Washburn Law Faculty and Alumni Receive
Kansas Bar Association Awards
Washburn University School of Law faculty members and alumni received awards at the Installation and Awards Dinner held during the Kansas Bar Association Annual Meeting and Joint Judicial Conference on June 19.
The following awards were presented to Washburn Law faculty members and alumni:
Pro Bono Certificates of Appreciation
The Kansas Bar Association awards Pro Bono Certificates of Appreciation to lawyers who:
- Are not employed full time by an organization that has as its primary purpose the provision of free legal service to the poor;
- With no expectation of receiving a fee, have provided direct delivery of legal services in civil or criminal matters to a client or client group that does not have the resources to employ compensated counsel;
- Have made a voluntary contribution of a significant portion of time to providing legal services to the poor without charge; and/or
- Whose voluntary contributions have resulted in increased access to legal services on the part of low- and moderate income persons.
Karl G. Johnson, '77
Karl Johnson is a solo practitioner in Fairway with a civil practice, handling domestic law, Social Security disability, and family law mediation and collaborative divorce cases.
Prior to his private practice, Johnson was an attorney with Kansas Legal Services. Initially hired as a staff attorney in the Horton office in 1978, he practiced civil law throughout northeast Kansas, although his primary focus was representing Native Americans in district courts in rural counties and before the Bureau of Indian Affairs. From 1981 to 1984, he practiced in KLS' Topeka office and focused solely on domestic violence cases and served as legal liaison to the Battered Women's Shelter; from 1984 to 1988, his practice included tenant's rights representation in private and public housing, public benefit, and consumer law; from 1988 to 1998, he was the managing attorney in the Olathe office, where he received funding for the first mediation grant from the 10th Judicial District and successfully received funding for a domestic violence project funded by the United Way of Olathe; and, from 1998 to 2004, he was the manager of KLS' Kansas City, Kansas, office, in addition to the Olathe office, where his legal practice was in the areas of elder law, adult and children's Social Security disability work, and Chapter 7 bankruptcies.
Johnson has been a Kansas Supreme Court certified mediator since 1997, primarily doing family law mediations. He received his law degree from Washburn University School of Law.
Paula D. Langworthy, '06
Paula Langworthy, who grew up in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, is an attorney with the Wichita firm of Triplett, Woolf & Garretson LLC, where she practices business litigation and contested estate litigation. She attended Northeastern State University, Tahlequah, where she received her bachelor's degree in 2000 and graduated with honors from Washburn University School of Law in 2005. She currently serves as co-editor of the Kansas Bar Association Young Lawyers Section newsletter, "The YLS Forum." Langworthy serves on the Derby Economic Development Board, the Wichita Cultural Arts Steering Committee, and is chairperson of the board of trustees for the Mid-America All-Indian Center in Wichita (MAAIC), where she has witnessed tremendous progress toward the revitalization of the MAAIC.
In 2006, Langworthy was appointed to MAAIC's board of trustees and elected chairperson in 2007. She was reappointed in 2008 and 2009. During her time as chairperson, the board of trustees has reorganized itself and is now operating with 14 members. In addition, MAAIC amended its outdated bylaws, created and adopted policies and procedures, established an operating plan, and developed and implemented a successful marketing and membership plan, increasing membership from 19 to 199 in one year's time. The board also created a Mission Circle group to allow better access to MAAIC by groups and organizations that share the same mission as MAAIC. Currently, the board is in the process of creating and implementing cultural classes and programs, renovating the Indian encampment exhibit, and developing a fundraising plan for the center. Financially, MAAIC is in the best position that it has been in a long time; it has retired all debt that was owed to the city of Wichita.
Professor Lynette F. Petty, '87
Professor Lynette Petty is an associate professor at Washburn University School of Law, who has taught in the Washburn Law Clinic since 1992. She worked for Kansas Legal Services in both the Topeka and Kansas City offices and was project director before joining the Clinic staff.
Prior to attending law school, Petty taught in public schools and was a house parent for dependent-neglected teenage boys. Her experiences fueled her interests in representing children in the foster care system, people with disabilities, and clients in domestic relations cases.
Outstanding Young Lawyer Award
The Outstanding Young Lawyer Award recognizes the efforts of a Kansas Bar Association Young Lawyers Section member who has rendered meritorious service to the legal profession, the community, or the KBA.
Angel R. Zimmerman, '06
Angel R. Zimmerman, of Topeka, is the managing attorney for the collection law firm of Valentine & Zimmerman P.A., where her husband, Larry Zimmerman, is a partner. At the firm, she and Larry employ more than 20 individuals, handling approximately 70,000 open files at any given time.
