Originally Published: NH Bar News (p2)
It should be the highest ambition of every American to extend his views beyond himself, and to bear in mind that his conduct will affect himself, his country, and the world for ages yet unborn.
- George Washington, on his New England tour in 1789.
For 97 years, Jack Middleton was the personification of Washington’s inspiring admonition to us all. Jack’s dedication to the greater world is legendary and is the subject of the far more eloquent words of his colleagues at McLane Middleton than I can ever convey.
As Bar President, it is a moment of reflection when a giant of our profession passes away, especially a giant who previously held this job and did it far better and with more grace than I ever could. All I can do is share my personal observations of Jack.
I never worked for Jack, but that never mattered. When I first met him at an Annual Meeting at the Balsams well into the previous century, I was nobody, an associate at a rival firm. I sat with Jack at dinner and he immediately made me feel like I was the most important person he ever had ever met. He asked questions and never forgot the answers (I was always glad I wasn’t an opposing witness). In the decades that followed, that never faltered in following up. He always made time to know the young lawyers, remembered their families, asked after their kids and never lost that wonderful talent for making other people feel important.
Over the years, I got to know Jack. We would attend Bar functions and social events together. I saw in his colleagues at McLane Middleton, my contemporaries, the effect that Jack had on them. They emulate him in all the best ways. They give their time to our profession and always respond when they are asked to help out. He instilled in them the sense of responsibility he himself embodied. Jack always told me how lucky he was to have such great colleagues. The lawyers at McLane Middleton know how lucky they are to have had Jack.
Things we take for granted, like the IOLTA Program, are part of our legal landscape in large measure due to Jack’s leadership. Jack never stopped being involved, never stopped caring. He reached out, participated, volunteered and took a keen interest in helping young lawyers succeed.
Dave Nixon, Kim Zachos and Jack got together regularly just to talk. They didn’t lament the passing of the old days. They talked about how to make this place, this profession better. That is why I am thrilled that the New Hampshire Bar Foundation has renamed the Nixon-Zachos Award the Nixon Zachos Middleton Award, given in recognition to lawyers who serve their communities. The new name recognizes the lasting impact Dave Nixon, Kim Zachos and Jack Middleton had on their communities. The three of them understood Washington’s admonition that their conduct affected themselves, their country, and world for the ages unborn.
We have much to live up to. Thanks Jack.