The following several pages honor members of the Idaho State Bar who have been admitted for 75, 70, 60, and 50 years. We do our best to reach everyone on this list to include their comments. Thank you to all who submitted material to be included in this section of the magazine.

Milestone Awards: 75 Years

James C. Blanton went to the University of Idaho College of Law. James lives in Boise.

Milestone Awards: 70 Years

Robert E. Bakes

Justice Bakes is a graduate of University of Idaho School of Law in 1956, the first class to graduate. He has had a very full career including being an instructor at University of Illinois Law School, Deputy prosecuting attorney for Ada County, tax attorney with the Idaho Attorney General’s office, Assistant United States Attorney for Idaho, seven years of private practice in Boise, 21 years as a Justice an Chief Justice of the Idaho Supreme Court and finally 20 years of post-judicial service as an arbitrator and mediator in Boise and across the country.

Justice Bakes all was chairman of the Appellate Judges Conference of the American Bar Association, Chairman and Faculty of the Appellate Judges Conference Judges Education Program, and President of the Idaho Law Foundation.

In his free time, Judge Bakes enjoyed being a musician with the Boise Philharmonic Orchestra and the Meridian Idaho Symphony, as well as a musician in the orchestras of several Boise Music Week productions. He also sang with the Boise Master Chorale and was a musician with the Boise Old Tyme Fiddlers.

Robert and his wife Lurleen have been married for 67 years and have five daughters. He enjoys gardening in his home greenhouse, hunting, fishing, waterskiing, and camping. Justice Bakes has also authored and published several articles on global warming and short stories on World War II. He has enjoyed several trips with the Boise State Music Department to other countries. Bakes also spent 18 months in missionary service in Australia and New Zealand.

Milestone Awards: 60 Years

E. Don Copple

E. Don Copple graduated from the University of Idaho College of Law. He resides in Boise.

Fredrick D. Decker

Fred Decker received his bachelor’s degree in accounting at the University of Idaho. After graduation, he worked for a short time for the US General Accounting Office in San Francisco, CA. It was during that time he decided to pursue a law degree by returning to the University of Idaho College of Law. After law school, he was employed by the Parry, Robertson, Daly & Larson law firm in Twin Falls, subsequently becoming a partner of the firm.

After the dissolution of the firm, he formed a partnership with William R. Hollifield where he practiced law until his retirement in 1991. Fred served as a Director and President of the Idaho Law Foundation.

After retirement, Fred continued to serve his community by being a part of many volunteer organizations. Among which was serving 40 years on the Idaho Health Facilities Authority, Habitat for Humanities, being instrumental in forming Filer Rural Fire District and serving as Commissioner and President for 21 years, participated in the organization and continued fund raising for the Scottish Rite Childhood Learning Center in Twin Falls. He resides in Twin Falls with his wife, Neta.

Jack Gjording

Jack and Trudy Hanson Fouser have been married for over 30 years. Between them they have six children and 11 grandchildren. Jack has two great-grandchildren. With such a large family, it is curious that the only pictures saved on his cell phone are of his two beloved dogs, Zena and Gunther! For 26 years, Trudy and Jack practiced together at Gjording Fouser. They have traveled extensively in the United States, Canada, and Europe. Among their travels were six bicycle trips in Italy, France, Ireland, the Czech Republic, and Germany (before electric bikes!), and four European river cruises. Jack’s favorite river cruise took them from St. Petersburg to Moscow, Russia.

Jack made several life-long friends while in law school. In recent years, he met regularly with law school classmates, Craig Meadows, Bart Harwood and Max Eiden to enjoy a glass of wine and talk about the “good old days.” As Max passed away in 2025, (and because of their advancing age) the remaining group decided they needed to meet more frequently. Now, they meet once a week. Every week, Craig schedules a “Tuesday CLE Meeting.” They agree that their 60-year run has been good.

Gary M. Haman

Gary Haman did not start out to become a lawyer. His parents both graduated from high school in north Idaho and neither went to college, but it was expected that he and his brother would. He decided to enroll in chemical engineering courses at North Idaho Junior College in 1956. Five years later, he had graduated with his degree. During that time, he met his wife, Anita, and they had their daughter, Laura. The family moved to Renton, Washington, where Gary worked for Boeing. After a few years he decided he wasn’t satisfied and returned to school to study law.

In 1963, Gary became part of the largest incoming law class at the University of Idaho College of Law. At the end of the first semester, he was first in his class and stayed there until graduating with his Juris Doctorate, cum laude. He notes that none of that would have been possible without his parents. While in school Gary and Anita also had their son, Joe, who thankfully waited to make his debut until Christmas break of 1963. Their second son, Mike, came along after Gary graduated.

Gary had thought about applying for law firms in Boise, but decided he wanted to go home. He started knocking on doors of lawyers in Coeur d’Alene and finally got lucky when attorney Sidney E. Smith hired him while he ran for Lieutenant Governor. After passing the bar exam, he began the life of a small town lawyer and learned how to practice law by doing it.

About a year after law school, Gary was offered an unusual second job. He was approached by then acting Dean of the Law School to come teach a one hour evening class on natural resources, water, and mining law. He liked the money, so he did it. In 1968 he was then asked to run for the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney of Kootenai County. In 1968, this was a part time position. He had no opponent and won in a landslide and served two years. During that time, the judicial system in Idaho and Kootenai County changed greatly. The state’s population doubled, gone were city judges, probate judges, and the numerous justices of the peace, who quite often held court in living rooms. Along the way, Gary had become president of the Idaho Prosecuting Attorneys Association.

In 1982, Gary was appointed as a new district judge in the First Judicial District where he served until July 4, 2000, when he retired. During his time there he was president of the Idaho District Judges Association and served as the Administrative District Judge of the First Judicial District for over 12 years.

In January 2004, Gary’s wife, Anita, passed away from cancer and his life came to a halt. A few years later Gary remarried Elizabeth Ann, who had been his clerk for the last 15 years of his judicial career. Her husband had also passed away shortly before Anita. Elizabeth Ann had saved his life. They have a lot in common and have traveled the world during the last 20 years and will continue to do so as long as their health permits.

Carl D. Hamilton

Carl D. Hamilton graduated from the University of Idaho College of Law. He resides in Nampa with his wife, Lynell.

James C. Herndon

James C. Herndon graduated from the University of Idaho College of Law. He resides in Coeur d’Alene.

Rjay Lloyd

Rjay Lloyd was born August 23, 1936, and was raised on a ranch in Soda Springs, Idaho. He graduated from high school as senior class president in 1955, and in 1959, he married Sara Ann Mickelson, a farm girl from Grace, Idaho.

 He attended Utah State University and Brigham Young University before transferring to the University of Utah where he earned a B.S. in accounting and then received his J.D. in 1966 from the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law. He later continued his education at New York University, receiving an LL.M. in Taxation. Upon settling in Boise, he was the only lawyer in Idaho holding a CPA, a J.D., and an LL.M. in taxation, and often remarked that his one year of tax education was worth ten years of practice.

He began his career as a tax manager with Ernst & Ernst where he worked for four years. In 1970, he opened his law and CPA firm, “Rjay Lloyd Chartered,” specializing in taxation, corporations and partnerships, business and real estate planning, wills and trusts, probate and estate matters, and pension, profit-sharing, and retirement law. He is a member of the Arid Club, a Bronco Stadium Lifetime member, contributing to new construction in 1969, and is recognized as a reputable attorney by Martindale Hubble.

His Boise clients included Norco Inc., Boise Pediatrics Associates, Boise Neurological Clinic, P.A., Micron Inc., Peterson Motor Company, First Security Bank of Idaho, Twin Falls Tractor and Implement, and Latham Chrysler/Plymouth Motor, Inc.

His major Arizona client was Forever Living Products & Resorts (FLP) in Scottsdale. While still practicing in Idaho, Rjay was vital to igniting the company’s growth by traveling the world extensively, including meeting with each state’s Attorneys General, which helped grow FLP to the largest privately held company in Arizona with operations in 160 countries, millions of distributors worldwide, and $4 billion in revenue in 2021.

In January 1995, he closed his Boise office and relocated to Scottsdale, Arizona, where he became Vice President and CFO of FLP. Serving in this significant executive leadership role allowed him to apply his knowledge and expertise in financial planning, risk management, investment decisions, and strategic planning to further grow the company in the competitive wellness industry. Today this company is still growing worldwide. A highlight of his career was being the successful bidder at the auction for the “Dallas” television series Southfork Ranch in Plano, Texas, where he remarked, “I’m RJ, and I’m here to buy out JR.”     

Rjay is an avid golfer and hunter, with his travels including expeditions to Africa. He is also a passionate fisherman and owned a fishing lodge in Alaska for 25 years. Additionally, he flew a Cessna 210 private aircraft for both work and pleasure. Rjay and Ann raised four daughters and a nephew in Boise, where their children attended Fairmont Junior High and Capital High School. They have 15 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. They are now retired and have made their home in Paradise Valley, Arizona, for the past 30 years.

Kenneth E. Lyon Jr.

Ken Lyon became interested in studying law after obtaining the highest marks following a one-hour speech he delivered for his debate class at San Francisco State (some say he never stopped talking after that). Ken went on to graduate from law school at the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law and moved his family to Pocatello where he started his legal career as an associate for Mark Clark and later for Ben Peterson. Ken’s practice included a tenure as an assistant prosecutor with Garth Pincock. He also represented Bannock County, overseeing its medical indigency program, as well as the Department of Health and Welfare in child support enforcement. In 1993, Ken partnered with his son, and they practiced together as Lyon & Lyon until his son moved to Reno in 1999.

Somewhat unique by today’s standards, Ken’s private practice was very diverse. He handled cases involving family law, estates, bankruptcy, criminal defense, personal injury, patents, and business litigation. Ken represented clients in both the state and federal courts. Whether his client was a plaintiff or a defendant, Ken’s practice was always focused on helping with the client’s individual legal needs, as exemplified when he successfully passed the Utah bar at age 70 just so he could represent one of his clients who had moved to Utah and needed legal help. As a result of Ken’s personal attention, many of his clients also ended up being lifelong friends. Ken was honored by the ISB multiple times for his pro bono bankruptcy work and later served on the ISB’s disciplinary review board.

