© 2016 The Texas Lawbook.
By Trey Cox
My father was admitted to practice law in 1968. He will soon celebrate his fiftieth anniversary of practicing law. He has been a lawyer longer than I have been alive.
The practice of law has changed significantly during the time he has been practicing. One big change is the money involved. I remember him telling me that he received a signing bonus for graduating first in his class at LSU — an extra month’s pay of $600. A little different than the six figure salaries first year lawyers start with today. But then again, I have never heard Dad say that he pursued the law to make money.
I am not sure I have ever heard him say why he chose the law. I know he thought about being a preacher or a banker. I also know that he discussed his career selection with his father, who was a civil engineer with International Paper in Springhill, Louisiana. Dad asked his father if he would be upset if Dad was not an engineer. Granddaddy told him of course not, “You — not me — are going to wake up and look yourself in the mirror every morning when you shave and be happy or unhappy with your chosen profession.”
I think my father must have taken that to heart. Because as much as the practice of law might have changed in the past fifty years, Dad has gotten up every morning and steadfastly pursued a career of excellence and professionalism in the law. He has spent almost every year of his professional career at one firm, Blanchard, Walker, O’Quin and Roberts in Shreveport, Louisiana. During those fifty years he has been a constant example of professionalism, service and integrity.
During his fifty years he has served his clients in innumerable ways. Shreveport is a smaller town than Dallas. As a result, Dad has always been more of a generalist. He has done everything from oil and gas transactions to lawsuits in federal and state court to draft and probate wills. There’s probably not much in the practice of law that has not come across Dad’s desk. He has served his community as President of both the Shreveport Bar and The Committee of 100, a civic and charitable organization whose members are the highest-ranking executives and businessmen in Northwest Louisiana. And no matter how many committee meetings or charity lunches he was required to attend each week, he continued to serve his clients and carry a full docket of work.
As for integrity and professionalism, he has for the last three years served as the Chair of the Louisiana Attorney Discipline Board. He has served his firm’s executive committee as managing member or financial partner for numerous years. And as for family, he either coached or attended almost every sporting event my brother and I ever participated in up until we went to college — and even then, he often travelled across the country to watch us play.
I probably chose to practice law for very different reasons than my father. I never wanted to do transactions, I always wanted to fight it out in court. While it was a privilege to grow up in Shreveport, I always wanted to move to a bigger city, a bigger environment.
I can’t say I chose the law for the same reasons, but I can tell you that he has set an example and inspired me in all I do. Dad was never big on telling me how to live. In fact, at times I found it very frustrating seeking his advice. Though he always seemed to recognize the issues and help me define the problem, he never would just tell me what to do or solve the problem. I remember leaving many of our talks thinking: “Why won’t he tell me what to do or give me an answer?”
After a lot more years and three kids of my own, I think I understand a little better what he was doing. I can only imagine how hard it was for him, because I am sure he had very strong views on how to solve each of my problems. But Dad had no intention of telling me how to live. He had every intention of teaching me to live my own life and to make my own decisions. Importantly, he never left me without resources or guidance. In fact, he was the guide. While he would not tell me what to do, he showed me every day with his actions how to life my life. What he did was live his life and let me watch him do it.
The question I often ask myself today when confronting an issue is: how would Dad handle this? In the way he has lead his life, Dad has left me a legacy of professionalism, service and integrity. I have learned that you show up every day, you participate and you lead not by saying you are the leader or by getting a title. You lead by example. You participate and lead not for credit or accolades, but because it is important to serve and give back to what you believe in.
I have also learned that your professional reputation is more important because you have to wake up and look yourself in the mirror every morning and know you are leaving behind a legacy you can be proud of. My father has done all of that. I respect and admire him greatly.
Trey Cox is a partner at Lynn Pinker Cox & Hurst in Dallas
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