The Historical Society Of The United States Courts In The Eighth Circuit was formed in 1985, following efforts across the Circuit to recognize and record the history of the constituent courts. In its early years, founding member and jurist Hon. C. Arlen Beam commented that:
[My research] convinces me that we have not done a good job of preserving recollections and the papers necessary to prepare a fully documented presentation on the lives of some of our illustrious forbearers. Thus, the work of the newly created Historical Society of the United States Courts in the Eighth Circuit assumes added dimensions.
Today, the Historical Society's ongoing mission is to preserve and celebrate that rich history, across the federal courts of all seven states that make up the Eighth Circuit. Toward this end, the Historical Society has organized separate branches for each of the United States district courts located in the Circuit, as well as its Court of Appeals. The Historical Society of the United States Courts in the Eighth Circuit is a not-for-profit corporation organized and operating under the laws of the State of Missouri.
Key Past Leaders
The Society exists today because of the hard work of yesterday. Below, we recognize the founding Board Members, as well as other key leaders that have served as stewards of the Society’s mission, and the broader history of the Circuit, over the decades. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list, but merely a recognition of some of those to whom we are indebted.
The Honorable Donald Lay
Founder and Founding Board Member
The Honorable Edward Devitt
Founding Board Member
The Honorable William Hungate
Founding Board Member
The Honorable Howard Sachs
Founding Board Member
Griffin Smith, Jr
Founding Board Member
James Dunn
Founding Board Member
Russ Millin
Founding Board Member
Ronald Hunter
Founding Board Member
The Honorable Henry Woods
Founding Board Member
The Honorable H Franklin Waters
Founding Board Member
The Honorable Edward McManus
Founding Board Member
The Honorable William Stuart
Founding Board Member
Frank Margolin
Founding Board Member
Professor Charles Davidson
Founding Board Member
Laverne Neff
Founding Board Member
The Honorable C Arlen Beam
Founding Board Member
The Honorable Bruce Van Sickle
Founding Board Member
The Honorable John Jones
Founding Board Member
Robert Tucker
Founding Board Member
Harold LeVander
Founding Board Member
Claire Halpern
Founding Board Member
T M Bailey, Jr
Founding Board Member
The Honorable Richard Kopf
Longtime Chairman
Joan Voelker
Circuit Librarian and longtime Secretary
Richard Peterson
Longtime President
June Boadwine
Circuit Executive and longtime member
Frances Ross
Longtime Vice President
Executive Commitee
The Honorable Jane Kelly
Board Chair
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Benjamin Wilson, Esq.
Treasurer
Senior Associate, Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney
St. Louis, Missouri
F. Richard Lyford, Esq.
Immediate Past President
Partner, Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen P.C.
Des Moines, Iowa
Eric Brust, Esq.
Secretary
Circuit Librarian of the United States Courts in the Eighth Circuit
St. Louis, Missouri
Nick Batter, Esq.
President
Corporate Counsel, Hawkins Construction Company
Omaha, Nebraska
Thomas Boyd, Esq.
Ex Officio
Shareholder, Winthrop & Weinstine P.A.
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Mollie Pawlosky, Esq.
Vice President
Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen P.C.
Des Moines, Iowa
Board of Directors
Court of Appeals
The Honorable Jane Kelly
United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Thomas Boyd, Esq.
Winthrop & Weinstine, P.A.
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Southern District of Iowa
The Honorable Robert W. Pratt
United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa
Des Moines, Iowa
F. Richard Lyford, Esq.
Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C.
Des Moines, Iowa
District of Nebraska
The Honorable Robert Rossiter
United States District Court for the District of Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Jeanette Stull, Esq.
Atwood, Holsten, Brown, Deaver & Spier, PC, LLO
Lincoln, Nebraska
Eastern District of Arkansas
The Honorable Beth Deere
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas
Little Rock, Arkansas
Frances Ross
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Little Rock, Arkansas
District of Minnesota
The Honorable John R. Tunheim
United States District Court for the District of Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Dulce Foster, Esq.
Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.
Minneapolis, Minnesota
District of North Dakota
The Honorable Alice R. Senechal
United States District Court for the District of North Dakota
Fargo, North Dakota
Courtney Koebele, JD
North Dakota Medical Association
Bismarck, North Dakota
Western District of Arkansas
vacant
vacant
Eastern District of Missouri
The Honorable E. Richard Webber
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
Ann E. Buckley, Esq.
Buckley & Buckley LLC
St. Louis, Missouri
District of South Dakota
The Honorable Roberto A. Lange
United States District Court for the District of South Dakota
Pierre, South Dakota
vacant
Northern District of Iowa
The Honorable C.J. Williams
United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa
Sioux City, Iowa
Kevin H. Collins, Esq.
Nyemaster Goode, P.C.
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Western District of Missouri
The Honorable Brian C. Wimes
United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Jeffrey J. Simon, Esq.
Husch Blackwell LLP
Kansas City, Missouri