Ken’s other passions include hunting, fishing, gardening, and travel. Despite health issues which limited his mobility, Ken’s enthusiasm for life has never diminished. He is currently enjoying retirement in Meridian and has taken up painting. He is also getting ready to celebrate his 65^th wedding anniversary with his wife Bev. Ken and Bev, recently went on a Mediterranean cruise and are relishing the increasing number of great-grandchildren they are adding to their family tree. Ken always loved the practice of law and the people he was able to help and interact with and will still give a good debate to anyone who is up for the challenge, and if not, at least provide them with a good hunting or fishing story

Craig L. Meadows

Craig Meadows first served two years as a law clerk to Judge Fred M Taylor, USDC Idaho. He then practiced for 58 years at Hawley Troxell Ennis & Hawley. His practice was primarily in litigation, legal malpractice, aviation, insurance coverage, product liability and, some professional medical malpractice.

Craig served as a commissioner and president of the Idaho State Bar. He also served as president and director of the Idaho Law Foundation. He served as president and director of The Friends of Idaho Public Television for nine years. In 1990 he was inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers as a Fellow.

Craig married Camille Meadows 31 years ago. Between the two of them they have 14 grandchildren. Camille had seven granddaughters and Craig has six grandsons and one granddaughter. Their life was centered around their grandchildren. Camille passed away in January leaving the family with grief but realizing her wonderful legacy. Camille and Craig enjoyed family, friends, golf and traveling.

John S. Simko

John Simko was born and raised in Chicago and came to the University of Idaho on an athletic scholarship in 1957, and not only fell in love with Idaho, but graduated from U of I in 1961 with a commission in the U.S. Navy; married his wife, Bethel, and left for his ship in Pearl Harbor, all within three weeks. While at sea (a lot), Bethel taught school in Honolulu.

            John never planned on law school, but Bethel urged him to give it a try, as she did not see him very much in the two years of his tour of duty.  It turned out to be the best decision of their lives.

            John joined the staff of the Attorney General’s Office in August 1966, and in 1967 Elam, Burke, Jeppesen & Evans for the next 17 years. At Elam & Burke John worked closely with Carl Burke on their clients. In 1967 the firm was representing Sunshine Mining Company when, on May 2, 1972, a fire at the mine resulted in the deaths of 92 miners. John began to devote significant time to Sunshine Mining operations and the takeover of the Company by the Hunt Brothers in the silver boom of the mid-70s.  John devoted significant time on the litigation between co-owners of the mine involving the Apex rights of locator under the Mining Law of 1872. After the takeover litigation was concluded, John worked on acquisition of mining properties in Utah and Nevada and an oil and gas exploration and production company in Oklahoma.  Sunshine asked John to join the Company in 1984 and he left Elam & Burke to become an executive of Sunshine in Dallas, Texas. After a continuous fall in silver and oil prices in the early 1990s, John spent several years restructuring the company’s significant debt. After winding up, he was made CEO and relocated the company’s headquarters to Boise, Idaho.

            John retired from Sunshine in 2002.  He and Bethel began to spend six to eight months a year at their home in Litchfield Park, Arizona. He joined Evans Keane to be of counsel with his friend, Jim Hovren, who was Sunshine’s counsel for most of its corporate financing, SEC reporting, and dealings with the NYSE.

            In 2024, Evans Keane moved their practice to Elam & Burke and John became of counsel at the firm until 2025, when he took senior status. Elam & Burke gave John the privilege of retiring from the private practice of law at the place where it all began. He is eternally grateful.

            Bethel passed away in 2020, and John returned to Idaho full time to be with his daughter in Eagle, Idaho and his grandson, a fireman/paramedic in Idaho Falls. His son and granddaughters live in UBE, Japan.

Milestone Awards: 50 Years

Ryan Peter Armbruster

After working for three years at the Boise City Attorney’s Office and solidifying his expertise of urban renewal projects, Ryan Armbruster began working with the Boise Redevelopment Agency, later renamed Capital City Development Corporation (CCDC). In 1979, he joined Elam and Burke and practiced there for 46 years, retiring June 2025. He served two terms as managing director as well as serving on the firm’s executive committee for many years.

Representing CCDC, Ryan aided in the redevelopment of downtown Boise with significant projects including the Ada County Courthouse, surrounding buildings, and the revamping of Eighth Street Marketplace. He assisted in the implementation of Idaho’s Urban Renewal Law and Economic Development Act and the formation of the Redevelopment Association of Idaho. His efforts have facilitated the completion of key projects in Idaho Falls, Heyburn, Jerome, Garden City, and Ketchum. The Idaho Municipal Attorneys awarded the “Will Herrington Career of Service Award” in 2021, recognizing Ryan’s contribution and career of service to the profession of municipal law.

Born on the South Side of Chicago, thus a lifelong White Sox fan, much like Pope Leo, Ryan met his wife, Terry, on a blind date and was married soon thereafter. Terry retired after 30 years as a legal secretary. They were blessed with two sons, Joe and Dane—both graduated from the University of Washington. Though neither one followed Ryan’s footsteps in the law, both are professionals which rely on knowledge of the law.

Once settled in Boise, Ryan became a lifelong supporter of Boise State University, serving on the Bronco Athletic Association Board for several years and chaired the Association’s endowment committee for over 15 years. He became a certified soccer referee and officiated matches at various levels for 17 years, with his sons also refereeing.  Terry and Ryan were introduced to international travel by their best friends and visited Europe on numerous trips. His happy place is Piran, Slovenia. I cherish spending time with Terry, sons, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren in Boise, McCall, and San Diego. Future travel plans include throwing a dart on a map of the United States!

Breck H. Barton

Breck Barton’s graduated from the J. Ruben Clark Law School and determined that he wanted to practice somewhere on the west coast with a law firm that did mostly business practices with emphasis on securities as well as anti-trust law. Because he was in the charter class of the J. Ruben Clark Law School, and the law school was not yet accredited, the law firms he spoke with in San Francisco, Portland, and Seattle did not offer him a position even though his academic performance had been sufficient to merit consideration.

Breck was discouraged and returned home to Rexburg, Idaho, where he was offered a position with the local law firm, Rigby Thatcher Andrus, for whom he had clerked during the summer of his junior and senior year. Breck accepted the position, as he had substantial student loans and dove into the practice, literally, because the Teton Dam failed and inundated most of the town, relieving it of all older homes that were within the price range he and his wife could afford. The first four or five years of the practice were devoted to representing clients and claims for reimbursement due to the failure of the Teton Dam.

Breck also had a taste of criminal defense work and of plaintiff’s injury, negligence, and product claims as one of the partners at the firm, Gordon Thatcher, he was very active in the formation and development of the Idaho Trial Lawyers Association.

Breck left the firm and began his own practice in 1981, not knowing whether he would survive or have to flee the friendly environs of the town he grew up in. Providence smiled and they were able to establish a practice, go forward, and make an adequate living. Breck became active in the Idaho Trial Lawyers Association ultimately serving as its president from 2003 to 2004 and was presented the Trial Lawyer of the Year award in 2008 by the ITLA.

Breck was able to stay married to his very patient wife and raise five children, one of which was special needs and is still with them. After 50 years of practice, he can now look forward to a respite enjoying golf, hunting, fishing, and cooking with his son, Keith, and his wife, Maurie. The most notable achievement in his career has been being able to manage, adapt, and grow in several areas of the practice beginning with criminal defense, then to collections, then to injury and accident claims, and then to medical negligence claims. All during this time he was blessed to be able to manage the practice, the private life, marriage, and family in a reasonably successful fashion.

His family life includes satisfaction and a measure of pride in their children. Three are medical providers, one is his best friend who still puts up with Breck in the house, and one will embark on teaching chemistry in her town’s high school in approximately three more years when her family is gone.

Education has been a very important part of Breck’s life. All their children are educated and have advanced degrees in science and health care. They’ve all been more successful than Breck, and, candidly, are better people than him in their humor, comportment, and language.

Providence has blessed them abundantly. The Bar has been collegial and generally kind. The practice has been rewarding as well as challenging and he is ready for a break.

Larry Clyel Berry

Clyel Berry was originally hired as an associate by Emil F. Pike, in Twin Falls, Idaho. Thereafter they formed the partnership of Pike and Berry, which continued for several years. Upon the termination of the partnership, he practiced as L. Clyel Berry, Chartered, sharing office space with Emil until his death. Thereafter, Clyel continued with the LLC for many years. Upon determining to close his office, he was invited to join the firm of Stephan, Kvanvig, Stone and Trainor as of counsel until his retirement. Following retirement, Cylel and wife reside on Robinson Bar Ranch adjacent to the Cecil D. Andrus-White Cloud Wilderness in central Idaho, purchased by his son from Carole King. Throughout his career his practice was mainly in the areas of personal injury and workers’ compensation.

Other than maintaining his license for 50 years, he is most proud of his representation of Defendants, Reed, in Farmers Insurance Group v. Reed, 109 Idaho 849, on rehearing, which voided the “family exclusion” clause found in virtually every Idaho motor vehicle policy issued in Idaho.

Clyel and his wife, Jill, were married in 1970. After achieving his law degree, they moved to Twin Falls, where they resided, until moving to Robinson Bar Ranch. Clyel and Jill have two sons, Jacob and Matthew. Jake earned his MBA at Seattle University while Matt achieved his J.D. at the University of Washington, in Seattle. They each graduated on the same day and continue to reside and work in the Seattle area, and each have two amazing children.

He and his wife enjoy traveling. For over 20 years, they were vacationers in Ixtapa, Mexico, with their sons. After their sons could no longer accompany them due to higher education, they continued to travel to Mexico; the Dominican Republic; and, for the last nine years, to Roatan, an Island offshore of Honduras. Last year, they were invited by their son to join his family in a photo safari in Kenya.

Clyel notes that the practice of law has been amazingly rewarding. He couldn’t imagine another profession that he would have enjoyed more or allowed his family the opportunities it has. He would also like to thank Russ Kvanvig for allowing me to retire gradually while remaining somewhat productive.

Stephen Blaser

Stephen Blaser graduated from the University of Idaho College of Law. He resides in Shelley with his wife, Andrea.

Randall C. Budge

Randy Budge retired in 2022 from the practice of law after 46 years specializing in real estate, business, estate planning, probate, and trust administration and natural resources law, particularly water rights. Raised on a family cattle ranch along the Bear River in southeast Idaho, he developed a strong work ethic and a deep appreciation for natural resources, which have significantly influenced his legal career.

