In Memoriam, November - December 2022

Donna J. Altis, age 63, of Pleasant Hill, on Sept. 7, 2022. Altis founded the Law Office of Donna J. Altis.

Hon. Stephen W. Angle, age 74, of Warrensburg, on June 17, 2022. Angle practiced law in Warrensburg for 24 years and served as associate circuit judge for Johnson County for 20 years. He graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1977.

Hon. George Milton Bock, age 75, of Leawood, KS, on Sept. 4, 2022. Bock was a federal law administrative judge and a partner at Slagle and Barnard. He graduated from the University of Missouri School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1972. Bock served in the Missouri National Guard.

Richard E. “Rick” Boyle, age 85, of Belleville, IL, on June 18, 2022. Boyle worked as a civil defense trial lawyer at Boyle Brasher. He graduated from the University of Illinois School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1985. Boyle served in the U.S. Air Force.

Stephen S. Brown, age 76, of Kansas City, on Sept. 3, 2022. Brown worked at Niewald, Risjord, & Waldeck – now Brown & Ruprecht – his whole career, including as senior partner. He graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1971. Brown received The Missouri Bar Foundation’s Lon O. Hocker Award in 1981.

Robert T. “Bob” Budenholzer, age 62, of Chesterfield, on March 2, 2022. Budenholzer practiced as a corporate lawyer. He graduated from Saint Louis University School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1993.

Brandon David Burkhart, age 37, of Kansas City, on Feb. 11, 2022. Burkhart owned Burkhart Law Group LLC, where he focused on employee rights. He graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 2013.

Irving L. “Buddy” Cooper, age 91, of Creve Coeur, on May 12, 2022. Cooper practiced law in Clayton and served on the staff of two Missouri attorneys general. He graduated from Washington University School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1955. Cooper served in the U.S. Army as a judge advocate general officer.

Hon. Richard “Rick” Dennis Copeland, age 77, of Webb City, on Aug. 17, 2022. Copeland served as associate circuit judge for the 29th Circuit Court for 34 years and then as senior judge for the state. He graduated from the University of Missouri and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1972. Copeland served in the U.S. Army.

William J. “Bill” DeBauche, age 65, of Kansas City, on March 5, 2022. DeBauche practiced for over 40 years and was a professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law. He graduated from the University of Michigan School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1982.

James T. Dodds, age 82, of St. Louis, on Sept. 5, 2022. Dodds ran the family bank and taught science courses at John Burroughs and Priory Schools. He was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1966.

Gary A. Eberhardt, age 81, of St. Louis, on July 2, 2022. Eberhardt was a lawyer at Greensfelder Hemker & Gale PC Law Firm for over 50 years, and he served in the U.S. Army. He was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1971.

Harry “Pat” Losos Esserman Jr., age 89, of St. Louis, on Aug. 18, 2022. Esserman was senior vice president of Commerce Bank of St. Louis after working at Tower Grove Bank, the U.S. Department of Energy Savannah River Site, and St. Clair Finance Co. of Illinois. He graduated from Washington University School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1974.

James David Farris, age 82, of Atchison, KS, on Jan. 23, 2022. Farris owned and operated a law practice for over 50 years. He also served as the city attorney for Atchison for over 25 years. He graduated from Washburn University School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1987. Farris served in the U.S. Army.

Richard E. “Dick” Fister, age 90, of St. Louis, on Sept. 11, 2022. Fister was president of Continental Bank and Trust and Tower Grove Bank, as well as founder of Fister & Associates and Virginia Broadcasting Corp. He later became assistant to the president at Saint Louis University and taught finance. He graduated from Saint Louis University School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1955.

Patrick Michael Flachs, age 72, of Wildwood, on June 22, 2022. Flachs was assistant U.S. attorney and in charge of organizing and directing an Environmental Crimes Task Force for the Eastern District of Missouri. He graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1996. Flachs served as a judge advocate general officer in the U.S. Army.

Mark G. Flaherty, age 72, of Kansas City, on April 27, 2022. Flaherty owned and operated his own practice, focusing on health, medical, labor, and employment law. He was also general counsel for the Health Forward Foundation. He graduated from the University of Kansas School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1977. Flaherty served in the U.S. Army.

Eugene J. “Gene” Gabianelli, age 90, of St. Louis, on July 29, 2022. Gabianelli was a lawyer at Allen and Allen – later known as Lewis Rice Tucker Allen and Chubb. He graduated from the University of Michigan School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1959. Gabianelli served in the U.S. Army.

Hon. Edward C. Graham, age 74, of Redondo Beach, CA, on Dec. 22, 2020. Graham served as a federal administrative law judge for 27 years. Prior to that, Graham was a corporate lawyer in Kansas City, as well as prosecuting attorney, associate circuit judge, and a lawyer with the Missouri Public Service Commission. He graduated from the University of Missouri School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1971.

Richard A. “Rick” Harmon, age 67, of St. Louis, on Feb. 21, 2021. Harmon’s practice focused on engineering; mergers and acquisitions; investment banking; and manufacturing, among other matters. He graduated from Washington University School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1987.

Aundre “Toni” M. Herron, age 69, of San Francisco, CA, on July 20, 2022. Herron was senior staff attorney at the California Appellate Project. She graduated from Boston University School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1982.

Larrie C. Hindman, age 85, of Naples, FL, on July 28, 2022. Hindman was a partner at Morrison & Hecker LLP – now Stinson Leonard Street LLP – where he focused his practice on real estate law. He graduated from the University of Iowa School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1963.

