WCBA History.
This information was compiled and updated by Rajeev D. Majumdar on January 1, 2023, with great assistance of many local attorneys, especially from Betsy Brinson, Hugh Lewis, Doug Shepherd, Doug Hyldahl, and Dan Raas. Any errors or omissions are unintentional, and input is welcomed to complete the record.
The WCBA came together in an earlier era, and by the 1960s was going strong as an unincorporated association. Every lawyer practicing in the County was a 'member' and we got together once a month at a restaurant of the President's choosing. There was a picture in the District Court of the 1970 members, all 35 of them men.
The Articles of Incorporation were prepared in May of 1983 and passed at that bar meeting, filed in June of 1983, and signed by local attorneys Doug Shepherd, Kevin Downs and Diane Emmons who also drafted said document.
The Volunteer Presidents thus far recorded with the records we have on hand in 2023:
1981 - Jake Smith
1982 - Dan Raas
1983 - J. Kevin Downs
1984 - L. Diane Emmons
1985 - Dave Anderson
1986 - Mark Boyson
1987 - ?????
1988 - ?????
1989 - ?????
1990 - ?????
(John Erickson, year?)
(Jack Ludwigson, year?)
(Elizabeth Balas, year?)
(Pete Visser, year?)
1991 - Steve Adelstein
1992 - Steve Hager
1993 - Doug Shepherd
1994 - Jim Doran
1995 - Wendy Bohlke
1996 - Hugh Lewis
1997 - Bill Knudsen
1998 - Karlene Weiland
1999 - Timothy Carpenter
2000 - Dick Platte
2001 - Dave Nelson
2002 - Larry Daugert
2003 - Chase Van Gorder
2004 - Laughlin H. Clark
2005 - Elizabeth Li
2006 - Jeffrey A. Lustick
2007 - Tom Fryer
2008 - Steve Chance
2009 - Katti Esp
2010 - Betsy Brinson
2011 - Douglas Robertson
2012 - Deborra Garrett
2013 - Jim Britain
2014 - Paula McCandlis
2015 - Mark Kaiman
2016 - Tom Lyden
2017 - David Brown
2018 - Lisa Saar
2019 - Nick Fay
2020 - Matt Conner
2021 - Phil Buri
2022 - Jennifer Slattery
2023 - Genissa Richardson
2024 - Adam Engst