Retirement means nothing to law alumnus
At 74, ex-Supreme Court lawyer Edwin Peterson
is still present in the classroom and the courtroom
BY CANELA WOOD
NEWS REPORTER
Although he is 10 years into retire
ment, University alumnus Edwin Pe
terson has never stopped working.
Peterson teaches a class at
Willamette University College of
Law, mentors aspiring law students,
continues to work as a mediator and
still has a lot planned for his future.
Peterson graduated from the Uni
versity with a bachelor of science
from the School of Music in 1951
and with a law degree from the Uni
versity’s School of Law in 1957.
Upon graduating from law school,
Peterson immediately went to work
for the Tooze, Kerr, Peterson, Mar
chall & Shenker law firm in Portland,
where he stayed for 22 years, until
he was elected associate justice for
the Oregon Supreme Court in 1979.
Peterson’s career with the Oregon
Supreme Court continued until he
retired as justice in December 1993.
Peterson’s post-college success
has earned him a number of
awards, including Public Interest
Lawyer of the Year, presented by
Willamette University Public Inter
est Law Project in 2003; University
of Oregon Outstanding Alumnus
Award in 1996; Oregon State Bar
President’s Affirmative Action
Award in 1995 and nearly 20 other
distinguished awards. In addition to
his award-winning work, Peterson
has done a wide range of public
service activities, including serving
on the Conference of Chief Justices’
Board of Directors, the Oregon
State Bar Board of Governors and
the Professional Liability Fund
Board of Directors.
"I’m still working just as hard,
teaching pre-trial civil litigation at
Willamette University and working
with faculty and students in a host
of ways, an ongoing act at the law
school,” Peterson said. “In 1998, I
formed the Understanding Racism
Foundation and I’ve been very ac
tive with the foundation ever since.
I’ve been active in racial-diversity is
sues for probably 15 years.”
Peterson said that he is still work
ing as a private mediator and as a
pro tern judge from time to time,
adding that he’s very busy, but
that’s how he prefers things.
“1 think he has a very inquisitive
mind and always wants to learn
more and then he likes to put that
knowledge to use,” Peterson’s wife,
Anne, said. “He’s absolutely awe
some, an incredibly kind man and
he has ideas of how to make the
world better. ”
In 1971, Peterson married Anne,
whom he met while working for the
Tooze, Kerr, Peterson, Marchall &
Shenker law firm. The couple
brought their children from previous
marriages together to form one fam
ily, Anne Peterson said. Peterson’s
wife is also an alumna of the Univer
sity, graduating from the journalism
school in public relations in 1984.
Where are they now?
11 1.11——I ll I
Courtesy
10 years retired, Edwin Peterson serves as
a pro tem judge and law mentor.
EDWIN PETERSON
Graduated: 1951 (School of Music), 1957
(School of Law)
Degrees earned: B.S. School of Music, LL.B.
School of Law
Important issues at the time: Problems that
the Allies had concerning Germany, which led to
the Cold War, Berlin Wall and creation of NATO; Tru
man vs. Dewey presidential campaign in 1948 and
1952 Eisenhower vs. Stevenson election; construc
tion of the Student Union, now called the EMU.
University activities: Involved with Young Re
publicans, served on Student Union board, 3-year
class officer and member of University band and
orchestra.
“She commuted to Eugene after
our kids were grown; she and our
son were classmates and graduated
in the same year,” Peterson said. He
added that she worked in public re
lations for a number of years, in
cluding work as the director of de
velopment for the University’s
School of Law.
While attending the University,
Peterson worked at a creamery de
livering milk and at a restaurant as a
cook, waiter and eventually manag
er. Peterson worked to pay tuition,
which was only $37.50 per quarter
in fall 1947, he said.
Peterson said his most rewarding
time at the University was serving
on the student union board.
“1 was always fairly active in stu
dent affairs,” Peterson said. He also
participated in student government,
serving as a class officer all three
years that he attended law school.
Peterson also played the French
horn for the University’s band and
orchestra.
Peterson has three pieces of ad
vice for current University students.
He said the most important thing for
success is thoroughness.
“Thoroughness. Not brains, thor
oughness. If you approach a task
and do a thorough job then that will
bring you to the top over the
smarter, less thorough competitor,”
Peterson said. The second piece of
advice he had was to be civil.
“Civility is vanishing from our so
ciety,” Peterson said. “I think civility
is the mark of any successful society.
Being courteous and respectful of
others is something I’ve always tried
to do.”
Peterson’s final piece of advice
was to attend class. He noted that
during his entire undergraduate ca
reer he never missed a class until his
final quarter before graduating and
that the same was true for his time
in law school. Fellow University Law
School graduate and one of Peter
son’s lifelong friends Wayne Annala
can attest to Peterson’s many ac
complishments.
“I’d describe him as having ful
filled everything and more than any
one would have ever expected, and
then some,” Annala said.
He said Peterson went into a well
known law firm trying many large
cases and then ran for the Oregon
Supreme Court as a lawyer.
“He didn’t rely on a governor to
appoint him,” Annala said. “He be
came a member of the court the
hard way, in a real election.”
Annala added that to become the
Supreme Court Justice, one needs to
be elected by fellow members of the
court, which says a lot about Peter
son’s ability to work with others.
There is no doubt that Peterson
has accomplished a lot in his life
time, but he still has plans for the fu
ture.
Peterson, 74, said that among the
things he’d like to accomplish is be
coming closer to his three adult chil
dren, finishing a book of prayers
he’s been working on and continu
ing to teach.
“1 have a list of things I’d like to
do before 1 die. I’ve knocked off a lot
of them, but I still have some things
to work on,” Peterson said.
canelawood@ daily emerald, com
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FALL PALETTE
Danielle Hickey | Photo editor
The long days of studying with beautiful fall sunsets has begun at Knight
Law School, which towers over multi-colored leaves as the fading sunlight
reflects off its pristine windows.
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