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The End of an ACBA Era
The Association Prepares to Bid Farewell
By Daniel Casciato
For The Lawyers Journal
March 23, 2001

No one is irreplaceable, but Jim comes as close as any person Judge Donald Ziegler has ever met, he said when asked recently about ACBA Executive Director Jim Smith's impending retirement on April 21. After 38 years, the man the legal community has come to love and respect, James Ignatius Smith, III, is finally calling it quits.

"Jim Smith is the most competent individual I have ever met in my life. He's one of my closest friends," says Ziegler. "He single-handedly turned the ACBA into one of the most vibrant and most successful bars in the United States. I lament the fact that he is retiring and I will miss his presence at the Bar functions, his counsel, his wisdom and his friendship. He's a good man."

A retirement party is planned for April 21 at the Westin Convention Center Pittsburgh (formerly the DoubleTree Hotel). In typical fashion, Smith responded this way about his retirement. "I will miss it. It's a life I spent nearly 40 years at and it's hard to turn your back to it. If I could do it all over again, I would - in a heartbeat, although I don't think I could improve upon what I did. I did everything from scratch and helped make the Bar what it is today. And I take great pride in that," he said.

Commenting on his retirement, Joy Conti, past ACBA president, called Smith "one of the most respected figures in the legal field." "He was always so supportive of me and to all the members. He'll be greatly missed. He should take great pride in the ACBA. I hope he has a wonderful retirement and gets to enjoy all the golf that he desires." According to employees and members of the bar, Smith will always be remembered for his exceptional leadership and innovative contributions to the ACBA during his highly successful tenure as the executive director.

Smith grew up in Circleville, Ohio, which is south of Columbus. After earning a degree in business administration at the University of Notre Dame in 1953, he served with an Army airborne unit for two years. Upon coming home, Smith became a reporter for the Circleville Herald, covering courts and various government agencies. He also worked weekends covering sports events to supplement his income.

It was these journalistic skills that eventually led him to a bar association career. The Ohio State Bar Association presented him a $300 award in 1959 for a two-part series he wrote on jury duty. The very next year a public relations position became available with the Ohio State Bar, for which Smith was hired. After three years at the Ohio State Bar, Smith knew it was time to move on. He heard that the Allegheny County Bar Association was looking for an executive director and he was confident that he was the right person for the job.

The ACBA executive director search committee received over 100 applications for the position, but Smith's was the one that stood out. "Those people in Pittsburgh didn't even know what a bar association executive director was, but they hired me on the spot," Smith says. "The problem was that too many lawyers applied. They wanted someone who was media-savvy, and needed someone who could run it like it was a business." Ziegler was originally surprised by the selection of Smith as the new leader for the bar simply because he was not an attorney. Ziegler, like others, thought an attorney would have been given the job.

"Whoever made that decision made a very wise decision. This is a man who knows, understands and supports lawyers," Ziegler says. But what also helped, admits Smith, was the fact that the Ohio State Bar was probably the most advanced bar association in the country at the time. Smith gave credit to his roots.

"The Ohio State Bar taught me how to deal with lawyers. I learned from the very best. That's where I got my experience. And I brought that knowledge to the ACBA," he says. Smith's illustrious career with the ACBA began on January 3, 1963. In his first of many tasks, Smith decided to spend an entire weekend writing out his duties. Since there were no executive directors before him, the ACBA Board of Governors were not certain what to do with a new captain aboard.

"They didn't know just what to do with me. So I asked them to give me the go-ahead to go through with the duties I outlined. I wanted free reign, they gave it to me and off we went," Smith remembers. During his tenure at the ACBA, Smith had enough free reign to catapult the ACBA into the upper echelon of bar associations. His accomplishments are many. He established 18 bar association substantive law sections, which function as mini-bar associations for legal specialties. He organized the first ever Bench-Bar conference in 1963. Under his guidance, the ACBA became the first bar association to offer CLE programs. Because of Smith, the ACBA was the first bar to start a videotape deposition department.

He established a Lawyer Placement Service, was instrumental in assisting the Pittsburgh Legal Administrators, and helped found the Pittsburgh Society of Association Executives. He also purchased the daily Pittsburgh Legal Journal from the Smith Brothers. Soon after, other bar associations began to use the ACBA as a benchmark. They started to offer CLE's, videotape depositions, Bench-Bars, etc. "Other bars just started to plagiarize our programs. But to be honest, I felt complimented by them. It was a distinct honor to have others use your ideas."

