A Storied Career

And celebrate is exactly what the firm did in late July, as our Kansas City office held a 99th birthday party for Ed. The momentous occasion has allowed us to reflect and honor a man who has done so much for both our firm and his community.

Ed’s story began in the Waldo neighborhood of Kansas City and from an early age, it became obvious that he would succeed in whatever path he chose. Growing up, whether as a child at Hale Cook Elementary School or as a young adult in Southwest High School, Ed excelled both academically and athletically. He chose to continue his education and amateur athletic career at the University of Missouri, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, the oldest academic honor society in the country, and on the university’s varsity basketball team. By the time Ed graduated, he was one of only six graduates—and the only one that was both on the varsity team and a member of Phi Beta Kappa. As an undergraduate, Ed was also a campus leader, president of the Sigma Chi fraternity and named outstanding national Sigma Chi graduate of the year.

In 1942, Ed served our country as a proud member of the U.S. Navy. He was on the staff of Adm. Chester Nimitz, who was commander-in-chief of the Pacific Fleet in World War II, and on the staff of Adm. Raymond Spruance on the Battleship New Jersey for the signing of the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay.

After the war, Ed’s journey as an attorney began when he enrolled in Harvard Law School. After graduating with distinction, he accepted a position here, as the firm’s 10th lawyer, in 1949.

To put things into perspective, when Ed started, he worked six-and-a-half days a week and made $250 per month. As you may imagine, the office environment was much different in that era. All attorneys had to dress in a suitcoat and tie daily—with one exception: On Saturday the coat did not need to match the trousers.

Over time, the attorneys branched out from their general practice to more niche areas, and Ed’s focus became employment law. Not only did this choice lead him to becoming the leading employment lawyer in the city, it also spurred his interest in practicing public service. To no one’s surprise, city politics were dominated by corrupt politicians in those days. Ed was part of The Citizens Association of Kansas City, Inc., the city’s oldest political organization, which was instrumental in eliminating corruption in City Hall, eventually becoming the organization’s president and helping to carry on their “tradition of trust.”

Ed’s public service continued in the following years and decades in numerous ways:

• He served as the lawyer for the Kansas City School Board
• He helped organize the public radio station KCUR-FM and was the first president of KCPT, Kansas City’s PBS affiliate
• He served as president of Saint Luke’s Hospital for 15 years

Ed has also authored several important books on Kansas City history, the most important for us being the history of the law firm: "A Long and Constant Courtship." The title comes from a quote by Supreme Court Justice Joseph Story who said, “The law is a jealous mistress requiring a long and constant courtship.” Always wanting to do the right thing, Ed believed the reference to a mistress might be misunderstood so he cut that title in half, leaving only “A Long and Constant Courtship.” It tells the story of a great law firm in which Ed Matheny played an important role.

No one has been a more committed lawyer and public servant than Ed Matheny. Even in the light of his extended commitments to the Kansas City community, he became the leading conscience of this law firm—and an undeniable resource for the many who sought his counsel.

Those who reached out to him for insight are fully aware that when a tough decision was required, Ed’s advice was simple: “Always do the right thing.”

It’s difficult to put into words how much Ed Matheny has done for our firm. Listing his accomplishments and contributions and remembering his innate dedication is one thing. But it goes beyond the tangible checklist of achievements. The legacy he has left here is one of devotion, determination and true altruism. It floats through the halls of our offices and permeates in each department and each city. We can all learn a little something from Ed—and each piece of him that we can engrain into ourselves will only serve us well down the road.

Cheers to your 99th year, Ed!

Article written by Steve Pacer, Husch Blackwell’s Senior Manager – Internal Communications.