Throughout his career Randy represented major irrigation, agriculture, and mining enterprises in eastern Idaho. He served as lead counsel in significant water disputes between surface and ground water users across southern Idaho, representing groundwater districts that irrigate nearly a million acres. His strategic approach has helped clients avoid curtailment amid ongoing litigation and severe drought conditions.

He is admitted to practice before all Idaho state and federal courts, has argued multiple cases before the Idaho Supreme Court, and regularly appeared before the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, Snake River Basin Adjudication Court, and Idaho Department of Water Resources.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Randy served on the Idaho Fish & Game Commission from 2006 to 2014, reflecting his passion for hunting and fishing. He is an avid skier and was a ski patroller for 52 years serving on the National Ski Patrol Board of Directors and as First Assistant National Chairman. He is currently on the Board of Directors of Bear Lake Watch and was a founding member on the board of Portneuf Valley Tennis Association. 

Randy and his wife Becky have been JHCC members since about 1986. He is also an active member of his church, a dedicated husband to his wife, Becky, and a proud grandfather of fifteen grandchildren.

Randy holds a B.S. in finance and economics from Utah State University and a J.D. from the University of Idaho College of Law.

Alan D. Cameron

Alan Camron was commissioned as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy upon his graduation from the University of Idaho in January 1970. He served on active duty until August 1973, when he entered the University of Idaho College of Law. Upon passing the Bar, Alan was employed as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for Ada County. Following public service, he joined Clemons, Cosho, Humphrey, and Samuelson where he practiced law for the next five years. In 1982, he left that firm to join Howard Manweiler and Jim Bevis in practice. Throughout his years of practice, Alan focused primarily on the representation of credit unions and their state trade association in state and federal courts, the state legislature, and Congress.

In February 2000, Alan retired from the active practice of law and assumed the position of President and CEO of the Idaho Credit Union League, the trade association for Idaho’s credit unions. In this capacity, he led the association in the many ways it provides service to credit unions, continued to represent credit unions in the legislature and Congress, and became more active in national credit union activities. In 2008, Alan was appointed to serve on the Federal Reserve Board’s Consumer Advisory Council, which had the responsibility to advise the Federal Reserve Board on matters relating to consumer protection.

During his legal and business career, Alan served in the U.S. Naval Reserve for over 30 years, retiring in February 2000 with the rank of Captain. He was also active in a variety of community affairs. Among other things, Alan served for over 20 years on the board of Consumer Credit Counseling Service, Inc., a nonprofit consumer financial counseling service, including many years as its Chair. He was also active in various public service organizations, including Rotary, where he chaired the “Friends of the Pioneer Cemetery” committee that organized the rehabilitation of Pioneer Cemetery in conjunction with the Boise City Parks Department during the Idaho centennial celebration in 1989.

Alan retired from the Idaho Credit Union League in June 2013. Since then, his wife, Janet, and he have enjoyed retirement, travelling to many places in their motor home and on several cruises. In their blended family, they have five children, nine grandchildren, and two great grandchildren, residing in Boise.

Phillip K. Chattin

Phillip Chattin graduated from Gonzaga University School of Law. He resides in Eagle.

E. Brian Chernecke

E. Brian Chernecke graduated from the University of Idaho College of Law. He resides in San Leon, TX.

Steven L. Clark

Steven Clark graduated from the University of Idaho College of Law. He resides in Idaho Falls with his wife, Birgit.

Terry C. Copple

Terry Copple graduated from the University of Idaho College of Law. He resides in Boise with his wife, Susan.

William J. Douglas

William “Bill” James Douglas and his wife, Geri, have been married 52 years and have three sons residing in Coeur d’Alene and Meridian. Bill graduated from Gonzaga University School of Law.

Following his admission to the Idaho State Bar, Bill served in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG) as both trial and defense counsel in Germany, Alaska, and Washington, D.C. Notably, he tried his first murder case while stationed in Alaska.

After active-duty service, he continued as a JAG officer in the U.S. Army Reserves. During this period, Bill was elected to five terms as the Kootenai County Prosecuting Attorney, and he also served on the Idaho Peace Officers Training Council and as President of the Idaho Prosecuting Attorneys Association.

Bill tried several high-profile cases including the on-duty murder of Idaho State Trooper, Linda Huff. As an inaugural founding member of the Idaho Medal of Honor Committee, he nominated Trooper Huff for Idaho’s first Medal of Honor. Following his tenure as Prosecuting Attorney, Bill served as the Chief Trial Judge for the Coeur d’Alene Tribe. While he has retired from that role, he maintains an active Idaho law license.

William is proud of his service to his community and nation as a member of the Idaho State Bar.

William J. Fitzgerald

William Fitzgerald graduated from the University of Idaho College of Law. He resides in Lewiston with his wife, Debra.

Fred M. Gibler

Fred Gibler graduated from the University of Idaho College of Law. He practiced law in Kellogg from 1976 until 2001. The law firm underwent name changes over the years, starting as Brown Peacock Keane and Boyd, and ending as Evans Keane. His practice consisted of routine matters as any small-town lawyer does. It also involved representation of mining interests in and around Shoshone County including environmental and mine safety issues. In 2012, Fred was appointed by Governor Kempthorne to the position of District Court Judge in the First Judicial District. The chambers were in Wallace, but the position required work in all five northern counties with the bulk of it being in Kootenai County.

In 2016, he became a Plan B Judge and thereafter a Senior Judge until retiring in 2022. Fred enjoyed practicing law, but the work as a District Court Judge was particularly satisfying.

Fred and his wife, Debbie, have been married for 54 years. They have three sons and three grandchildren. For the last 40 years, they have resided in Kingston, Idaho.

Jerry J. Goicoechea

Born and raised in Boise, Jerry Goicoechea was the first of 11 children. After graduating from Bishop Kelly High School, he attended the University of Idaho and later earned his J.D. from the University of Idaho College of Law in 1976. Fresh out of law school and working in the Boise City Attorney’s Office, Jerry received a phone call that would change the course of his career. His great-uncle, a sheepherder, had suffered severe burns from scalding cooking water at a campfire and was left unable to return to work because his injuries prevented him from riding a horse. Desperate for help with his workers’ compensation claim, he asked Jerry to represent him.

Jerry initially explained that he knew nothing about workers’ compensation law. But his uncle, unable to work and unable to find anyone willing to take his case, urged Jerry to learn the area of law and represent him in exchange for a percentage of any recovery. Jerry agreed, and after successfully securing a settlement for his uncle, he discovered both the importance of the work and the need for skilled representation in the field.

Recognizing the lack of efficient and effective legal help for injured workers, Jerry founded Goicoechea Law Offices in 1979 and began actively seeking the workers’ compensation cases that other attorneys did not want or were too busy to handle. With free consultations and contingency-based fees, his practice provided accessible legal representation to middle- and lower-income individuals who might otherwise forgo legal counsel.

Finding a legal niche was one key to Jerry’s success; another was treating his law practice like a business. Understanding the importance of reaching the public, he embraced legal advertising as a way to educate people about their rights and make legal services more accessible. Although his approach initially drew criticism from some other attorneys in the community who viewed advertising as unprofessional, Jerry maintained that professionalism was not determined by advertising but by the quality of representation and the care with which attorneys treat their clients.

Jerry’s efforts proved successful, and over the years, he guided his firm from a single-office operation in Boise to a network of offices across the region focused on workers’ compensation and personal injury claims. Throughout his career, Jerry remained deeply committed to representing injured workers and their families while advancing the field of workers’ compensation law. He helped establish the Workers’ Compensation Section of the Idaho State Bar and continued his efforts to improve access to legal information and services in underserved communities, including collaborating with the Mexican Consulate to educate and advise migrant farmworkers regarding their rights in labor-related cases. Under Jerry’s leadership, his firm became a strong advocate for injured workers throughout Idaho, securing numerous favorable decisions before the Idaho Industrial Commission and Idaho Supreme Court that significantly advanced workers’ rights.

Jerry retired in November 2023 and lives in Boise with his wife of 53 years, Judi. Together they have four children and five grandchildren.

Stephen S. Hart

It has been Stephen Hart’s great privilege to practice law in Idaho Falls, the surrounding area, and throughout the State of Idaho for the past 50 years.

Stephen and his sweetheart wife of 55 years, Kathy, attended the same high school in Salt Lake City, graduating in 1970. They were married a year later. Stephen graduated magna cum laude from the University of Utah in 1973 with a degree in political science, and they began their life together as a law school family at the University of Utah that same year. During their time in law school, their two oldest sons were born. It was a wonderful experience not only academically, but also as a time of growth for the young Hart family.

After law school, Stephen had several job opportunities in Salt Lake City and other areas. Based on the advice of Royce Lee, who later became a good friend and law partner, they chose to accept a position in Idaho Falls with the Bonneville County Prosecutor’s Office, which was then a part-time role. Stephen began working there immediately after graduating from law school and continued through 1979.

That experience provided Stephen with the opportunity to begin private practice and, perhaps more importantly, to gain extensive experience in litigation and trial work, something he has always enjoyed. By the time he left the prosecutor’s office, Stephen was serving as Chief Deputy Prosecutor for Bonneville County, responsible for prosecuting major cases and ensuring that all prosecutions in the county were handled properly.

In 1979, Stephen established his own practice. Over the years, he has had the privilege of handling both criminal prosecution and defense, including involvement in more than 15 first-degree murder cases, as well as numerous felony and misdemeanor matters. In recent years, his practice has focused primarily on complex family law litigation, including custody and related issues.

Throughout his career, Stephen has greatly enjoyed working with the outstanding members of the Bar in the Seventh Judicial District and across the State of Idaho, as well as appearing before many excellent judges.

While he has deeply valued his legal career, the most important part of Stephen’s life has always been his sweetheart, Kathy. She has been patient, supportive, and by his side throughout this entire journey. Stephen has also enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, and many other activities over the years. However, his greatest joy has been traveling and simply spending time with his wife and family.

Stephen and Kathy are blessed with four wonderful sons, 18 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. As the saying goes, it is never work if you enjoy what you do. He can honestly say that he has truly enjoyed practicing law and values the opportunity it has given him to work with people and help them navigate the challenges they face.

