Class Notes and In Memoriam
Class Notes
1970s
Richard “Dick” Rhyne (J.D. ’74)
has started Rhyne ADR, an alternative dispute resolution practice focused on providing arbitration, mediation and special master services in construction- and commercial-related disputes. He previously worked at Lathrop GPM for more than 19 years.
1980s
Keith Cutler (J.D. ’89)
was installed as the president of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association at the 139th Annual Meeting on Dec. 8, 2023.
The Hon. Steven Hudson
was named as circuit judge for the 3rd Judicial Circuit, which covers Grundy, Harrison, Mercer and Putnam counties in northwestern Missouri. Hudson previously was an associate circuit judge in Grundy County.
1980s Cont.
The Hon. Marco Roldan (J.D. ’83)
retired on Aug. 4, 2022. He was the first member of a minority group appointed to serve as a judge in Independence in the entire history of the circuit court. He served as presiding judge from 2013–2014 and served on court for 27 years. Judge Roldan served in the U.S. Marines and as a police officer prior to attending law school.
Lisa Weixelman (J.D. ’82)
was awarded the Martin J. Purcell Award at the Missouri Bar Annual Meeting in Kansas City on Sept. 13, 2023.
2010s
Jennifer Cascio (J.D. ’12)
has been included in the 2024 Edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, which recognizes associates and other lawyers who are earlier in their careers for their outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States. Cascio most recently was part of a trial team that won the largest verdict for an individual plaintiff in Illinois history, $363 million in the first trial against Sterigenics for toxic emissions.
2010s Cont.
Keegan Tinney (J.D. ’17)
was awarded YLS Tom Cochran Community Service Award at the Missouri Bar Annual Meeting in Kansas City on Sept. 13, 2023.
2020s
Raj Patel (’20)
has joined Liberty Hotel Group as general counsel. His practice includes mergers and acquisitions, real estate financing and various litigation matters for a property management company with more than 30 properties under management across Missouri, Kansas and the United States.
Chad Walker (J.D. ’23)
recently joined the Department of Corrections as a litigation attorney. He focuses on legal matters involving civil rights claims and prisoners' rights.
In Memoriam
The Hon. Kathleen Anne Forsyth (J.D. ’80)
passed away on Oct. 13, 2023. In 2003, Missouri Gov. Robert Holden appointed her as circuit judge to the 16th Circuit Court with offices in the Jackson County Courthouse. She was a judge of the probate division until her retirement in 2016. During her career, she was associated with several local law firms, including Shughart Thompson & Kilroy, as a partner. Judge Forsyth was a Kansas City Association of Women Lawyers member and served as the association's president. After retirement, she was a contributing writer to Thomas-Reuters, a national publisher of legal material.
Gerald "Jerry" M. Handley (J.D. ’72)
passed away on March 31, 2023. His practice area was criminal defense. He was a founder and the founding president of the Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Jerry received the Lon Hocker Trial Lawyer award from the Missouri Bar Foundation in 1977. He was a U.S. Army veteran.
The Hon. John Robert Jack (J.D. ’77)
passed away May 11, 2023. He had a solo practice and served as judge for Blue Springs Municipal Court from 1979 to 2018.
Russell D. Jacobson (J.D. ’58)
passed away on July 6, 2023. Russ practiced at the Jackson County Counselors Office. He was passionate about the British Legal System and sharing the roots of our legal system. Russ started a two-week Oxford CLE Summer School program in 1983 with the assistance of the UMKC Continuing Legal Education. The program quickly grew with many attendees returning year after year to participate in the program because of Russ’ passion and the high quality of British judges, solicitors, barristers and Oxford professors he recruited to speak. Russ led the program every year until 2013, when his health prohibited travel to his beloved home away from home. He was a U.S. Army veteran and served in Korea. He was awarded four battle stars and a bronze star.
Candis Love Lochmann (J.D. ’84)
passed away on June 22, 2023. Before starting a 37-year career as an attorney-at-law in private practice, she was a judicial clerk for U.S. District Court Judge Oliver.
Michael C. McIntosh (J.D. ’79)
passed July 8, 2023. Mike practiced law for 44 years and was a founding member of the law firm Shaffer, McIntosh & Effertz. He was nationally recognized in Best Lawyers in America. He was a member and past president of the Missouri chapters of both the American Association of Matrimonial Lawyers and American Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
James L. McMullin (J.D. ’51)
passed away on Aug. 29, 2023. He served in the U.S. Marines. During his 17-month tour of duty in the Korean War, he was sent to Masan, Korea, as a legal officer trying cases as both prosecutor or defense counsel in general court martials both in Korea and Japan. When he returned to Kansas City in June of 1952, he began his law practice in Kansas City, Missouri. He practiced law for more than 60 years and defended more than 100 murder cases.