On May 13th, my son Hank was sworn in to the bar. Hank is a fourth-generation attorney in Indiana, and is working as a Deputy Prosecutor in Marion County (Indianapolis).
Pictured from left to right below are me, Hank and my father, David, shortly after the swearing in ceremony. The black and white photo is of Hank’s great grandfather, Philip Waller, who passed away in 1992.
My grandfather was a classic member of our “Greatest Generation.” He was the youngest of thirteen children from Washington, Indiana. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and put himself through both college and law school. After graduating from George Washington University in 1937, he returned to Daviess County to run for county prosecutor and won. He was later Daviess Circuit Court Judge for sixteen years, before entering private practice until he retired in his 70’s.
My dad also settled down in Washington and practiced with my grandfather. (We lived right down the street.) In 2005, after a successful career in corporate, real estate and probate law, he retired. To my dad’s (and mom’s) chagrin, I started my career in Indianapolis in 1993 and never left.
Notably, should Hank make it at least another twelve years, which I’m sure he will, that would mean a Waller will have been practicing law in Indiana for over a century (for better or for worse). I’m very proud of my grandfather Phil, father David and son Hank – all great people.