While maintaining her collections practice, she is an active member of many professional associations, including the Washburn Law Board of Governors, Kansas Women Attorneys Association, Women Attorneys Association of Topeka, J. Reuben Clark Law Society Women in Law Kansas/Missouri, incoming president of the HUBNET national software users group for 2010, and appointed to the Government Affairs Committee for the National Association for Retail Collection Attorneys.
She was the inaugural president of the Kansas Bar Association's Law Practice Management Section and is co-editor of the Young Lawyers Section's "The YLS Forum" newsletter. Zimmerman received her law degree from Washburn University School of Law in 2006.
Distinguished Government Service Award
The Distinguished Government Service Award recognizes a lawyer who has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to government service. The recipient shall be a Kansas lawyer, preferably a member of the Kansas Bar Association, who has demonstrated accomplishments above and beyond those expected from persons engaged in similar government service. The award is only given in those years when it is determined that there is a recipient worthy of such award.
C. William "Bill" Ossmann, '77
Bill Ossmann has been the chief litigation attorney for the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services in Topeka since 1997. His responsibilities include directing and coordinating the legal defense of the state, the agency, and its employees in federal and state courts; and he also serves as a member of the agency's Management Team.
Ossmann was in private practice for a short time following his admission to the bar in 1977 and early experience includes work as a Guardian ad Litem for the Shawnee County District Court. He was a criminal prosecutor from 1978 to 1993, serving as an assistant district attorney and later as first assistant district attorney in Shawnee County. He then worked with the Kansas Department of Agriculture as a special assistant attorney general from 1993 to 1997.
He serves as fire chief and emergency medical technician with Shawnee County Fire District No. 4, which covers portions of western Shawnee County and eastern Wabaunsee County. He is president of the State Capital Area Firefighters Association and is a master in the Sam A. Crow American Inn of Court. Ossmann served as past president of the Downtown Topeka Kiwanis Club, chairperson of the Kansas Crime Victims Compensation board from 1991 to 1993, Silver Lake municipal judge from 1993 to 1996, and was certified as a criminal trial specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (1992 to 1997). He was recognized by the Kansas County and District Attorney's Association as Prosecutor of the Year in 1990.
Ossmann received his Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from Kansas State University and his law degree from Washburn University School of Law. He received a master's in public administration from the University of Kansas, where he was recognized with the KU Capital Center Award for outstanding achievement in graduate study.
Professionalism Award
The Professionalism Award recognizes an individual who has practiced law for 10 or more years, who by his or her conduct, honesty, integrity, and courtesy, best exemplifies, represents, and encourages other lawyers to follow the highest standards of the legal profession.
James M. "Jim" Milliken, '69
Jim Milliken opened his St. Francis law office in the back of the old Cheyenne County State Bank (now First National Bank) on July 1, 1969. He shared a secretary with a real estate loan agent, an attorney abstractor, and an attorney banker. Soon after opening his first office, a branch office was opened in Bird City.
Milliken's practice expanded and grew from an income tax client base and now includes estate planning; probate; real estate; litigation; corporate, domestic, and commercial law; and many other areas. He served on the Board of Governors of Washburn University from 1988 to 1998.
He attended Kansas State University for two years before attending Baker University. While at Baker, he was selected to be an International Four-H Youth Exchange student and went to the Philippines for six months. After returning from the Philippines, he completed his undergraduate studies at Washburn University. After the 1966 tornado came through the Washburn University campus, Milliken awaited notice of acceptance or rejection by Washburn University School of Law. However, he was accepted and completed law school with the distinction of being a member of the only class to complete law school in "Trailer Village."
After passing the bar in 1969, under the tutelage of the Hon. Alex Hotchkiss, Milliken decided to move to St. Francis and set up his law practice. He served as Cheyenne County attorney from 1971 until 1979 and did so again in a time of need for the county from 1996 to 1997. Currently, he, Kari Milliken Gilliland, and Kevin Berens are practicing as James M. Milliken Chtd., where his philosophy has always been to provide quality legal work at a fair price.
Courageous Attorney Award
Dean Romig congratulated the many Washburn Law alumni who received awards from the Kansas Bar Association. He had the following comments about the Courageous Attorney Award.
"I am honored and very humbled by this award, but in truth this really should go to a whole organization of attorneys: the United States Army Judge Advocate General's Corps," he said.