Kenneth B. Howard

 Kenneth Howard graduated from Wayne State University Law School. He resides in Santa Fe, NM, with his wife, Barbara.

Larry C. Hunter

Larry Hunter practiced with Moffatt, Thomas, Barrett, Rock and Fields from 1976 to 2018 and Hawley Troxell 2018-2020, he on Sabbatical from 2014-2016 as Associate Area Legal Counsel for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was admitted to practice in state and federal court, and had a general litigation practice including products liability, insurance coverage, agricultural liability, professional malpractice and personal injury, and some administrative law and alternative dispute resolution.

Larry’s achievements include being an Idaho State Bar Commissioner; Idaho Delegate and State Bar Delegate to the American Bar Association House of Delegates; member and Chair of the ABA Legal Assistance Committee, and member ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance. He has been involved with numerous Idaho State Bar programs such as grading Bar exams on 30 occasions; Idaho Volunteer Lawyers program, presentations to women’s prison, etc. He has been a member and chair of J. Reuben Clark Law Society; served with community in Kiwanis International since 1978; served on the Boise Philharmonic Board of Directors; been a member of the Boise Philharmonic Foundation Board; and been a Public Member of the Idaho State Board of Accountancy for two terms. He has served his church including Bishop, Spanish Branch President, Stake High Council, and a mission to Argentina.

Larry is fluent in Spanish, his hobbies include travel with Iris, reading, golf and family activities. He was raised in Twin Falls, went to his undergraduate at Harvard, then law school at Northwestern. He was a missionary in Chile from 1968-1970; and worked for Bank of America in its Latin America Division from 1971-1973.

Larry has been married to Iris Hunter for 54 years; they have six children: Risa, Ryan, Janessa, Justin, Amanda, and Andrea, and have 23 grandchildren. His family is involved in music, sports, and academia, with children who among them have six bachelor’s degrees, two master’s degrees and a law degree.

Charles C. Just

Charles Just graduated from the University of Idaho College of Law. He resides in Idaho Falls.

Patrick J. Kole

Patrick Kole was born in Bay City, Michigan, but grew up in Midland, Michigan. He was a graduate of the University of Michigan and the University of Denver College of Law where he was an editor of the Denver Journal of International Law and Policy. At the urging of two classmates who had toured several western states looking at where to begin their legal careers, he and his wife, Julia, traveled to Boise, Idaho in May of 1976. His friends took them on the Boise-Stanley-Sun Valley loop, and they moved to Idaho later that month. Patrick thought that his dream of a career in international law was over, and indeed that seemed to be the case.

He worked for Idaho Attorney General, Wayne Kidwell, Ada County Prosecutors, David Leroy and Jim Harris, and in private practice with Gigray, Miller Downen and Weston. Patrick returned to the Attorney General’s Office in 1982 and worked with Jim Jones. In 1987, on a Saturday morning in the Attorney General’s Office, he noticed seven men coming through the front door and going into Jim Jones’s office. Shortly thereafter the phone/intercom rang, and he went into the office as well. There he was introduced to Commissioners of the Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) and directed to handle a personnel matter for them. This engagement began his work for the IPC, first while with the AG’s Office, then at Moffatt, Thomas, and then as the in-house Counsel to the IPC.

The IPC had been very successful in creating the Idaho Potato brand. With that success came the challenges of brand protection because other potato growing states and countries began to infringe upon the Idaho® brand. In doing this work, he was asked in 1988 to also protect the Intellectual Property Rights being developed for the State of Idaho Centennial by Governor Andrus. For both “clients” he developed a licensing, auditing, and enforcement program to accomplish this goal.

He ran unsuccessfully for the Idaho Attorney General’s Office in 1990. In hindsight, it was a blessing as it led to his full-time employment with the Idaho Potato Commission. During his career with the IPC, he realized his goal of an International Law practice. He traveled to every continent, except the Arctic and Antarctic, speaking at seminars, attending conferences, meeting with government officials, and testifying in hearings both in the US and elsewhere. He held positions in organizations such as the International Trademark Association, AIPLA, and AIPIA. He also “went through the chairs” of the Fourth District Bar Association and served on Idaho Supreme Court Committees such as the Committee that developed the Rules of Evidence.

Patrick volunteered for several organizations such as East Boise Little League, Bogus Basin Ski Racing Alliance, Ada County and Idaho Republican Party, and Boise Southwest Rotary, among others. He served as a Eucharistic Minister at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church in Boise and now at St. William Catholic Church in Naples, FL. Patrick has joined the Naples Pelican Bay Rotary Club where he serves on the Board of Directors, serves as Chairman of the Pelican Bay Foundation Government Relations Committee, and is a Co-Chair of the Pelican Bay Men’s Coffee Organization.

Patrick and Julia, married for 53 years, moved to Florida in 2021. They have three children and two grandchildren. They return to Idaho at least once each year to stay in touch with friends.

Thomas R. Linville

Thomas Linville graduated from the University of Idaho College of Law. He resides in Boise with his wife, Jacque.

David Richard Lombardi

Born at the naval hospital in Bremerton, Washington, David Lombardi spent much of his childhood at different Navy duty stations on the east and west coasts until his father retired in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Law was not David’s first career ambition. While his older brother always knew he wanted to be a lawyer, David started on a different path. He wanted at first to be a naval architect but got mired in “new math,” realized engineering was not for him, and opted for liberal arts. He graduated from Stanford University in 1971 with a B.A. in English literature and spent much of his senior year and the following year working with a community performing arts education project in Los Angeles. He also attended the School of Education at UCLA where he planned to get a teaching credential and master’s degree. While there, he wrote a play that was performed as part of a jazz concert at the Watts Towers in south central Los Angeles.

He was struck by the importance and power of the law when his lead actor was arrested and jailed for months before the case was dismissed without trial. David returned to northern California the next year, worked for the Dean of Students of the Stanford Medical School, and enrolled at the University of Santa Clara School of Law. He graduated magna cum laude from Santa Clara University School of Law in 1976.

David met his future wife, Judy Rummell, a few months before starting law school in 1973. They married the following year. A visit to a college friend in Boise a year before his 1976 graduation convinced David that Idaho was where he wanted to build his life and raise his family. Their first daughter, Beckie, arrived the same weekend he learned from Willis Sullivan, a well-connected lawyer and senior partner at his new law firm, Langroise, Sullivan and Smylie, that he had passed the Bar. Daughter, Kate, followed in 1979.

David credits John Ward and Walter Bithell—mentors he shared, as it happens, with several other distinguished Idaho lawyers of his era—with shaping the foundations of his practice while he was at Langroise, Sullivan & Smylie. Shortly after the firm merged with Holland & Hart in 1985, David moved to Imhoff & Lynch where he focused on his litigation practice.

David joined Givens Pursley in 1990 at the invitation of Ken Pursley, who became a close friend and mentor. He remained a partner at Givens Pursley for more than 30 years. His litigation practice there ranged widely from medical malpractice and professional liability defense to business and commercial litigation, environmental law, and mining law. His most memorable cases included working with criminal defense lawyer Larry Westberg in the defense of the second federal criminal trial in the country brought under the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Syringa Networks case that invalidated unlawful statewide telecommunications contracts issued by the State of Idaho, and a successful challenge to the Payette National Forest Management Plan under the National Environmental Policy Act. Throughout his career, he most enjoyed cases “where the learning curve was steep.”

David was a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, the International Society of Barristers, American Inns of Court No. 130, and the Federal Bar Association before retiring from his litigation practice.

In 2013, after more than 35 years as a litigator and many years mediating as an advocate, David expanded his practice to include service as a mediator. In 2025, he left Givens Pursley and started Lombardi Mediation.

David is pleased that his mediation practice frequently presents the steep learning curve he has always enjoyed and gives him the chance to meet and work with a broad range of lawyers and their clients. He especially enjoys working with younger lawyers he didn’t meet during his litigation years while continuing to engage with colleagues he has worked with and against for decades. He remains a member of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals and the Idaho Mediation Association.

David learned to roll cast salmon eggs with a fly rod when he was a boy but didn’t learn to fly fish until attorney, John Croner, introduced him to the sport during his years at Imhoff & Lynch. In the decades since, he has fished the rivers and lakes of Idaho and Montana, ventured to Wyoming, Argentina, New Zealand, Colombia, and other wonderful places.

David joined a small group of fellow fly fishermen in 2013 to found Idaho2Fly, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation with a mission to support men with cancer by bringing them together through the sport of fly fishing. Serving as President from its incorporation through 2021, he managed the group through Covid, expanded services to three retreats per year, and laid the foundation for sustainability and growth into the future.

David and Judy have been married for 52 years. They made their home in Boise where Judy pursued her career as an artist whose works in oil, pastel, and graphite hang on the walls of many homes and offices. Their daughter Beckie lives in Boise; their younger daughter Kate lives in Los Angeles with their son-in-law Sean and granddaughter Arden, who loves to come to Boise.

Rarely one to look back, David looks forward to meeting more new members of the Bar in his mediation practice, to more travel with his wife and family, and to more fishing.

Susan D. Powell Mauk

Susan Mauk was born and raised in Neponsit, New York on Long Island. Prior to law school, she received a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Vassar College and a master’s in history from Columbia University, followed by four years as a high school history teacher. 

            She was a member of the founding class at the Antioch School of Law in Washington, D.C. (now the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law (UDC-DCSL)). There, she met and married her classmate, Bill Mauk, an Idaho native. Following graduation, they moved to Boise to take the Idaho Bar Exam. As it turned out, only two women were admitted to the Idaho Bar in 1976; making Susan either the 51st or 52nd licensed female attorney since Idaho statehood—depending on who you might ask.

            During her legal career, Susan served as a Deputy Attorney General, starting with the Department of Health and Welfare, then as chief counsel for the State Board of Education, and briefly in private practice with a small Boise law firm. Although she enjoyed her years practicing law, she eventually chose to become a different kind of counselor.

            In 1985, she obtained a master’s in counseling degree from Idaho State University, followed by licenses as a Clinical Professional Counselor and a Marriage and Family Therapist. Thereafter, for almost 40 years, she shared a private therapy practice with a diverse group of psychologists, social workers, and other professional counselors. Compared to practicing law, she summarizes that being a therapist was “better suited to who I am,” with lots of sharing, compassion, client success, and personal satisfaction.

