Class of 2007 Selects Charles G

Class of 2007 Selects Charles G. Kepler as Their Commencement Speaker

In 2002, the Paul Stock Foundation and Charles G. and Ursula L. Kepler of Cody, and an anonymous donor, contributed $759,000 to establish the Kepler Chair in Law and Leadership at the University of Wyoming (UW) College of Law. The chair was established to fund an additional faculty position and attract a distinguished teacher scholar who is a national or international leader in law development. The chair honors Charles G. Kepler, Courtney R. Kepler and Loretta B. Kepler and their contributions to the UW College of Law and the practice of law.

Mr. Charles G. Kepler was admitted to the Wyoming Bar in 1948 and has maintained a general, civil and litigation practice which includes probate, corporations, limited liability companies, business law, taxation, and oil and gas law.

Mr. Kepler was a Professor of Business Law at the University of Wyoming (1948-1949), Assistant Professor of Law and Professor of Taxation at the University of Oklahoma College of Law (1950-1952), and was a Visiting Professor, Trusts and Estates, at the University of Wyoming College of Law (1977).

After serving as General Attorney for Husky Oil Company in Cody, Wyoming, from 1952 to 1960, Mr. Kepler became a partner in Simpson, Kepler & Simpson, which is now Simpson, Kepler & Edwards, the Cody, Wyoming Division of Burg Simpson Eldredge Hersh & Jardine, P. C., Mr. Kepler is currently an Of Counsel member of the firm.

Mr. Kepler's extensive contributions to his community and the legal profession include:

1967 -1969, Wyoming Bar Commissioner,
1972 - present, Life Member, National Conference on Uniform State Laws,
1973 - 1977, Member, Wyoming Judicial Nominating Commission,
1976 - 1981, Member; and 1979 - 1980, Chairman, State Board of Bar Examiners,
1985 - 1989, Member, Board of Litigation for the Mountain States Legal Foundation,
1986 - 1995, Director, The Salk Institute,
1989 - present, Director, Wyoming Centennial Community Foundation, Trustee Buffalo Bill Memorial Association, Director and President of the Paul Stock Foundation.

The class of 2007 is honored to have Mr. Kepler as our keynote graduation speaker!

Law School Commencement will take place on Saturday, May 12, 2007, in the Fine Arts Auditorium beginning at 10:00 a.m. For more information, please contact the UW College of Law at (307) 766-6416.