"They are a group of attorneys who everyday selflessly serve our country and who are frequently required to courageously speak truth to power. I had a very large Corps of men and women who would have expected nothing less from me. None of the opinions we wrote or the positions we took had anything to do with politics or ideologies -- we were always focused on doing what was right; doing what the law required of us and what our military leaders expected and deserved.
"I was very much aware that any rule on detainee treatment or interrogation methods that was changed would also be applied to our soldiers on future battlefields and in future wars. Also, always on my mind was my oath of office to 'support and defend the Constitution.'
"One of the primary reasons I wanted to become a law school dean was the hope I could help instill in our future attorneys these values of selfless service, respect for the law, and moral courage to always do what is right. Thank you so much for this award," Dean Romig concluded.
The Kansas Bar Association created the Courageous Attorney Award in 2000 to recognize a lawyer who displayed exceptional courage in the face of adversity, thus, bringing credit to the legal profession. Past award recipients include a lawyer accepting the representation of a client challenging the application of the Kansas sexual predator law, a judge for his courage in the face of controversy after his decision on state public school funding thrust him into the public eye, and a deputy staff judge advocate for meritorious legal services he often performed while in Iraq, often under fire, attack, or high pressure. This award is only given in those years when it is determined that there is a worthy recipient.
Dean Thomas J. Romig
Dean Thomas J. Romig, a native of Manhattan, rose to the rank of major general and served four years as the 36th Judge Advocate General of the U.S. Army. He led and supervised an organization of more than 9,000 personnel comprised of 5,000 active and reserve military and civilian attorneys and more than 4,000 paralegal and support personnel spread throughout 328 separate offices in 22 countries. During his career, Dean Romig prosecuted felony and misdemeanor criminal cases in Texas and taught international law at the Judge Advocate General's School in Charlottesville, Virginia.
While serving as judge advocate general, he issued an opinion to Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld that proposed the use of waterboarding and other extraordinary methods of interrogation at Guantanamo Bay and Abu Graihb were in violation of the Geneva Convention, international law, and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. In October 2005, Dean Romig retired from the Army JAG Corps after 34 years of service, a few weeks after reaffirming his opinion on interrogation methods during a U.S. Senate hearing that was broadcast on national television. His military service and leadership have earned him numerous decorations and badges.
Prior to joining Washburn, he served as deputy chief counsel for operations and acting chief counsel for the Federal Aviation Administration. Dean Romig became dean of Washburn University School of Law in 2007.
He received his bachelor's degree in social sciences from Kansas State University, where he was commissioned as a lieutenant through the Army ROTC program. After serving six years as a military intelligence officer, he was selected for the Army Fully Funded Law School Program, and graduated with honors from the Santa Clara University School of Law, where he served as an editor on the Santa Clara Law Review and as a member of the Honors Moot Court Board.
Outstanding Service Award
The Outstanding Service Award is given for the purpose of recognizing lawyers and judges for service to the legal profession and/or the Kansas Bar Association and for recognizing nonlawyers for especially meritorious deeds or service that significantly advance the administration of justice or the goals of the legal profession and/or the KBA.
The Hon. Thomas Kelly Ryan, '85
Judge Thomas Kelly Ryan is a district court judge handling cases in the Family Court in Johnson County. Prior to his appointment in November 2008, he was a partner in the Overland Park firm of Gates, Biles, Shields & Ryan P.A., where his main areas of practice included family law, civil litigation, adoption, workers' compensation, and criminal defense representation. Ryan also served as an assistant district attorney in Johnson County from 1985 to 1988.
Ryan was city prosecutor for the city of Edgerton from 1992 to 2005 and returned to that city as the appointed municipal court judge from 2007 until his appointment to the district court. He also served as assistant city prosecutor in the municipal court of Fairway from 2007 to 2008.
He was the Kansas Bar Association Family Law Section CLE liaison to the KBA CLE Committee from 2002 to 2006 and later served as the Family Law Section president from 2007 to 2008. Ryan is a member of the Kansas and American (member, Family Law Section) bar associations, as well as the Johnson County Bar Association (member, Family Law Section and Family Law Bench-Bar Committee), where he served as president of the Young Lawyers Section in 1990.
Ryan earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Creighton University and his Juris Doctor from Washburn University School of Law. He recently completed the General Jurisdiction course of studies at the National Judicial College in Reno, Nevada.