            Despite her career change, Susan has never ceased being a proud lawyer. She has maintained her ISB license for 50 years—just in case. As a therapist/lawyer, she served as a court appointed mediator and parenting coordinator in family court disputes. For years, while working as a therapist, she also was on the governing boards for the ISB Lawyer Assistance Program, the Coalition of Advocates for the Disabled, and ACLU Idaho. Looking back, Susan describes her blended careers as pleasingly successful, with no regrets except getting old and retiring from the rewards of helping others.

Beyond her professional connections, for many years Susan was also on the boards of the Boise Contemporary Theater, the Idaho Theater for Youth, and the Idaho Women’s Charitable Foundation.

            Susan and Bill have two sons who chose healthcare professions:; Sam, who manages mental health clinics in Boise and Caldwell, and Jon, who is a registered hospital nurse in Bellingham, Washington. They have three grandchildren, who excel at rugby, football, and volleyball.

Terry R. McDaniel

Terry McDaniel  was raised in Fallon, Nevada. Terry graduated from Churchill County High School. He attended the University of Idaho and later earned his Bachelor of Science in Police Science and Administration from Washington State University. Terry returned to Idaho to attend the University of Idaho College of Law, where he received his Juris Doctor in 1976 and was admitted to the Idaho State Bar that same year.

Terry began his legal career in Lewiston, Idaho, practicing from 1976 to 1978. He then served in the Ada County Prosecutor’s Office in Boise from 1978 to 1979. In 1979, he entered private practice in Boise, where he became a partner and built a respected career specializing in insurance defense and personal injury law, practicing until 1991.

In 1991, Terry was appointed as a Magistrate Judge for Idaho’s Fourth Judicial District, a role he held with distinction for over two decades. Following his retirement from the bench in 2014, he continued to serve as a Senior Magistrate Judge until 2018. Throughout his judicial career, Terry was known for his fairness, professionalism, and steady commitment to the administration of justice.

Terry married Nancy Smith McDaniel in 1973, and together they have built a strong and close-knit family. They are the proud parents of two children, Molly McDaniel Schafer (Robert) and Patrick James McDaniel (Bronwyn), and grandparents to four grandchildren: Dylan and Allie Schafer of Boise, and Samuel and Anna McDaniel of Chicago.

Since retiring, Terry enjoys spending time at the family cabin in McCall, traveling the world, reading, playing golf, and, most importantly, spending time with—and happily spoiling—his grandchildren.

Reflecting on his career and long-standing membership, Terry shares that it has been a distinct honor and pleasure to live and work in Idaho and to be a member of the Idaho State Bar for 50 years.

John S. McGown Jr.

John McGown, Jr. graduated from the University of Colorado Law School in December 1974 and took the Colorado Bar Exam in late February 1975. In May 1975, he canoed the Rockcastle River with a childhood friend in the Daniel Boone National Forest in a remote area of Eastern Kentucky. Things did not go smoothly. They ended up spending the night by the river. They eventually came across a dirt road and were able to catch a ride to Cold Hill, Kentucky. It had a general store and a pay telephone. His friend called his wife and told her they were safe. She had called the Kentucky State Patrol the night before when they didn’t show up. The Patrol told her they would not start a search until the next morning, as trying to find someone in the dark and remote area was next to impossible. At the end of John’s friend’s conversation with his wife, she asked him to put John on the phone. She told him John’s parents had called her to say that they had just received a letter saying John had passed the Bar Exam. He was so tired that he had zero emotion, it was as if she told him the sun rose—it meant nothing to John at that moment!

John McGown’s time in Idaho started in June 1979. He had a four-person paddle raft and put in on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River at Dagger Falls. John turned 30 on the Middle Fork and four days later Mary turned 30 on the Main Salmon.

The McGowns returned to Denver after rafting in Idaho, and he obtained an LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Denver. John also worked part-time for the Internal Revenue Service, gaining valuable experience from the inside. Mary and he looked to the future and decided that Denver would be way too big in the future. They spent considerable time researching where they would like to live for the rest of their lives. Boise was their first choice, and John was fortunate that Hawley Troxell Ennis & Hawley was looking for a tax attorney. That was 1982 and it has been a great match those many years.

John enjoys teaching and has presented well over 150 seminars. He also taught in the Graduate Tax Program at Boise State University and has been both an adjunct and visiting professor at the University of Idaho College of Law. He has been active in the Idaho State Bar, including serving as Chair of the Tax Section, a member of the Dispute Resolution Section and on the Governing Board of the Legal History Section. John authored the “Tax Thoughts” column for the Advocate for 19 years.

John is especially proud to have received the Distinguished Lawyer Award from the Idaho State Bar in 2014.

Family has always been his top priority. Mary and John were married almost 42 years before her passing in February 2020. Her memory lives on with the Mary Grunewald McGown Pollinator Garden on the Greenbelt close to the Boise River. Daughter, Erin, works for the State Department in Washington, D.C. Daughter, Brenna, formerly worked for the National Park Service in Anchorage, Alaska, and now lives in Munich, Germany. Their son-in-law, Sebastian, recently completed his Ph.D. in plant science from Oregon State University. He now works in Munich, heading a project to help restore endangered native plants.

They have had a cabin in Grandjean, Idaho for almost 25 years. It is in a group of 19 cabins, seven of which completely burned in the 2024 Wapiti Fire. It has been a great place to fulfill his constant urge to hike. In addition, John completed 17 races to Robie Creek and has the t-shirts to prove it. Travel has been a priority over the years. Both daughters and John have been to all seven continents.

Dean J. “Joe” Miller

Joe Miller’s professional career can be divided into three phases, each with its own rewards and challenges.

After graduating from the University of Idaho College of Law in 1976, he returned to his hometown of Caldwell and practiced with his father, Dean E. Miller, and his partner, Gerry Weston. They later combined with Bill Gigray Sr., Don Downen, Bill Gigray III and Scott Pasley to form the firm of Gigray, Miller, Downen and Weston. Scott Fouser later joined the firm.

In March 1987, Governor Cecil Andrus appointed Joe as a member of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (IPUC), where he served until January 1995. Joe was president of the Commission for five of those years.

Following service at the IPUC, the late Charles F. McDevitt and Joe formed the firm of McDevitt & Miller. His wife, Celeste K. Miller, joined the firm following her retirement as an Assistant United States Attorney. Joe retired from active practice in 2019, although he has maintained his bar license as a Senior Member.

During his career, Joe was engaged in Bar activities, including President of the Third District Bar Association, member of the Ethics Committee, and member of the Board of Professional Conduct.

Michael W. Moore

 Mike Moore is a third generation Idahoan. He attended the University of Idaho from 1969 to 1973 where he obtained his B.A. in political science and a B.S. in history. He was a member of the University of Idaho Student Senate and a member of several National Honor Societies including Phi Beta Kappa. Mike was also a member of the University of Idaho golf team. He attended the University of Idaho law school from 1973 to 1976. During his last two years of law school Mike was a member of the Idaho Law Review.

Mike began his law practice in Boise with the Imhoff & Lynch law firm. Imhoff & Lynch handled civil litigation including insurance defense cases throughout Idaho. The firm practiced in areas of automobile, product liability, aviation, commercial general liability, construction, workers compensation, and insurance coverage. Mike became a partner in 1984 and continued practicing with the lawyers in this firm through 1994. During these years Mike’s practice broadened into handling the defense of Federal Civil Rights and Idaho State Tort Claim litigation throughout Idaho in both federal and state court.

In 1995, Mike and two of his law partners formed a new law firm in Boise known as Moore, Baskin, & Parker, LLP.  Over time, the name of the firm changed as lawyers left for a new endeavor, while other lawyers joined the firm. The law firm is currently known as Moore, Elia, Kraft, and Stacey, LLP. The firm continues to handle insurance defense and other civil defense litigation work for local and national businesses, insurance carriers, and Idaho governmental entities.

Mike is admitted to practice law in Idaho state courts, the United States District Court for the District of Idaho, the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Court of Federal Claims. He is a member of Defense Research Institute, the Federal Bar Association, and the Idaho Association of Defense Counsel. In 2021, the Idaho Association of Defense Counsel presented Mike with the Carl Burke Award for Distinguished Service.

Mike has been married to his wife, Cathie, for 38 years. They live in Boise and have two children: a son, Ryan, and a daughter, Katie. They enjoy exploring Idaho, like to travel, and they like attending Major League Baseball spring training in Arizona. They are both avid golfers; Cathie has four holes in one and Mike only has one! Retirement is around the corner, and they plan on doing a lot more exploring, traveling, baseball, and golf in the immediate future.

Looking to the past, Mike is grateful for the mentorship from Joe Imhoff, Jim Lynch, and Gomer Davis. He is also very grateful for the relationships and friendships with each of his past and present law partners including Tom Baskin, Paige Parker, Mike Elia, Steve Kraft, Craig Stacey, and Brady Hall. He is also grateful for all the work, effort, support, and friendship he has received from all the past and present associates, legal assistants, and staff who have worked with him these past 50 years.

Merrily K. Munther

 Merrily Munther was fortunate to go to work for Elam, Burke, Jeppesen, Evans & Boyd when she came out of law school. They taught her that the legal profession, at least at that time, was comprised of gentlemen (and women), and she learned so much about the practice of law from their many firm members. Merrily’s previous experience had been working as a legal secretary in San Francisco and Sun Valley.

Merrily practiced law on the civil side in Boise and McCall for 50 years. Over time, she was given the opportunity to serve several law related organizations: President of the Fourth District Bar Association when the Guardian ad Litem program was established; President of the Idaho Law Foundation when the Interest on Lawyer Trust Account (IOLTA) program was established; President of the National Conference of Bar Foundations when the concept of break-out sessions was developed from the previous annual meetings of old guys who were sure the participants would “get up and leave” if given a chance for a break from the usual boring meeting format.

She also served as President of the Boise Chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction and as President of the Capital City Kiwanis Club.

Merrily was blessed to marry Tom Ratchford about 23 years ago and together they have a blended family of eight children, 20 grandchildren, and 18 great grandchildren. After 50 years, she looks forward to more golf, gardening and painting; at none of these pursuits does she have any particular talent.

