WHO'S WHO: The Greats in Legal Assistance

Who's Who? ?noun

Synonyms of?who's who >

1. a compilation of brief biographical sketches of prominent persons in a particular field

2. the leaders of a group

3. a listing or grouping of notable persons

If you and I were just starting out in the Louisville/Southern Indiana legal industry, who would we look to for leadership?

What name(s) would dominate in our local legal assistance field? And why?

If you were able to come up with answers, please pass them on in the comments.

MY WHO

LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO MARGARET READ

Margaret Read was a wonder woman in the local legal industry. She was, to me, the epitome of the professional mother, and she is the person I focus on when I think of who my who is in legal assistance.

Margaret lived and worked in Jeffersonville, Indiana throughout her career. Immediately after graduating high school, she worked in an assistance role for the Greater Clark Schools. After her two sons grew to school age, Margaret began working as an official court reporter for Clark Circuit Court and remained in that position from 1953 to 1974. She later became a freelance court reporter for the local region.

Margaret was what I have come to recognize as a servant leader. From the various articles she was mentioned in, it's clear she held memberships in many social and civic organizations. Whether a result of her work or volunteering, Margaret became familiar with most everyone in the local government, legal, medical, and business industries.?Her friendly and sincere curiosities about people forged a broad and intricate network of working folks throughout Southern Indiana.

Margaret wore her smile and bright eyes as beautifully as she wore her hair, makeup and professional attire. She was the bomb before it exploded. She carried herself with confident grace, but never possessed an air of anything but authenticity about her.

Margaret's personal brand promoted professionalism, philanthropy, and advocacy.? And it was 100% natural from what I could tell.

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Though I did not know Margaret personally, I had the benefit of knowing her during her freelance court reporting years. I met her when I took my second legal assistance role establishing the unified public defender office and assisting the attorneys who were public defenders for Clark County.

I would call her to schedule depositions, and we would talk for a minute before or after we conducted business. There were no websites then for auto scheduling, so we exchanged pleasantries over the phone, some of which continued on into full conversations when Margaret would come to the office to set up. She literally would remember those tidbits of talk we'd had and expound on them when she had the chance.

Once, she noticed from the public disclosure of county salary expenditures, I was paid less than any other county employee, yet I worked for 5 - 7 attorneys. Bless her heart. Somebody noticed!?She talked to me about this issue and afterward she approached county officials and advocated on my behalf.

She noticed. She confirmed. And she took action of her own volition. And I noticed. And I still stand amazed that she did that for me.

Margaret was crafty, in the sense that she made ceramics. For several years, she made many ceramic Christmas trees with the little plastic lights and GAVE them to all the legal secretaries in Jeffersonville. I received a white one that glistened. It was so pretty and so valued - just like Margaret was.

In July 2014, a ceremony honoring her years of service in legal/justice and the Clark County community was held during which a portrait of Margaret was hung in the courtroom of Clark Circuit Court No. 1.

Margaret passed this life in March 2018 at the age of 97. She left much for many.

Through the E.G. Read and Margaret Read Scholarship Fund, Margaret continued to fund scholarships for students from St. Xavier High School and Jeffersonville High School for higher education, as she knew education was important for a strong community. Through her living life as Margaret, she left many a superb example of humanity and leadership.

I accepted a role as an official court reporter for Clark Circuit Court many years after Margaret had left the court. I saw firsthand shelf after basement shelf filled with steno pads all enveloping court notes and transcripts taken down in Margaret's shorthand. If you've never taken shorthand, let me tell you, it's not an easy skill. Then to read it back and transcribe from it on a typewriter, well, let's just say there were no gravy days for Margaret, and her mind was sharp and able.

ARE WHO'S WHO LISTS IMPORTANT?

I believe the greats in every industry and every community should be recognized so that those walking behind might come to understand from example what true greatness is, namely service. I certainly was inspired by a living example. Seeing service lived, not paid and motivated, not planned, has to be one of life's greatest lessons.

I believe the "professionals" in every industry and true leaders in every community should be mindful to watch for greatness from any rank and when spotted, support and nurture it for the betterment of everyone now and in the future.

I believe that if the greats were recognized for true greatness and not popularity, we would see a decrease in motivational articles and maybe an increase in community service, networking, and eventually respect for the jobs we do and the industry we support.

WHO 'S YOUR WHO?

Can you name a person who has been a great who in legal support?? Not just someone who is good at their job, but someone who goes above and beyond in life for others; a servant leader, whose living has woven an intricate network of people who respect and admire them?

Recognition of people who lead not only boosts morale, but it sets a bar and gives inspiration a platform. People are motivated to action by inspiration, and when there is a bar set before them, people will reach for it. Not all. Maybe not even many. But some will reach the bar and reach greatness in doing so.

Wouldn't it be great to be a part of something that respects greatness?

Apologies for the late publish.? Thank you for reading.? If you're compelled to, let us know who's your who, or if you believe, like me, that we should do better at recognizing the greats and inspiring others to become great.

Till next time,

-dt

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