b'WhenIwas14,ourfamilyleftsmallhave ever done. Upon graduation from BYU, I attended the Univer-townIdahoandmovedtoSouthernsity of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, Califor-CaliforniaandayearlatertoNevada.nia. I excelled in law school, not because I was smarter, but because My dad and I hitchhiked to Las Vegas onI worked harder than most students. (Thank you, Dad.) I interned June 10, 1968, my 15th birthday, whenfor the Chief Justice of the Nevada Supreme Court, graduated near our car overheated and broke down nearthe top of my class and took the California and Nevada bar exams Baker, California, on Halloran Summit.the same week, passing them both.My mom and sisters were in the moving van ahead of us and there was no way toMy first job was with criminal defense lawyer, and former Las Vegas contact them. Dad and I did what a lot ofMayor, Oscar Goodman. He taught me to be passionate about the folks did back then; we stuck our thumbslaw and to have fun doing it. Oscar excelled at client service. He out and hitched a ride with a stranger. used to tell me, Rick, my clients hug me through the bars. His clients loved him win or lose, just if he fought for them. I started My dad was a small business retailer ofmy own practice 18 months out of law school. What began with a greetingcards,stationeryandgifts.Isingle client has grown to over 50,000 clients represented over the worked in the family store and other jobsyears. One thing has remained constant - my clients come first. My includingdeliveringtheNiftyNickelprofessional success could be measured by my significant verdicts newspaper, a porter at the Westward Hoand settlements on many of Nevadas largest personal injury cases. Casino Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip andBut I am most proud the lawyers at my law firm know each of our as a security guard for Howard Hughesclients personally and that their case, large or small, is individually Summa Corporation headquarters. Fol- handled by our team of professionals.lowinginmyfaithfulancestorsfoot-steps, I served a two-year mission for theEvenbeforegraduatingfromlawschool,Ireadbooksonstart-Mormon Church in England. I returneding a solo practice. Although I am passionate about the law as a from my mission to complete my Bach- profession, I have always enjoyed the business side of the law. For elors Degree in Broadcast Communica- many years, only Nevada and Alaska were without a law school. tions at Brigham Young University. WhentheUniversityofNevada,LasVegasopenedNevadas ABA-accredited law school, I became an adjunct professor of law My dad always encouraged me to be aand taught Law Practice Management for several years. Im proud lawyer.Hismomsgranddadhadbeenmy former students have become successful lawyers, many in their a lay judge in Fremont County, Idaho. Iown practices. I lecture often, have lobbied for victims rights in did not have the self-confidence to pur- the Nevada legislature and am the author of several legal articles sue this career until after I successfullyand publications. Legal education has been an important interest of concludedmychurchmission,whichmine. The Nevada Justice Association (formerly Nevada Trial Law-was and is, the most challenging thing Iyers Association) named its Series of Continuing Legal Education in my honor, in perpetuity. In 2010, the Nevada Justice Association honoredmewiththecovetedBadgerAwardfordistinguished service to the association and to the people of Nevada. Twenty-five 02'