Michael J. Newell

Michael Newell graduated from the University of Idaho College of Law. He resides in Harrison with his wife, Linda.

Phillip S. Oberrecht

Phillip Oberrecht graduated from Ohio State University Michael E. Moritz College of Law. He resides in Eagle with his wife, Vicki.

Raymond S. Pasley

Raymond Pasley graduated from the University of Idaho College of Law. He resides in New Meadows with his wife, Mary.

Paul S. Penland

Paul Penland was born on June 30th, 1949, in Dallas, Texas. His first recollection of a possible career in law dates back to 1960, when watching attorneys in politics. His involvement in politics led to meeting his wife-to-be, Leslie Derr, in the summer of 1966.

After their marriage in 1968, Paul focused on school and family, graduating from Southern Methodist University in 1971. He went to work as a law enforcement officer for the City of Colorado Springs, Colorado.

A family friend, Morris Harrel, strongly recommended attending Baylor University School of Law, his alma mater. Paul began classes in the summer of 1973, and virtually every class focused on trial aspects of the subject matter. As an academic member of law review, he served as a notes editor.

As law school was ending, Paul went looking for a place like how Colorado Springs used to be and was lucky enough to find Boise. He was offered employment with Moffitt, Thomas, Barrett, and Blanton. His mentors were Richard Fields and Jack Barrett, two incredibly skilled trial attorneys. He focused on civil litigation and workers’ compensation defense. His law enforcement background led to being assigned to work on police misconduct civil rights cases.

In 1979, Paul opened his own office and subsequently joined Joseph Parkinson, Donald Lojek, Merrily Munther, Richard Boardman, Tom Munson and others forming several different firms over the years. He has been admitted to the state bars of Texas, Idaho, and Oregon, as well as the bars of the U. S. District Court for the District of Idaho, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and United States Supreme Court.

Paul and his wife, Leslie, retired in 2013, to spend more time together and with their children. They have traveled extensively, visiting five continents and many countries, their favorite being Italy. Returning to school at Boise State University, he studied the history of art and visual culture, concentrating on art created in Europe between 1400 and 1700. Paul was awarded another Bachelor of Arts degree in 2023. In 2025, Paul started a new career as a ski instructor.

Thanks to all of the attorneys he has worked with or litigated against over the years. Special thanks go to his wife, Leslie, and his children, J.W., Lura, and Christopher. Their love and support made his career as an attorney possible.

Gordon W. Petrie

Gordon Petrie feels like he was just taking a picture with his four-year-old daughter (now a 54-year-old medical doctor) on the steps of the Idaho Supreme Court Building right after his swearing-in ceremony.

After swearing in, for the remainder of 1976, Gordon worked for Nez Perce County Prosecutor, Merlyn Clark, now of Hawley Troxell, as one of his Nez Perce County Deputy Prosecutors. Mr. Clark selected him as his successor, so Gordon was on the ballot in November and won. It wasn’t hard since he was the only candidate. Gordon served three terms as the elected Nez Perce County Prosecutor, leaving the elected office in January 1983. He associated with Jack Curtin and Ted Creason (Ted, of blessed memory) in Lewiston from 1983 to 1985. Gordon joined Lewiston’s long-time legal legend, Paul Keeton, and his partner, John Tait (both of blessed memory), from 1986 through 1988.

In December 1987, just before turning forty, Gordon joined the Idaho Army National Guard as a Captain, having been promoted to that rank during the years of potential inactive reserve call-up following his 1973 departure from active duty as a First Lieutenant to attend law school.

In January 1989, Gordon became Gem County’s first lawyer magistrate and continued his National Guard career concomitant with his magistrate duties. On his wife’s birthday, Gordon was mustered for active duty with the 116th Brigade Combat Team, spending the first six months in such exotic places as Ft. Bliss, Texas (misnamed), and Ft. Polk, Louisiana, training for the mission in Iraq. By then, Gordon had been promoted to Lt. Colonel after a series of command and staff positions.

In Iraq, Gordon served as the Information Operations Officer (S7) for the Brigade and also had overall administrative duties for the Public Affairs Office; highly unusual, but they made it work well. His primary duties consisted of producing: two television shows per week on Kurdish TV; all the talking points for the Brigade’s 5,000 soldiers; and each day, several non-user-friendly PowerPoint-like documents showing how well the Iraqis in Kirkuk had taken to self-government. While in country, he was promoted to full Colonel (06).

Also, while in country, he presided over a summary court-martial on behalf of the Staff Judge Advocate.

Upon returning to the States and release from active duty in November 2005, Gordon resumed his magistrate duties. Thereafter, in July 2006, he was appointed District Judge by then-interim Governor, Jim Risch, chambered in Caldwell.

He retired from the bench in January 2009, doing a one-year sojourn with private education, but the lure of the courtroom sucked him back in for another two-and-a-half years with Ryan Henson and Chad Gulstrom, and by 2012, he retired from law for good. Since then, he served on the Emmett City Council for one year (2014), and he currently is in his third elected term as the Mayor of Emmett. 

He and his wife, Pat, celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary in January of this year.  They have three children. Their oldest is a medical doctor with a clinic in Emmett and a new clinic in Meridian. Their middle child, though trained as a teacher, now lives in Challis, Idaho, where she helps run the office of an independent power company and serves on the Challis School Board. Their youngest also lives in Challis, where he and his wife are both Physician Assistants and own and operate a health clinic there.

They have eight grandchildren, ranging in ages from 24 to four.  The oldest is a full-time firefighter and paramedic in Lewiston, Idaho, Gordon’s old hometown.

Danny J. Radakovich

Danny Radakovich was born in Lewiston, Idaho, on April 14, 1950. Danny’s paternal grandparents were truck farmers in Lewiston and so his parents moved to Lewiston to live with them until the birth. When Danny was four months old, his parents moved back to Pueblo, Colorado, his father’s hometown, where Danny grew up. Pueblo is an old town and a tough town, but very diverse and a great place to learn about life. Danny attended college there at Southern Colorado State College, earned degrees in chemistry (BS) and speech (BA), and was a member of the debate team for five years.

To Danny, however, Idaho was always God’s country and so he came back to Idaho to attend the University of Idaho College of Law. When he started his first semester, the Law School was still in the old administration building, but it moved to the new College of Law building midway through that semester. Danny graduated with his J.D. in 1976 and passed the Bar exam the same year, although the Idaho Supreme Court made all of them come to Boise to take the exam. When they passed the Bar, Danny and his classmate, William J. Fitzgerald, started a partnership in Lewiston, Idaho, which lasted a couple of years. In that same time period (1978), Danny married Lisa von Bargen. They are married to this day and have three children, Nicholas, Carolyn, and Kathryn. Danny also became a grandfather very recently at age 76.

After the Fitzgerald partnership ended, Danny joined his uncle, Eli Rapaich, in the firm of Rapaich & Knutson, which lasted only a short while. After that, Danny went out solo again and that has continued to this day, with various short-term associates along the way who did not last long. Danny has always had a general practice, with emphasis on criminal law, plaintiff’s personal injury, domestic relations, real estate, etc. He had no real landmark cases but was always a very busy practitioner. As he was preparing to retire, Danny hit a couple of nice personal injury settlements which drastically changed his bottom line and made him and Lisa debt free. Danny is trying to retire now but has been helping Joanna McFarland stand up the new public defender system on his way out the door. Retirement looms!

John P. Riceci

John Riceci graduated from the University of Idaho College of Law. He resides in Boise.

Hon. Leland M. Riddoch

Judge Leland Riddoch graduated from Seattle University School of Law. He resides in Idaho Falls.

Jeffery W. Ring

Jeffery Ring graduated from the University of Oregon School of Law. He resides in Lake Oswego, OR.

Brent T. Robinson

Brent Robinson graduated from the University of Idaho College of Law. He resides in Rupert with his wife, Janet.

G. Lance Salladay

A native Idahoan, Lance was born in Twin Falls, Idaho on April 1, 1951. He is the second of six children. After living briefly in Jerome and Pocatello, his family moved to Boise in 1958 where he has resided since.

He graduated from the University of Idaho with a B.S. in business management in 1973 and entered the U of I Law School that fall. His class was the last class to attend classes in the “old” law school in the basement of the U of I Administration Building and was the first class to attend the new law school following their first semester.

Lance began his law career after his second year as a summer intern at the Ada County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. During his third year of school, he served as a Deputy/Intern City Attorney for the City of Pullman, WA, working with the firm of Aikin, Shauble, Patrick and Neil. Upon graduation he returned to the Ada County P.A. office under David Leroy, where he continued to work until late 1977 when he was asked to join the firm of Risch, Goss & Insinger. In 1979 he became a partner in the firm until 1992 when he elected to leave the firm and open his own solo practice.

Lance’s practice was quite general, involving everything from personal injury, business start-up’s, family law, and probate, but his greatest achievement was being able, as outside counsel, to defend the interests of Idaho Power Company in numerous lawsuits from injury/death cases to fire and environmental claims for some 35 years.

During his career Lance served on several civic boards, including Hays House (a temporary home for at-risk kids) and Ballet Idaho. Additionally, he served as the chair of the Litigation Section and received an award for Outstanding Service from the Bar in 2013.

Jon M. Steele

Jon Steele graduated from Drake University Law School. He resides in Boise with his wife, Peggy.

Randolph C. Stone

Randolph Stone graduated from the University of Nebraska College of Law. He resides in Burley with his wife, Beverly.

Carl C. Straub

Carl Straub is a graduate of Gonzaga University School of Law. Carl lives in Kalispell, Montana.

Jeffrey A. Strother

Jeffrey Strother graduated from the University of Colorado School of Law. He resides in Eagle with his wife, Gail.

Thomas H. Swinehart

Thomas graduated from Santa Clara University School of Law. He resides in Highlands Ranch, CO, with his wife, Trish Elledge.

R. John Taylor

R. John Taylor graduated from Washington and Lee University School of Law. He resides in Lenore with his wife, Debra.

P. Mark Thompson

Mark Thompson was born in Wheeling, West Virginia in 1951. He grew up in the small town of Bridgeport, Ohio on the western banks of the Ohio River. Mark graduated from Ohio University in 1972 with a degree in history. He then enrolled in the Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago.

