Bill Engle, writing for the Palladium-Item, has a nice article about Richmond attorney, Bob Burton, retiring on August 31 after 50 years practicing law in Richmond. This one is of particular interest to me because I can’t tell you how much the Burtons meant to my childhood. His son, Matt, being my best friend, I was a permanent fixture in the Burton household in the 70s and 80s. Bob and the rest of the family were beyond kind to me. While I have to give my own family priority in terms of childhood influences, Bob and Kathy Burton come in as a not terribly distant second. So, it makes me happy to see Bob get some recognition for a long and productive career in the law.
From the article:
Burton built a reputation for being thorough and professional.
“Bob was absolutely excellent at preparing a case,” said former Wayne Superior Court I Judge P. Thomas Snow, who is now judge of the county’s 4D Court. “As a judge, I respected him. He was always completely prepared and really skilled in the court room.
“All the judges appreciated that because it made everybody’s job easier. He was an excellent practitioner of the law as well as a really capable trial attorney,” he said.
“Bob was just a class act. He was a wonderful attorney and did a great job for his clients,” said Wayne Superior Court II Judge Greg Horn. “When I was a young attorney, he was always there and always willing to help. I’ve never forgotten that.”
Lawyers are traditionally really bad at retiring. They’re like old soldiers and tend to fade away from their firms rather than flipping a switch and being done with the business. It’s my understanding that Bob has been winding things down for awhile now. Hopefully he enjoys a long and enjoyable retirement and plenty of time with all of his grand kids.
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