Brian M. Vazquez, '79
Brian Vazquez is the deputy general counsel for the Kansas Health Policy Authority (KHPA) in Topeka. His primary duties involve oversight of the KHPA's legal support for the Medicaid program in Kansas. He continues to be the administrator of the Estate Recovery Unit for Kansas, a position he has held since the program was established by the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services in 1992. Vazquez previously served as a U.S. Air Force judge advocates general officer, a Westlaw attorney, an assistant city attorney for the city of Topeka, and has been in private practice. He contributes his time to continuing legal education through writing and making CLE presentations, including being a contributing author on the Kansas Bar Association's Kansas Long-Term Care Handbook.
Vazquez earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Kansas State University and his law degree from Washburn University School of Law. He has more than 29 years of legal experience.
Phil Lewis Medal of Distinction
The Phil Lewis Medal of Distinction is reserved for individuals or organizations in Kansas who have performed outstanding and conspicuous service at the state, national, or international level in the administration of justice, science, the arts, government, philosophy, law, or any other field offering relief or enrichment to others. A recipient of this award need not be a member of the legal profession or related to it, but the recipient's service may include responsibility and honor within the legal profession. This award is only given in those years when it is determined that there is a worthy recipient.
Chief Justice Kay McFarland, retired, '64
Chief Justice Kay McFarland, retired, of Topeka, has a career as a jurist that spans some 37 years and includes some notable firsts. McFarland was born in Coffeyville, but grew up in Topeka, where her late father, Dr. Kenneth McFarland, was the former superintendent of Coffeyville and Topeka schools and was a nationally known lecturer and public speaker.
In her youth, McFarland had great interest in Tennessee walking horses, a breed known for its graceful movements. Midnight Secret was undefeated in the three years she showed him, winning the biggest horse shows in the country. McFarland regularly competed and, in 1958, she was world amateur champion. In 1963, she won two major events at the National Celebration in Shelbyville, Tenn., the breed's equivalent of the World Series. Later, she was successful raising and showing Irish Wolfhounds.
McFarland graduated from Washburn University, magna cum laude, with dual majors in English and history/political science in 1957. She graduated from Washburn University School of Law in 1964 and was admitted to the Kansas bar that same year. While in law school, she owned and operated a nationally advertised mail-order quilt business.
Following law school, she was in private practice until 1971, when she challenged the incumbent judge of the probate and juvenile courts in Shawnee County. With McFarland's win, she became the first woman elected to a judgeship in Shawnee County. McFarland delivered the court reforms pledged in her campaign and reduced serious juvenile offenses by more than half in the two years she held office. In 1973, McFarland became judge of the newly created 5th Division of the Shawnee County District Court in Topeka, thereby, becoming the first woman to be a district judge in the history of Kansas. Her election to this office came after her victories over opponents in both the primary and general elections.
On September 19, 1977, McFarland was appointed by Gov. Robert F. Bennett to be a justice of the Kansas Supreme Court, having the distinction of being the first woman to hold that office. She became chief justice of the Supreme Court on September 1, 1995, upon the retirement of the Hon. Richard W. Holmes.
McFarland retired from the Kansas Supreme Court on January 12, 2009. In May 2009, she was awarded an honorary doctorate of laws by Washburn University. Since her retirement, she continues to pursue her many interests, which include water gardening, wildlife conservation, and world travel.
Service as Kansas Bar Association President
Thomas E. Wright, '64
Thomas E. Wright was appointed to the Kansas Corporation Commission by Governor Kathleen Sebelius on May 23, 2007. He was elected Chair of the three-member Commission on June 20, 2007.
Wright has been a partner in the law firm of Wright, Henson, Clark, Hutton, Mudrick & Gragson, LLP, in Topeka, Kansas. Recently, he served as Chair of the Governor's Gaming Committee and of the Consolidation Commission of Topeka-Shawnee County in 2005. He was Chair of the Washburn Board of Regents from 1986 to 1988, beginning as a Board Member in 1982. Throughout his career, he has taught classes at Washburn University School of Law and in the NITA program at Loyola Law School in Chicago. He has recently been named to the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) Committee on International Relations and Committee on Electricity.
Wright was elected President-Elect of the Kansas Bar Association (KBA) beginning June of 2007. He was a member of the Board of Governors for the KBA from 1998 to 2005. He served on the KBA Committee on Prevention of Legal Malpractice and chaired the Legislative Committee. He was on the Civil Justice Reform Advisory Group of the Federal Court from 1992 to 1998 and the Federal Bench/Bar Committee from 1990 to 1998. Wright also served on the Kansas Supreme Court Nominating Committee from 1995 to 2003.
Wright, originally from Harper, Kansas, earned a degree in mathematics from Wichita State University in 1961. He graduated from Washburn University School of Law in 1964 and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in German from Washburn University in 1979.
Posted June 22, 2009.
