Glenn A. Burkart (1922-2008)

From Missouri Lawyers Weekly:

A longtime lawyer and founder of a Springfield defense firm has died. Glenn Burkart was remembered by colleagues as a legendary litigator and great storyteller who also took the time to serve as a mentor to younger lawyers.

Burkart, 86, died Saturday, after recently suffering a heart attack, according to other attorneys in his firm. Burkart helped found a new law firm, then called Burkart & Hunt, in Springfield about 15 years ago, at a time of life when many people would be retiring and headed for Florida.

The firm traditionally helped defend doctors in medical malpractice cases. But as that need has fallen with changes in state law limiting injury lawsuits, it handles more general civil and insurance defense, firm attorney Joel Block said.

Burkart continued to practice law up until the end, coming to the office every day until a couple of weeks ago and still working on active cases, Block said.

“He was a great friend. He was the firm in many respects and a great mentor to me,” said Block, who joined the law practice about five years ago.

Bruce Hunt, on the other hand, had worked with Burkart for 30 years, the first half when Burkart hired him and both practiced at what was then Mann, Walter, Burkart, Weathers & Walter, and recently at their own firm. Hunt said Burkart was quite a character and seemed far younger than his 86 years. The two got along well together.

“He used to joke he thought of me as the illegitimate son he never had,” Hunt said with a chuckle. “It’s going to seem quite odd for a long time to not see him. We just always assumed he’d be there.”

Hunt said Burkart had worked on medical malpractice defense in recent years but over his career handled cases in many areas of law.

“He grew up in an era when attorneys didn’t specialize,” he said. “That’s still the toughest way to make a living and also be good.”

Former Missouri Supreme Court Judge John Holstein also had fond memories of Burkart. Holstein said he first got to know and respect Burkart by watching him in action when both were representing separate defendants in a lawsuit. He said Burkart had a deep voice, a great persona and was an excellent storyteller, important qualities for a good trial lawyer.

“He was one of the old-fashioned lawyers that really cultivated his ability to speak to a jury and he did an excellent job in trying cases as a result,” Holstein said.

He also remembered Burkart as a scholar of the law, digging into every aspect of a case.

Burkart also served briefly as a circuit judge for Greene County, in 1976, according to his firm biography.

A St. Louis native, Burkart earned his law degree from the University of Missouri in 1947. He served as president of the Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association in 1966-67. He was also a fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers.

“I think of him as a legendary figure, legendary litigator, but also a guy who took time to be a resource for me as a young attorney,” Block said, including helping him prepare for cases that reached the Missouri Supreme Court.

Burkart also received the Distinguished Attorney Award in 2007 from the Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association. Association Executive Director Crista Hogan said plaintiff and defense lawyers and from all kinds of legal practices nominated Burkart and shared their impressions of him as a storyteller, gentleman, mentor and zealous advocate for clients.

“Being around people like Glenn makes me feel really good about being a lawyer,” Hogan said.

Burkart’s wife died nearly 30 years ago. He leaves behind two grown daughters in Missouri and Florida, Block said. The funeral was being handled by Gorman Scharpf Funeral Home in Springfield but details were still being finalized.