Years of service: 44
What was your path to Lewis & Clark?
I quickly burned out while working as an antitrust attorney in a large law firm. A friend, Vince Blasi (now a faculty member at Columbia), advised me to look into teaching. Lewis & Clark was one of three schools that offered me a position and the only one in an attractive location. Doug Newell started working here in 1971 and I began a year later. He led the charge to get the law school its national accreditation and I joined him in that effort. It was one of the first major developments I had a hand in at the school.
What have been your favorite courses to teach?
All of them. Over the years I taught Civil Procedure, Conflict of Laws, Antitrust, Administrative Law, Federal Courts, and Energy Law.
What have you enjoyed most about your work?
The super staff, sensational faculty, and terrific students.
What do you consider to be your most memorable moment?
Being honored by my former students with an endowed professorship in my name is quite memorable, in addition to working on obtaining national accreditation for the law school. I do recall a few complaints from my students, as well. I taught a 9 p.m. civil procedure course in which students would sometimes fall asleep. I had a trick to keep them awake, though. I always maintained eye contact. At some point during class I would say, “There are four people asleep at this moment.” Everyone would wake up and look around to see who the guilty parties were.
If you hadn’t gone into law, what would you have done?
Sales or acting, although I’d probably be a poor actor. I love sales. I like the idea of marketing a product and bringing out the best of it that I can. Professor Ed Belsheim, who taught at Lewis & Clark from 1972 to 1992, was the best salesperson I knew.
What is your favorite place on campus?
The lectern in Room 2 is where I want to be.
What are you most proud of?
The great progress of Lewis & Clark Law School. I taught a bit at Emory School of Law and in my mind, the two schools are no different in quality.
What’s next for you?
I’m not sure. I’ve been extremely lucky in my career. Retirement will be a challenge for me, but life is good.