The ACBA has grown considerably. The association now offers more than 100 educational seminars a year. It also places many lawyers, secretaries and paralegals in jobs and runs the only daily legal journal owned and operated by a bar association. "When I came to the Bar in 1963, there were about 1,500 members, and now we have over 6,500. Under Jim's leadership, we have grown from a sleepy, unimaginative bar to the most successful in the nation due to his personality and his ability. He is the ultimate administrator," says Ziegler of his good friend.

Not only has Smith earned the respect of members of the bar and bench, but of his loyal and dependable staff as well. Dorie Schnippert, ACBA Director of Membership and CLE, says she will miss her boss. "He'll always be a part of the ACBA. He should be very proud of all his accomplishments and recognize the innumerable friendships he has made over the years. Hang on to those wonderful memories," Schnippert says. Like other employees before and after her, Schnippert was scared of Smith. "He was very gruff and abrupt, and all I could think of is what I had gotten myself into. But I soon learned that his bark was worse than his bite."

Ziegler smiles when he hears of Smith's intimidating personality. "He never fooled me for a minute. He's loud, direct, and demanding. But behind that brash exterior is a very kind heart." His employees say that he has an aura about him of a man in charge. With Smith, you knew that he was the boss. Smith's successor, Acting Executive Director David Blaner, says that when he first met Smith he knew that he was definitely in control and was rather impressed.

"First off, I don't meet too many people taller than me," Blaner jokes of Smith's 6 feet 5 inch frame. "I remember calling him because I heard of an opening at the Bar, and wanted to learn more about it. Jim picks up the phone and barks 'Smith,' as he always does. I told him that I was interested in the position of Assistant Executive Director and he replies that it would be worth my while to come in for the interview because it was a good position. And in my very first meeting with him, he's sitting there at his desk, smoking his trademark cigar and just firing question after question at me. He has always had high expectations of all his employees. He is very supportive of us all."

Marlene Ellis, an ACBA employee for nearly 15 years, says that Smith created a family. "He created harmony among the employees. Sometimes you lose that in many businesses or organizations because of growth and the high number of employees. It wasn't like that here. I always looked forward to coming to work."

Julie Vodd, Director of the Pittsburgh Legal Journal, Graphics and Printing, agreed. "He has meant everything to the bar. He's great at getting people excited about the work that they do. He knows how to deal with people, and he always expressed concern for everyone, no matter what you did for the bar. He treated us like his family." Blaner knows he has some big shoes to fill. "Jim has meant stability to the bar. How many organizations can point to one person and say he's been a leader for 38 years? He was innovative and he was willing and able to put programs in place that were unique to the bar.

The Board always trusted him and they followed his lead." Blaner gives all the credit to Smith for making the ACBA one of the top five or six bars in the nation. "He should revel in the fact that he's done something that not everyone has done in their careers. And he should be proud of that." Smith says he is proud of his staff. "Over the years, I built a competent, intelligent staff and I'm proud of them. They're great people - and they're the type of people that you want to have retire with your organization. I hope they keep up the good work."

What is most admired about Smith is the personal touch that he added to his job. He knew members by their first name. He often visited attorneys, or their families, in hospitals, and assisted them during difficult times. Staff members always said that his door was open to everyone. No one ever had to make an appointment to see him. "He attended as many ACBA functions as possible," Ellis adds. "He would be by the door and greeted every person that walked in." Smith shrugs this off. "I just wanted to make the members feel like they were part of the organization. I wanted to visit them in hospitals, or attend the funerals of their loved ones. And they appreciated that."

Smith becomes solemn when he begins to discuss life after the ACBA. "I have six daughters, two sons, and 14 grandchildren. And they're all back home in Ohio. I neglected them when I was working in Pittsburgh. It's make-up time now. I will spend some time in Pittsburgh visiting old friends. But my family is important. There's going to be a lot of make-up time for them." After a brief pause, Smith then says, "Of course, I will be golfing more. My golf game stinks right now, but only because it's too cold to go out and practice."  

Then he softly adds one more time, "But I will miss working there."

Staff, members of the bar and the legal community can wish a fond farewell to Smith and thank him one last time at his April 21 retirement party. Invitations for the event have been mailed to all ACBA members. If you did not receive an invitation or need more information about the event, please call Marlene Ellis at 402-6611.

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