Recipes for Living Ward Reynoldson

Ward and Jan both grew up in Nebraska. He had a degree from State Teachers College in Wayne, Nebraska before he went on to Law School at the University of Iowa and graduated with high distinction in 1948.

His qualities fit well for living and practicing law in southern Iowa for more than two decades. It was said of him at events associated with his retirement that he retained features of "a country lawyer." His high regard for the law was combined with common sense practicality, the pursuit of justice and a wonderful sense of humor. Clients thought of him as friend and associate as well as their attorney, and he gained a reputation of being one of Iowa's finest trial lawyers.

This was borne out in a conversation between gas station owner Bill Jones and a customer who was on his way out of town. He told Bill about a legal matter he had become involved in and wasn't quite sure what to do about. As the story wound down, Bill said, "Who is the other fellow's attorney?" The answer was, "Ward Reynoldson", at which point Bill said, "Just get in your car, leave town and forget it."

The many facets of Ward's personality are remembered by people throughout the area. At home he was loved as an attentive husband and father. His love of children embraced his own Vicki and Bob, and grandchildren, Vicki's Catherine and Emily, Bob's Tyson and Michael.

Ward's friends knew him as loyal football fan of Iowa U. and an avid fisherman (attested in the life story of Stan Stickler). Throughout the community he was respected as an upstanding citizen, involved in the Osceola United Methodist Church and Clarke Community School, politically a staunch Republican. Clients knew him for his intelligence and wisdom, and as a man whose word was his bond. He could be trusted.

Those with whom he socialized found him a competitive card player and genial host. After their home on South Adams, he and Jan built Shagbark, on highway 152. Ward's artistic talent was evident as he portrayed on canvas scenes of their rustic setting. They were reduced in size and used as greeting cards, which recipients treasure.

With all of that, those who knew him at the next level of his career saw yet another side of Ward. In 1971, Governor Robert Ray appointed Ward to the bench of the Iowa Supreme Court. He was elected and later reelected Chief Justice and resigned October 1, 1987, having been one of the longest serving high court justices in Iowa's history. Tributes associated with his retirement are a testament to the reputation he had built within the state and nationally, and all that he had achieved in the preceding years.

The following remarks are taken from publications related to the retirement events: More than 100 legislators, judges, state officials and lawyers attended the ceremony. The number included Vicki and her family; Bob and his family; Ward's sisters, Lila Randles and Marian Daughtery and husbands; and John Lloyd of the Reynoldson Law Firm in Osceola. A speaker said that he received more accolades than were ever given to a person who was still standing.

Although Ward compared the position of Chief Justice to being the captain of the Olympic javelin team who won the toss and elected to receive, he employed his time in dealing with problems of crowded dockets, streamlining the appellate process and organizing the courts. He preached a gospel of modernizing courts, upgrading pay and status of judges, and preserving the integrity of the Iowa court system with the result of enhancing the reputation of Iowa's system throughout the nation.

He saw lawyers and judges not as antagonists but as partners in the pursuit of justice. Those who at times disagreed with his positions still respected his wisdom. He was lauded for a skill few of us have, "to disagree without being disagreeable. His ability to bring together differing views set him apart from most of the rest of us who served in that body and followed his leadership."

Among his specific achievements, he promoted the progress of women in the law profession; spearheaded the court reorganization that took it from local property-tax funding to full state support; and placed court personnel under the state system’s wing. Through his leadership the court instituted a fund to reimburse clients whose dishonest lawyers might embezzle funds. For greater public access to court business, he approved limited photography and tape recording in courtroom coverage, initiated a judicial code of conduct and founded a program for funding legal services to the poor in civil cases. (Information from a Cedar Rapids Gazette editorial, July 24, 1987.)

His interest in young people, specifically kids in jeopardy, led him to become a guiding force behind the court-appointed special advocate program springing up in communities across the state. "His compassion did not stop there, as he worked to establish a program, using interest of lawyers' trust accounts to provide legal services to the poor across the state."

While his retirement was referred to as "leaving at the zenith of his power and career", Ward merely shifted directions. He went on to teach at Drake Law School and to serve in the Senior Judge status for six years until October, 1993. In that position he worked 13 weeks a year, but as could be expected, he did more than that. He still does a lot of speaking, has just received his 50-year certificate from the Bar Association and was chosen to speak on behalf of all the recipients. There were quite a few, because that particular occasion commemorated the year when all those who returned from World War II graduated from Law School. In fact, in order to accommodate the large numbers, they had three graduations that year.

On June 4, 1989, he married Pat Frey of Osceola, and they have had a marvelous time enjoying what retirement he accepts, although he will never stop working. He is still a counselor to the Reynoldson Law office, does mediation and is an expert witness in cases. Bob said of him, "I think he absolutely lives and breathes the law. It is a passion with him, living it, thinking about it, and mulling it over."