cleveland, explains of Governors; OSBA president, 1993–1994. that’s now available in practice.” She cites in particular the of Governors; OSBA president, 1991–1992. the philosophy behind the inviting structure. “This was going to BELOW : Keith A. Ashmus, Cleveland, Casemaker Web Library, an online legal research tool that pro- be our home,” he recalls. “We wanted it to feel that way when we representative of the 1998–2001 OSBA Board vides attorneys with access to the law libraries of Ohio and walk in the door.” of Governors; OSBA president, 2003–2004. numerous other states via computer. “This is a marvelous building,” Burke says. “The building is Other longtime members praise the Association’s legislative conducive to improving the Association’s operations. It has work. “The Association picks up on comprehensive initiatives and enhanced and helped many areas. For example, the technology starts new ones,” says Keith A. Ashmus, a partner with Frantz growth that we have experienced simply would not have been Ward, Cleveland, and president of the Association for the 2003 – possible” in the old offices. 2004 term. “It’s been a continuation of good works.” Denny L. Ramey, OSBA executive director. “Complete credit” to the staff Organizations and benefits No matter how grand the facility, the Association could not Current Association President Heather G. Sowald, of Sowald, function without an experienced and adaptable staff. Denny L. Sowald and Clouse, Columbus, has served on the As sociation’s Ramey, hired in March 1980 as assistant executive director, has Council of Delegates since 1986 . She began practicing law in 1979 . served as executive director since July 1986 . “I give complete She notes the broad impact of the Association through its credit to Denny Ramey for our position today,” Markus says own programs and those of its affiliates. “The Ohio Bar Liability simply. Taggart agrees that because of Ramey’s leadership, the Insurance Company, with its complete insurance packages, and Association is “forward-thinking, solving problems before they the Association’s affordable and accessible continuing legal become problems.” education classes let our lawyers take care of necessary require- Ramey, the first executive director who is a certified associa- ments and focus on what’s really important to them—the practice tion executive (CAE) rather than an attorney, came to the of law. The Association’s goal is to make membership in it Association with seven years of professional association work indispensable to Ohio law yers. When they benefit, so do our behind him. The Portsmouth native, who is active in the justice system, our community and our families.” National Association of Bar Executives, received his MBA from Other Association benefits include special programs and Capital University. support for young lawyers, meetings and retreats, an annual con- 8 BUCKEYE BARRISTER S : 125 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE LEGAL PROFESSION PREFACE 9 Ramey is modest but honest about the Association’s growth Judiciary Committee and left that position to join the under his leadership.