Michael P. Howe, age 68, of Lenexa, KS, on Aug. 24, 2022. Howe was deputy city attorney in Lenexa and Kansas City, Kansas. He also practiced with Lewis, Rice and Fingersh. He later was executive director of the Sarasota-Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization. He graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law.

William B. “Bill” Houston, age 83, of Houston, on April 26, 2022. Houston was a tax lawyer in the oil and gas industry, working for Phillips Petroleum, Monsanto, and Marathon Oil Company. He graduated from the University of Denver School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1974. Houston served in the U.S. Army.

Hal Edward Hunter III, age 78, of New Madrid, on May 14, 2022. Hunter practiced law in New Madrid County for over 50 years. He graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1970. Hunter served as a judge staff advocate and state judge advocate in the U.S. Army.

Todd Eric Irelan, age 48, of Columbia, on April 28, 2022. Irelan operated his law firm in Columbia and previously worked at Inglish & Monaco Law Firm. He graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 2008.

Danielle Lee Elam-Jobe, age 48, of Kansas City, on March 17, 2021. Elam-Jobe worked at Legal Aid of Western Missouri, where she served clients dealing with domestic violence, drug and alcohol abuse, homelessness, and mental health issues. She graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 2005.

Ned O. Lemkemeier, age 85, of St. Louis, on June 13, 2022. Lemkemeier was a labor and employment lawyer for over 50 years. He co-founded Spoehrer & Lemkemeier Law Firm before it merged with Bryan Cave, now Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner. He was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1962.

Robert D. Lewis, age 75, of Springfield, on Aug. 1, 2022. Lewis owned and operated a private practice. Prior to that, he worked at the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office and Greene County Prosecutor’s Office. He graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1977. Lewis served in the U.S. Army.

Rebecca T. Magruder, age 70, of St. Louis, on July 30, 2022. Magruder was a mediator and lawyer in St. Louis, as well as an adjunct professor at Saint Louis University School of Law. She was also a founding member of the Collaborative Family Law Association. She was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1996.

John L. Manring, age 63, of St. Joseph, on Sept. 9, 2022. Manring was a lawyer in St. Joseph and Rock Port. He graduated from the University of Missouri School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1984.

Larry S.S. Dale Maples, age 73, of Joplin, on Feb. 9, 2022. Maples was a Missouri state public defender. He graduated from the University of Missouri School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1976.

Hon. Thomas P. McBride, age 78, of St. Joseph, on June 18, 2022. McBride owned and operated his own law practice, as well as served as a prosecuting attorney, city attorney, and judge. He graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1976. McBride served in the U.S. Navy.

Hon. Edmond J. McElligott, age 91, of Independence, on Aug. 9, 2022. McElligott was assistant prosecutor for Jackson County and co-founded McElligott, Ewan & Hall P.C. He also served as municipal court judge for Independence. He graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1955. McElligott served in the Judge Advocate Generals Corps with the U.S. Air Force.

Lynn G. McGuire, age 88, of Leawood, KS, on July 20, 2022. McGuire was a lawyer with the IRS in Kansas City. She graduated from the Pennsylvania School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1981.

Hon. Thomas Michael O’Shea, age 93, of St. Louis, on Sept. 14, 2022. O’Shea served as a probate judge for the City of St. Louis before becoming a circuit court judge. He was also a mediator in the Missouri Court of Appeals. He graduated from Saint Louis University School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1953. O’Shea served in the U.S. Army.

Kent K. Reynolds, age 62, of St. Louis, on March 12, 2022. Reynolds was a securities lawyer and worked in investment banking. He graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1993.

Hon. Kenneth M. Romines, age 80, of Webster Groves, on Oct. 3, 2022. Romines was a judge for the Missouri Court of Appeals-Eastern District and circuit judge for St. Louis County. Prior to that, he was an assistant Missouri attorney general and a private practice lawyer. He graduated from the University of Mississippi School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1969.

Carol P. Rosenbaum, age 82, of Lincolnwood, IL, on March 18, 2022. Rosenbaum was a lawyer for the U.S. Army Troop Support Command in St. Louis. Rosenbaum graduated from Washington University School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1974.

Charles Ross Rhoades, age 75, of Neosho, on April 11, 2022. Rhoades founded C. R. Rhoades, P.C. and served clients in Southwest Missouri for 50 years. He graduated from the University of Missouri School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1973. Rhoades served in the U.S. Army.

Douglas B. Salsbury, age 68, of Eureka, on Feb. 19, 2022. Salsbury co-founded Miller/Salsbury Law Firm. He graduated from Washburn University School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1979.

William A. “Bill” Shull III, age 71, of Warrensburg, on June 30, 2022. Shull worked as managing attorney at Legal Aid of Western Missouri. He graduated from the University of Missouri School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1979.

Howard Smotkin, age 61, of St. Louis, on Aug. 9, 2022. Smotkin practiced law for more than 30 years – 25 of those at Stone, Leyton and Gershman. Smotkin was also the co-founder and general counsel to Meds & Foods for Kids. Smotkin received a 2022 Pro Bono Award posthumously. He graduated from Saint Louis University School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1986.

Gene Spitzmiller, age 70, of Sikeston, on July 29, 2022. Spitzmiller owned and operated a law office, where he also practiced as a certified public accountant. In addition, he worked as a hearing officer for the Missouri Personnel Advisory Board. He graduated from Washington University School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1977. Spitzmiller served in the U.S. Army.

Stephen S. Wyse, age 55, of Columbia, on June 6, 2022. Wyse founded Wyse Law Firm in Columbia. He graduated from the University of Missouri School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1998. Wyse served in the U.S. Army.