.2405081353550.png)
Congratulations to Steve who was presented with his 50th Year Ohio Bar pin on Tuesday, May 7th at a Recognition Luncheon held at the Athletic Club of Columbus.
Michelle Kranz, the Ohio Bar President spoke and reminded all of us that when Steve and the other Honorees passed the Bar exam, the protests on college campuses were protesting the US involvement in the Vietnam war and that President Richard Nixon was embroiled in the Watergate controversy and ultimately resigned as President.
She also reminded us how different the practice of law was then. For instance, if you wanted to communicate with a client or opposing counsel, it was done face-to face in a meeting room or by telephone. Letters were prepared on typewriters with carbon paper and pleadings were typed on legal-sized paper with a line on the left edge called “pleading paper”. Schedules/calendars were maintained in little booklets and we had filing cabinets everywhere to store all our files and documents.
While technology has a positive influence on our lives and the practice of law, it also can have the negative aspect of losing touch with people and how to talk to one another. This is a talent that Steve’s generation knows and understands very well. Ms. Kranz encouraged the group to mentor the younger generation of lawyers in what she called “civility”. I would argue that Steve has perfected the art of “civility” and how to talk to people.
Steve’s dedication to his career, the firm and our clients is commendable. He is passionate about the law and able to craft creative solutions for both the law firm and our clients. Like all great lawyers, he is a logical thinker but also has a curious side that makes him flexible and able to embrace to all the changes Ms. Kranz described in her speech. Finally, Steve is compassionate. He truly sees the good in all of us and cares about people and we are all better because of his example and influence.