Comments:
2014 UPDATE No longer practicing law. I was disbarred Nov. 2014 because I tried (and lost) a double murder case in 2006, as my client directed, but not as approved of by the Kansas Supreme Court. Long story, but after 40 years of successful law practice, I now go on to a new chapter. I dislike leaving law practice under a cloud, but look forward to the future with a smile. (I have sued the Kansas Supreme Court in Federal Court for violating my Constitutional right and duty to represent my client as he directs) Jolayne and I are going to buy an RV 5th wheel and travel. I intend to enjoy my life with the woman I love. YEE HAAAA.
Dennis
I have lived a fun life. Graduated from Washburn in 1965, with History and Political Science majors. ROTC commissioned into USAF in 1965. Started law school at Washburn in 1965, a tornado blew away the law school in 1966, one of my finals bluebooks was found in Rossville. I decided to leave law school and to go on USAF active duty. Entered active duty as a combat intelligence officer, Married beautiful Sue in Denver,1967, Went two months later to Nakon Phenom Thailand one year 1967-68. Called in airstrikes on the Ho Chi Minh trail in Laos, great fun, yeah. Awarded Junior Officer of the Year for 15th Airforce,SAC, 1969. Left USAF as a captain, in 1971. Entered law school again at Washburn in 1971. Became a dope smoking hippie anti war organizer during law school. PTSD'd out.
No haircut for three years. Sue went to law school
and had Jessica on her senior year spring break.1975. (The woman always had impeccable timing!!) I and some friends organized a large Memorial Day anti war march in Topeka in 1974. I took the bar in 1975, and after my bar exam was re-graded deducting 3 points, I flunked bar exam by one point. I cut my hair, bought a used suit, and passed the next 1975 bar with no problem. My son Zachary arrived in 1977. I went into private law practice with Pedro Luis Irigonegaray, 1978. Practiced criminal defense and plaintiff's law for 10 years. Sue divorced me, and I migrated to Hawaii, in 1985, practiced law solo there for 5 years, made a lot of money doing personal injury jury trials, and defending in criminal cases. Hawaii was a great place to be a 40 something bachelor. They flew in plane loads of women looking for a good time. I lived in a beach house in Lani-Kai, had money and drove a 1955 Porche Speedster. After 6 years of this enjoyable life style, I made a big $$$ hit, and quit law practice and went sailing with a pretty woman who had a gorgeous sail boat. 1991. She had been an Alaskan halibut boat captain, (like her daddy) and taught me how to sail and survive on the ocean. Being from Kansas I had a lot to learn. She was a great teacher, and tough as nails, but loving and caring. Her name was Leia. Her boat's name was "Wet Dream", a 32" foot "Downeaster" cutter rigged sloop. The boat's name gives some insight into Leia's attitude about life. She said and did what she damn well pleased, and if the world didn't approve, so what? Leia and I sailed the south Pacific for three years, exciting times, and memorable. Interesting exotic places with strange names. Bora Bora, Rangaroa, Papeete, Guadalcanal, Vanuatu etc........Then in 1994 my mother fell ill in Topeka, and I flew from Tahiti to KC to be with her. I returned to the Wet Dream some months later to visit, but things had changed, and Leia and I parted ways. I flew to L.A. and bought a bicycle and started looking for Jolayne, who was my first love, 1961 at THS, whom had been on my mind. I found her after pedaling around San Bernadino county for three days. in Upland. California. She was divorced and was happy to see me, although she had no idea I was coming to see her. She told me that she had been thinking of me a lot, and supposed that she had just reeled me in. I then bicycled to Topeka in 17 days. I married lovely and loving Jolayne three months later and we moved to 55 Acres that I owned near Ozawkie, Kansas. Built an office building/home. Since then life has been even more fun. I started another law practice, ran for Kansas governor as the Libertarian candidate in 2002, Jolayne is an interior designer, and has her own firm first in Topeka , and now in our office building near Ozawkie. I ran for Governor as a Republicrat (Republican) in 2006 but was defeated soundly in the primary. Perhaps because I espoused Libertarian principles to the Repubs, perhaps because I dressed in as Thomas Jefferson in a 1776 business suit with powdered wig and as a Jeffersonian republican advocating small government and vehement anti war policies of course. I was arrested at a pre-election rally in Topeka, during George W. Bushs' speech, for holding up a hand made on the spot sign, telling Bush to "STOP THE WAR" I spent 18 hours in the Shawnee County Jail, and then sued George personally and as President, as well as the Kansas Republican party for violating my First Amendment right to free speech. I, however after filing the lawsuit, decided to retire. I bought a boat on e-Bay and attempted to sail solo nonstop around the world in 2008. I got about 11,000 miles from Norfolk which was my departure point, into the south Atlantic, when my 31 foot Rival sailboat was dismasted in a violent storm . I was 600 miles from Angola and 1600 miles from Brazil when my mast left, and since Angola was in the middle of a civil war, I decided to jury rig a mast head using two spinnaker poles, and sailed to Recife Brazil. It took me 41 days to get to Recife. While I was gone you guys let the economy tank in September 2008, so when I returned to my sweetheart Jolayne, I had to go back to work. Oh Well!!! ----- See what fun my life has been. I know that this profile is kinda long and boring, but we're all around 67 afterall. Thats a long time. I'm still having fun. I hope you have had/ and are having fun too. I look forward to seeing you all at the reunion.
Love, Dennis
