DBA EVENTS
Recap:
50
yr
Honoree Luncheon
D D
espite the Monkees’ “I’m a Believer” reigning at the top of the charts, the year 1966 was a cataclysmic year. “Dayton was literally on fire,” Dave Greer began, as he described the world in which the 2016 Honorees emerged in their practice of law. “It was the worst year in Dayton.” The city streets were occupied with mobs, riots, and military tanks. The legal climate within which the Honorees began practicing law was undoubtedly turbulent, but it was nonetheless an interesting time for young practitioners to begin their careers. The year 1966 also fell right between the devastating assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. The iconic Walt Disney died in 1966. Albert Speer was released from prison in 1966. The landmark Miranda decision was published in 1966. Seven individuals who embarked on unforgettable career journeys during this year include Irvin G. Bieser Jr., Richard J. Chernesky, James B. Hochman, Richard M. Hunt, Leo F. Krebs, Charles W. Slicer Sr., and Paul J. Winterhalter. Their careers were celebrated on October 19, 20016 at the Dayton Bar Association’s 50 Year Honoree Luncheon. The Master of Ceremonies for the event was Dave Greer and welcoming remarks were made by Susan Solle.
Irvin G. Bieser Jr.
tinued, he would ask himself, “at the end of the day, what is the right thing to do?” “That’s his legacy – always do the right thing.”
James B. Hochman
James Hochman also was not present at the luncheon. Gary Plunkett attended on his behalf, and spoke of James’ early career as being “in a smoke-filled room, full of union people yelling at each other,” as James was involved in heated labor negotiations concerning the Teamsters. “After Kennedy shut down the Teamsters, he started his own firm,” Gary stated. James is currently Partner with Hochman & Plunkett. He focuses his practice primarily on Workers Compensation and Personal Injury. James also remains the oldest living member of Local 957. It has also been stated by James’ mother that “nobody works harder at having a good time than Jim Hochman.”
Richard M. Hunt
Irvin Bieser Jr. was the first Honoree to Richard Hunt began his career as an be introduced. Born in Dayton, Ohio, insurance adjuster. When he was Irv began his legal career as an instructor admitted to the bar, he was an associate of law in Liberia. He then joined Bieser, for a few short years, and ultimately became Greer & Landis, where he became Part a named Partner to several firms – one of ner in 1972. Irv remained with Bieser, Greer & Landis up until his which, to this day, has the longest firm name retirement in 2010. Irv noted that some of the most unusual cases Irv in the Dayton Bar Association’s history: Hunt, Dodge, Little, Harron, experienced during his practice involved land and river conservation. Kessler, Picker & Nolan. Currently, Richard is President of Richard M. He also recounted an extraordinarily tragic day in his career. While Irv Hunt Co., LPA. One of Richard’s favorite memories of his legal career was an instructor in Libera, he witnessed the horrific execution of some was his first criminal jury trial, where his opposing counsel was his law of his fellow faculty members by the insurgent government. school classmate. To set up the scene, Richard explained that “the judge told us ‘no laughing’ during the trial.” When the State called its first witness to the stand to identify the defendant, the witness pointed at Juror Number 7. After the judge’s “no laughing” rule was imposed, the judge himself had no choice but to call a ten-minute recess due to the ordeal. Richard (“Dick”) Chernesky was not present at the luncheon. Susan Solle spoke of Dick as “the man who turned dog food into gold.” Dick’s career began at Smith & Schnacke, and he is currently Partner at continued on page15 Dinsmore & Shohl, LLP. “He always had a quiet sense of power about him,” Susan said. Whenever Dick was faced with a decision, she con-
Richard J. Chernesky
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Dayton Bar Briefs December 2016
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