“Permanence, perseverance, and persistence despite all obstacles, discouragements, and impossibilities: It is this that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak.”
—Thomas Carlyle
This month we come to a close celebrating Buck Files’ 250th Federal Corner article. This is nothing to be taken lightly. It takes a dedicated, meticulous, and hardworking person to ensure they turn in their edited article each month. The work Buck has put into each issue since 1986 is unequaled by anyone, anytime in the Voice.
Buck would review from six to 20 cases each month to find a specific case that was not only current but also germane, then explain it in words that our readers could digest. For 35 years, Buck has voluntarily provided diligent federal updates and shared the information to help trial lawyers.
This is a challenge—and yeoman’s work when you think about how many cases come out each month—finding the perfect one to explain in six or eight pages, covering relevant facts and providing supporting evidence.
We all know what Buck’s bio says. Did you know he was a former U.S. Marine, photographer, vegan, and a big believer in family comes first? He has been married to wife Robin for more than 50 years and has two children—one a lawyer, another an accountant—and three grandkids he never stops talking about!
When you talk to anyone who knows Buck, they’ll mention how passionate he is about his family, the law, and his clients, but also, most notably and significantly, they’ll call him loyal. Buck had been with his law partner, who passed, for more than 40 years. Carrie Hall, his paralegal, has been with him for more than 25 years, as has Tammy. Kimberly has worked for Buck for 24 years and Karen for 22 years.
His stories over the years have not only warmed my heart; they’ve also made me so proud to work for TCDLA. Quite often I share them with the staff here and even my family. Recently, we lost a great warrior, Scrappy Holmes, someone Buck grew up with in Kilgore. The relationship they had is like no other, though anyone who can call Buck a friend knows how special he is. He will go out of his way to help anyone. He is one of the most compassionate and devoted individuals, both to his friends and clients.
Buck is very modest, as most of our leaders tend to be, but he has been instrumental for the last 15 years in strengthening the relationship between SBOT and TCDLA. He has offered advice and suggestions for improvement throughout the years to grow TCDLA as well.
Buck helps behind the scenes and asks for no credit or recognition. He is truly one of our heroes—red, white, and blue. I will miss our weekly discussions. Keep reading the Voice, and we will still have the Federal Corner with a team of authors. If we are lucky, we might even get a guest column from Buck in the future. Thank you, Buck, for all you have done, and all I know you will continue to do for criminal defense lawyers!
