Kansas City School of Law - Pandex Yearbook (Kansas City, MO)

Page 6 text:

require great perception to foresee that its early years must prove its most trying ones: it required even less perception to determine how much of its success must be made dependent upon its chief leader and sponsor, it re- quired no perception whatsoever to decide that Francis M. Black should be chosen as its president. His eminence as a citizen, lawyer and jurist, his wealth of legal learning and experience, his proved executive ability, united to fit him to especially aid in founding an institution of law. But, perhaps, then, it was not fully believed, either by himself or others, how completely he could bring himself into touch with the students. It was altogether a new field of action for him. But his rugged strength, his devotion to the school, his conscientious efforts, throughout his lectures on equitable juris- prudence, to share with them his learning as a great equity lawyer, aroused their immediate admiration. Beyond all this, they soon discovered that though his manners were oftimes stern, abrupt and authoritative, his heart was never severed from the humanities of life. Francis M. Black, in the full possession of all his powers, suddenly died, May 24, 1002. -.lolm W Snyder. X .. .. X .-:1::.1.., ' E n V 4nm's2jgE 7

Page 5 text:

He was splendidly moulded to meet and overcome hardships. Slowly, yet surely, he began to enjoy his share of the practice 1 though tradition relates much of what he endured to conquer, but never stooped to conquer. In 1867 he married Miss Susan B. Geigerg the beginning of that ideal home life that only ended with his death. Along the path of steady and honorable progress, Francis M. Black continued, as a member of our bar, for sixteen years. His lines of legal battle and practice were always cast on the elevated planes. He was an open fighter, and never a crafty one. He had not a quality of mind, heart or character that so much as suggested the need or charm of evasion and subterfuge. He was content to rely upon manly power and legal principles. His ideas of the ethics of our profession, and of the wholesome code which should govern the practice of the law, were high and pure. He carried his knowledge and love of moral philosophy into daily action. Rapidly his cases became of the most important type, and his advice in the oflice and services in the courts were sought by wealthy clients and leading corporations. In answer to the strong desire of the bar, he was elected Circuit Judge in 1880, and discharged the duties of his oilice with marked ability, industry and fairness. So rapidly grew his repute as a jurist, that January 1. 1885, he became a member of our Supreme Court. The opening phrase of the speech that placed him in nomination, proved strong and thrilling, An hon- est judiciary is the chief defense of a state. He entered upon his enlarged field of labors with a zeal and industry that never knew abatement, and has made famous his record for judicial ability and untiring labor. Throughout forty-three volumes of our state reports, beginning with the 84th and closing with the 126th, his opinions, over six hundred in number, are found. They constitute a most enduring monument. How many an anxious lawyer of to-day, bewildered by the created uncertainties of the law, by conflicting decisions and thoughtless dicta, has found his relief or ruin in one of the opinions by Judge Black! His plain, terse statement of the facts, followed by his able, decisive appli- cation of the law, are models of judicial literature. In 1893 the Democratic State Convention renominated Judge Black for the Supreme Bench. For the first time in the history of such a convention the nomination was unamimous. He was defeated at the polls. The over- confidence of his friends, the political tides which sometimes ebb and iiow without even the excuse of the influence of the moon, and his independence as a judge, have been the only ascribed causes for his defeat. But of him, as of Chancellor Kent, it can be justly said, he could far better afford to re- tire to private life, than could his state afford to suffer him so to do. The Kansas City School of Law was established in 1895. It was richly endowed by the hopes, zeal and eiiorts of its many friendsg but it did not 6

Page 7 text:

l FACULTY. 5 5 HON. OLIVER H. DEAN, President and Lecturer on the Law of Corporations. MR. SANFORD B. LADD, Lecturer on Real Property. HON. JOHN F. PHILIPS, United States District Judge, Lecturer on Jurisprudence and Practice of the Federal Courts. HON. J. V. C. KARNES. Lecturer on Bankruptcy and Commercial Law. MR. D. B. HOLMES, Lecturer on Equity Jurisprudence. HON. R. J. INGRAHAM. Lecturer on the Law of Torts. HON. WILLARD P. HALL, Lecturer on Extraordinary Remedies. MR. A. L. COOPER, Lecturer on Code Pleading and Practice. MR. JOHN W. SNYDER, Lecturer on Agency, Partnership, Evidence and Kent's Commentaries. MR. WILLIAM P. BORLAND, Dean and Lecturer on Contracts, Wills and Bla.ckstone's Commentaries. MR. EDWARD D. ELLISON, Lecturer on Common Law and Equity Pleading, Commercial Paper, Bills and Notes, and Statutory Rights and Remedies. MR. JOHN B. PEW. Lecturer on Criminal Law and Practice. MR. ELLISON A. NEEL,Z Lecturer on Domestic Relations. SPECIAL LECTURE RS. MR. C. O. TICHENOR, Constitutions. JUDGE EDWARD L. SCARRITT, Constitutional Law. JUDGE EDWARD P. GATES, History of the Codes. HON. R. E. BALL, Equity -Pleading. JUDGE SHEPARD BARCLAY, Trade Marks and Unfair Competition. JUDGE W. C. MARSHALL, Municipal Taxation. JUDGE J. B. GANTT, Magna Charta. 8