Upon graduating from law school, Mark accepted a position with the Idaho Attorney General’s Office where he was assigned to the criminal appeals division.  During this first tenure with the AG, Mark briefed numerous cases and argued before the Idaho Supreme Court over 20 times.

In 1979, Mark became an Associate with the firm of Hawley, Troxell, Ennis and Hawley.  He remained with the firm for four years, focusing on civil litigation, bankruptcy and construction law. When fellow Northwestern grad, Jim Jones, was elected Attorney General, Mark returned to the AG’s office as chief deputy for civil litigation. His second tour with the AG lasted four years. Mark departed when he was appointed as a magistrate judge for Ada County.  As a magistrate, his docket consisted primarily of domestic relations and misdemeanor criminal cases.

After two years as a magistrate, Mark accepted a position as in-house counsel with J.R. Simplot Company, an agribusiness conglomerate that remains one of the largest and most successful privately held companies in the country. Mark’s duties with Simplot were broad ranging, and included transactional work, litigation management, and general commercial law.  He retired from Simplot in 2013 after 25 years of service.

The final career stop for Mark came when he became partner emeritus at the Boise firm of Givens Pursley in 2013.  He was involved in general business matters and litigation. Following some health issues, Mark conclusively retired from law practice in 2018.  His career was a long and twisting road, but Mark enjoyed it immensely.

Like many lawyers, Mark was involved in community affairs and charitable organizations.  He served on the boards of Special Olympics, Make-A-Wish Foundation and Community Service Alternatives.  He coached youth sports for many years.  He also served as Vice-Chairman of the Idaho Commission for Pardons and Parole.

Mark and his wife, Laura, have a blended family with a total of six children and an aggregate of five grandchildren. Mark’s personal life has been rich and full of adventures. He has hiked and climbed on six continents. His most prized accomplishments include reaching the summit of Africa’s Mt. Kilimanjaro twice; climbing Cerro Aconcagua in Argentina (the world’s highest peak outside the Himalayas); completing the 500-mile Camino de Santiago in Spain; and trekking for a month in Nepal. Mark and Laura, together, completed a long trek in Iceland, and walked across Scotland.

Mark is a black belt in the Korean martial art of Tae Kwon Do. He is a licensed open water diver, and has been certified as a Wilderness First Responder.  He has completed a dozen marathons and several triathlons.

Mark and Laura became full time residents of McCall in 2022. They still travel extensively. They are both huge fans of the Chicago Cubs. They live happily in the Idaho mountains with three adorable cats.

Alan E. Trimming

Alan started as a Public Defender in 1976 with the contract Ada County Public Defender, Elli Matthews, and then Chuck McDevitt. This carried over to the Ada County staffed Public Defenders Office headed by Klaus Wiebe in 1978. He spent a year in private practice and returned to the public defender office in 1980. He did all the things a Deputy Public Defender is assigned to do as well as many jury trials, most of which were felonies.

Alan became Chief Public Defender in 1984. He saw the office through years of unprecedented growth in case assignments and responsibilities. He started with ten staff attorneys and left with 45. He was blessed to be surrounded by dedicated and talented attorneys and support staff. He held this position until he retired in September of 2016.

He helped build what he felt was solid, professional, and effective office. Alan always endeavored to always do the best he could. Never apologized for the work he did and treated his clients and people around him with fundamental human dignity and respect.

Alan and his wife, Karen, stick mostly close to home where there is always something to do. They still hope to do some traveling. Together they raised three children, Michael, Sarah, and Tovah. A doctor and two lawyers. They are in California and Tennessee and Alan is enjoying his retirement.

Michael A. Van Horne

Michael Van Horne is a graduate of the University of Idaho College of Law. Michael and wife, Jelaine, live in San Diego, California.

Herbert Thomas Vanderford

Herbet Vanderford is a graduate of the University of Idaho College of Law. Hervert and wife, Marcia, live in Eagle, Idaho.

William Remi VanHole

Bill VanHole is a native of Colorado. Upon graduation from Colorado State University in 1970 he was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Vietnam war.  Following his service with the Army’s Third Armored Division in Germany he moved to Idaho in 1972.  He entered the University of Idaho College of Law and graduated in 1976.  Bill served as law clerk to U.S. District Judge Fred M. Taylor for two years during which he developed a keen desire for work in the courtroom.  Bill entered private practice with the insurance defense firm of Quane Smith Howard & Hull in Boise and worked on cases throughout the state including litigation arising from the 1976 Teton Dam disaster.  He joined the Boise firm of Langroise, Sullivan and Smylie in 1981 seeking a more general trial practice until an opening occurred in the U.S. Attorney’s office in Boise.  In 1983, Bill was appointed an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Idaho and handled a wide variety of both civil and criminal federal matters throughout the state.  In 1984, Bill was honored to be court-appointed as the acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Idaho.  

In 1987, Bill left the U.S. Attorney’s office to join a new litigation team formed within the Legal Department of Boise Cascade Corporation.  The nationwide nature of this litigation practice as an Associate General Counsel with Boise Cascade involved personal injury, employment law, products liability, and insurance cases in numerous state and federal courts across the United States and Canada.  Along with this workload, Bill enjoyed many years of involvement with the Idaho State Bar’s Litigation Section and the Federal Bar Association.  When Boise Cascade Corporation merged with OfficeMax Inc. in 2003, the scope of his practice further expanded to include management of litigation in nearly every state in the union.  After 25 years and nearly a million airline miles, Bill retired from OfficeMax in 2012 with many cherished memories of mentors and colleagues in the bar and within the state and federal court systems.

Bill currently enjoys water skiing, traveling, and fly fishing as much as possible. He is most proud of his wife of 55 years, Gemma, and their three children, Dr. Hilary Dunstan of Boise, Dr. Laura Howard of Sacramento, CA., and Nicholas VanHole of Missoula, MT. Six beautiful grandchildren also provide a mountain of joy and inspiration for Bill’s retirement years.

Steven C. Verby

Steve Verby graduated from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1972, with a major in psychology, a minor in history, and a teaching certificate. He expected to become a high school teacher and coach, but his path soon changed. In 1973, he entered law school in Moscow, Idaho. During his third year, he met Tamara Love, who became his wife shortly after he was admitted to the Bar.

Steve began his legal career in Boise, where he worked with a great attorney, Jack Gjording, at Elam-Burke. He later served as a deputy prosecutor in the Boise City Attorney’s Office. Drawn by the beauty of North Idaho’s mountains, lakes, and forests, Steve and Tamara moved to Coeur d’Alene, where he again worked as a deputy prosecutor. In 1979 they moved to Sandpoint, which became their permanent home.

During his 26 years in practice, Steve built a distinguished career as a trial lawyer, primarily representing plaintiffs. A fiercely driven competitor, he found trial work to be the ultimate test. He tried many cases, winning the vast majority. While he loved winning, he hated losing even more, and that drive fueled his work.

Throughout his career, Steve combined legal excellence with his desire to help humanity. At age 52, when the District Judge position in Sandpoint became vacant, Steve decided he could help more people from the bench than in private practice. He won the election and took office in 2003. As a full-time District Judge, Steve was assigned over 8,500 cases, more than any other District Judge in Idaho during that time period. Of 205 appealed decisions, only 13 were reversed. Six were affirmed in part and reversed in part, and the remaining 186 were affirmed or dismissed. Those numbers reflect both his work ethic and the soundness of his decision-making. 

As a Senior Judge, Steve no longer conducts hearings or trials, but his work came full circle. Returning to his early interest in teaching, he trained Idaho judges in how to conduct criminal mediations. Steve also served on several Idaho Supreme Court advisory committees, including the Criminal Rules Advisory Committee, the Evidence Rules Advisory Committee, and the Civil Jury Instruction Advisory Committee. Throughout his career, he was a leader—as president of the Student Bar Association in law school, as the President of the Idaho Trial Lawyers Association, the District Judges Association, and the Sandpoint Rotary Club. He was also the first recipient of the “Trial Lawyer of the Year” award.

Steve is also known for his humor and warmth. He loves making people smile and laugh. His quick wit, jokes, and puns have long been part of his personality.

Peter C. Wagstaff

Peter grew up in a U.S. Army family that moved 14 times during his school years. He found a stable situation in four years at Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, New Hampshire. Peter ultimately graduated from Stanford and Cornell Law School.

In considering his employment prospects, he learned from his father, a native of Portland, Oregon, that his grandfather had described Coeur d’Alene as “paradise.” Peter agrees! He arrived there in 1975 as a VISTA attorney with Idaho Legal Aid. He completed two years of national service, representing clients in consumer credit and landlord-tenant law. That was followed by 13 years as an attorney in private practice, with an eventual focus in business and real estate law. He litigated in the courthouses of the six northern counties, at government agencies, and in various federal courts.

Peter also held leadership positions in the Kootenai County and First District bars. In 1986, he was elected by the attorneys in the First District to represent them for a three-year term on the Board of Commissioners of the Idaho State Bar. He served as president of the Board in 1989.

In 1991, he transitioned to a non-legal financial advisor position with Merrill/Bank of America. He participated in opening the Merrill office in Coeur d’Alene and represented clients for over 20 years. Then, striking out on his own, he managed his own investment advisory company in the LPL Financial network for eight years. Peter continued to attend bar functions during that time. He also volunteered with the Kootenai Health Foundation, Rotary, and his church. In 2022, he retired at the age of 72 after 46 years of service to the North Idaho community.

Peter and his spouse, Anne, have been married for 47 years. They enjoy quality time in retirement with their two sons and daughters-in-law, and four grandchildren. Peter spends his spare time in outdoor recreation, including rowing, running, golf, skiing and backpacking. He values the support provided by Anne and his family during this colorful career.

Peter has been fortunate to enjoy memorable relationships with clients, bar members and staff. He appreciates the support that the Idaho State Bar delivers as part of its significant public service. With its friendly social connections and scenic landscapes, Idaho is a place that Peter is happy to call home.

Thomas G. Walker

After graduating from Georgetown University in 1967 with a degree in Finance, Thomas Walker spent about six years working in his family’s Coors Beer distributorship in Twin Falls. When the plan to buy out his father didn’t work out as he had hoped, his father asked what he wanted to do instead. Out of the blue, he thought he’d go to law school. With some help from Tom’s folks and his wife, Donna, who supported them and their two young daughters, while he earned a J.D. from the University of Idaho in 1975 and L.L.M. in Taxation from the University of Miami in 1977.

Tom has been practicing since April 1976. When he returned to Idaho from Miami, he was one of fewer than ten tax lawyers in the state. While he started as a tax lawyer, he always loved learning new things, so Tom branched into civil litigation. Over the years, he handled everything from civil RICO cases to a memorable 59-day construction defect trial that convinced him to shift back toward what he loved most: representing entrepreneurs and small business owners.

Tom’s practice has focused on complex litigation, business succession planning, estate and trust work, and family wealth preservation. He has handled cases before state and federal courts in Idaho and beyond, covering minority shareholder disputes, securities violations, tax controversies, and breach of contract matters.

Now at 80, Tom is still practicing law. Rather than retiring, he has transitioned to what he calls his “Next Phase”—focusing on complex litigation consulting for other attorneys, business law, and wrapping up existing matters while stepping back from routine estate planning work.

Donna and Tom have been married for 58 years. They have two daughters, Curi and Stephanie, three grandsons (Austin, Tyler, and Tommy), and one granddaughter (Parker). In September of 2024, they completed the Camino de Santiago in Spain, finishing their pilgrimage at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. After 50 years of law practice and countless miles walked together, that journey felt like a fitting celebration.

People often ask if Tom is retired. He always says no, though he’s not entirely sure why. After 50 years, he still doesn’t know any better. Or maybe he just loves what he does.

Robert A. Wallace

Mostly retired now, Robert Wallace is a Californian by birth and educated at the original Regent’s College in San Francisco. He married a Pocatello gal, and they moved to Boise immediately upon graduation. Robert’s private Idaho law practice ended in a small office general, commercial, trial, and criminal defense shop. Before that, Robert has held perhaps 10 public service jobs and appointments. He was committed to pro bono service and even ran for statewide office.

He fully lived Idaho’s solid, Intermountain West values, culture, and incomparable outdoor lifestyle. Ten years ago, he wanted more. He moved to New York City for family, reconnecting with them individually and his Judaism. His present family enjoy New York’s cultural and international diversity from Manhattan’s Upper East Side, the Tri-State area, Israel, their history, and access to travel.

In 2019, the New York City Bar Chorus admitted Robert as a Baritone, and they appeared that year in Carnegie Hall. He was recently “promoted” to Bass II. Related to this, he was blessed with a referral from another singer to Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Harrison where he worked nearly three years. Nobody was and remains more surprised by all of this than Robert himself.

Robert has a 42-year-old daughter who recently moved back to Northern California. In NYC, Robert and his steady girlfriend are making excellent progress successively exceeding the duration of each of their three prior marriages.

Stanley W. Welsh

Stanley Welsh graduated from the University of Idaho College of Law. He resides in Meridian with his wife, Regina.

Michael B. White

After graduating from the University of Idaho College of Law in 1976, Michael White and his wife moved to Boise to look for employment opportunities. Upon successfully completing the Bar Exam, he was hired as a staff attorney at Idaho Power Company in Boise. He worked for Idaho Power for three and a half years.

While reviewing the October 1979 issue of The Advocate, he came upon an advertised attorney position opening with Hecla Mining Company, with corporate headquarters in Wallace, Idaho. He applied and was hired as a staff corporate attorney commencing on Valentine’s Day 1980. They moved to Wallace and Michael commenced his career at Hecla that would continue for 45 years.

Hecla moved its corporate headquarters to Coeur d’Alene in 1986. He was appointed as General Counsel in 1986 and as Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary in 1992. As General Counsel, he retained and worked with many outstanding law firms and attorneys throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The areas of practice included labor, mining and contract law to securities, corporate, and environmental law. He managed and provided legal support for many major financing, acquisitions, mergers, and divestitures. Toward the end of his career his legal responsibilities focused on environmental matters including the defense of CERLA (superfund) claims associated with Hecla’s historical mining operations throughout the west. He stepped down as Vice President and General Counsel in 2010 and as Corporate Secretary in 2025.

Michael is pleased to have assisted Hecla in successful appeals before the Idaho and Colorado Supreme Courts. He was also able to provide legal support to help settle multiple CERCLA claims relations to Hecla’s historical mining operation, including the Bunker Hill and Coeur d’Alene Basin Superfund Sites. He has a proud multiyear involvement with the Idaho Department of Labor Workforce Advisory Council.

As a fourth generation Idahoan boring in Sandpoint and growing up in the small town of Clark Ford, he went to undergrad at the University of Idaho and law school. Michael’s father was a strong influence on continuing his education into law school. He and his wife, Debbie, live in Coeur d’Alene and he is fully retired other than a 25-year involvement with an attorney friend involving a Spokane winery named “Barrister Winery.” He has a son, Ryan, who is also a graduate of the University of Idaho who is currently working as Chief of Staff for Senator Jim Risch. Michael has a stepdaughter (daughter), Caitlin, who graduated from the University of Idaho College of Law and is employed as an in-house corporate attorney in Coeur d’Alene. They have three grandchildren, all living in Idaho.

Everett T. Wohlers

Everett’s career path has been characterized by changes in course. He went to the US Military Academy intending to be a career Army officer. After he was commissioned in 1968, he served in a tank battalion in Germany and a cavalry squadron in Vietnam. In 1971, he transferred to Ordnance branch and, after graduating from the Defense Nuclear Agency school, he taught nuclear weapons tech courses to the civilian technicians who maintained the Army’s nuclear arsenal.

In 1974, he left the Army and went to the University of Texas Law School, graduating in 1976. He moved to Boise and went to work in the Secretary of State’s office as the Deputy Secretary for Commercial Affairs, i.e., managing the corporation, UCC, TM, and notary functions.  He worked there until 1998.

In early 1978, he joined the Idaho Army National Guard as a Judge Advocate officer.  He served in several positions, including Staff Judge Advocate (SJA) for the 116th Cavalry Brigade and SJA for the State of Idaho.  He retired as a colonel at the end of 1998.

When he left the Secretary of State’s office in early 1998, Everett joined NIC, the parent company of Access Idaho, where he served as the director of business development and managed the business analysis function on application development projects in a number of states.

In the summer of 2003, he left NIC and became a consultant, assisting developing countries with building legal frameworks for secured lending and business organization, and with developing the registry technology to support them. He free-lanced for the first four years with the World Bank Group (WBG), the Asian Development Bank and USAID. In late 2007, he developed a long-term relationship with the International Finance Corporation, which is part of the WBG, doing secured lending law and registry development.

When the COVID pandemic shut down international air travel in early 2020, it was time to retire. Over the course of his consulting work from 2003 to 2020, Everett managed reforms or assessments and/or spoke at development conferences in 49 foreign countries, mostly in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, and East Asia and the Pacific.  He had many interesting experiences, the most interesting of which was witnessing Al Qaeda’s bombing of the US embassy in Yemen in 2008.

Everett has been retired since 2020. He and his wife, Bev, live in Eagle. They make good use of the trails systems, and they have done a fair amount of international and domestic travel for pleasure in retirement. Everett’s daughter and her husband and two adult kids live in the Spokane area, and his son and his wife and high school-age son live in Meridian. Bev’s son and his wife live in Tucson, AZ.

Lawrence Wong

Lawrence Wong, Senior Partner of Wong & Jiang LLP, brings over 50 years of real-world experience serving clients in California, and he is the first Cantonese-Chinese admitted to the Idaho State Bar.

He has been admitted to practice law in the State of Idaho since 1976, and in California since June 23, 1978. He received his B.A. in economics from University of California, Berkeley in 1972, and his J.D. from University of California, College of the Law, San Francisco, 1975.

He is experienced in presenting cases persuasively and engaging effectively with judges, juries, and opposing counsel. He pivots quickly in response to new information or changes in the courtroom dynamic.

Every one of his attorneys are knowledgeable in developing tailored strategies that align with clients’ goals while considering the specifics of the case, potential risks, and the opposing party’s tactics. All of his attorneys have strong analytical skills and the ability to navigate complex legal matters effectively in English and in Mandarin Chinese.

He credits his Idaho lawyer colleagues John Gannon (Boise), John Radin (Idaho Falls) deceased, for their friendship and support in Idaho. Special tribute is given to John Denman (Idaho Falls) deceased, for giving him the opportunity to join Denman, Reeves, and Ohman in 1976.

Special tribute is also given to the charismatic Reginald Reeves (Idaho Falls) deceased, who mentored him throughout his tenure at his law firm. Of all the lawyers he has come across in his career, Reginald was the most impressive, a lawyer of great dignity, honor, and integrity.

Lawrence’s wife, Marien, and his son, Matt, are doing well. He has resided in Atherton and Alamo, California for the past 46 years. He will always treasure the beautiful memories of Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Boise, and the Idaho Panhandle.

Hon. R. Barry Wood

Judge Barry Wood graduated from the University of Idaho College of Law. He first started practicing law in 1976 including a short stint as the elected Prosecuting Attorney of Owyhee County. Starting in 1987, he is a state court judge, including being a senior district judge following retirement in 2010. He served as both a Magistrate Judge and a District Judge. Judge Wood served as Administrative District Judge for more than 10 years and served as the SRBA District Judge for two years.

He enjoys his family and their time together. He also spends a lot of time in the great outdoors.

Scott D. Woodbury

Scott Woodbury was born in New Hampshire, raised in Illinois and received his undergraduate and law degrees from Creighton University. Upon graduation Scott moved to Idaho. His professional experience consisted of work as a public defender in Ada County (1976-78), private practice in Pocatello (1978-80), and Idaho City (1980), as assistant city attorney and chief criminal deputy for the City of Boise (1981-85), and as a deputy attorney general for the State of Idaho assigned to the Public Utilities Commission (1985-2011).

Scott has had the good fortune of observing, associating with, and learning the craft of law from attorneys, judges, and commissioners and has enjoyed the benefits of working with other seasoned professionals (accountants, engineers, economists) and legal staff.

To the gatekeepers who opened the doors and to the lantern bearers who lit the way, Scott expresses great gratitude. Through them he learned the importance of maintaining moral integrity and the importance of serving the common good and acting justly and ethically.

Finally, and perhaps of most significance, Scott has had the good fortune of his marriage of 42 years to Michele Tae. She is a life partner with whom he shares love, trust, and respect and one to whom he confidently turns to for advice and perspective.