FIRM HISTORY

The Firm was formed in 1966. Edward C. Thompson, a senior member of the Logan County Bar at the time, contacted Robert E. Dunlap and Thomas A. Heydinger to discuss a potential partnership. The three men met and set out a general plan for a three attorney firm in Bellefontaine. Their partnership began shortly thereafter.

Today, founding member Mr. Heydinger continues his practice, primarily focusing in the areas of probate, estate planning, mediation and other alternative dispute resolution. Mr. Thompson passed away in 1978 after a long and distinguished career. Mr. Dunlap continued his successful practice until his death in April 2005.

The Firm has grown and evolved over the six decades since its founding. This growth and evolution began in 1976 when Robert B. MacDonald, Jr. joined the firm as its first associate attorney. Mr. MacDonald is a native of Logan County, growing up in Russells Point, and he joined the firm after practicing in Columbus, Ohio.

In 1991, David R. Watkins joined the Firm after previously being a partner in the Columbus office of the law firm Arter & Hadden. Mr. Watkins had been a longtime resident of Logan County, growing up and residing in the Rushsylvania area, but his legal practice had up to that point in time been located in Columbus.

Dane M. Hanna continued the growth of the Firm when he was hired as an associate in 1995. Mr. Hanna grew up in Hardin County and had been practicing in the Logan County and Hardin County area after graduating from law school. Mr. Hanna’s father, Mark Hanna, and his grandfather, Rex Hanna, were successful attorneys with long-time practices in Kenton, Ohio.

In 1995, the Firm made a substantial investment in its future with the construction of its current office at 1111 Rush Avenue, Bellefontaine. The construction of this new office building enabled the Firm to utilize a custom-made facility, with modern technological and communication amenities, in its delivery of legal services to clients.

Shortly after the Firm’s move to its new office building, the Firm continued to develop with the addition of long-time Logan County attorney, Howard A. Traul II, to the Firm. Mr. Traul had enjoyed a successful practice for many years prior to joining the Firm. Mr. Traul is a second generation attorney in Logan County – his father, Howard Traul, previously having a distinguished legal career in Bellefontaine, including serving as Logan County’s Prosecuting Attorney and its first elected Municipal Court Judge.

In the first decade of the new millennium, the Firm added two new members, Chad A. Ross and Terrence G. Stolly. Mr. Ross is a Logan County native and an Indian Lake High School graduate. Mr. Ross elected to continue his practice in his hometown after practicing in the Columbus office of the law firm Baker and Hostetler LLP, and serving as in-house corporate counsel for corporations in Cleveland and Cincinnati. Mr. Stolly is a Bellefontaine High School graduate. Prior to joining the Firm, Mr. Stolly practiced with the law firm Arter & Hadden in Columbus.

In 2004, the Firm re-established an office in Russells Point, Ohio to better serve its clients in the Indian Lake area. The Firm had previously maintained an office in Russells Point from 1975 through the early 1990s.

In 2012, the Firm added three new members with the additions of Gabriel D. Wickline, John D. Bodin and Christopher J. Moell, and expanded its regional footprint with the addition of a third office in West Liberty, Ohio. Mr. Wickline is a lifelong Logan County resident, having graduated from Indian Lake High School. Mr. Bodin is originally from Cincinnati and practiced with a firm in Dayton, Ohio prior to joining the Firm. Mr. Moell had been in the private practice of law in West Liberty for twelve years prior to joining the Firm. Mr. Moell was a partner with Attorney Phil Brandt in the partnership Brandt & Moell during that period of time.

Today, the Firm has three associates, Joshua M. Stolly, Zebulon N. Wagner and Connor W. Kinsey, to complete its diversified team of attorneys. With an experienced team of attorneys and a qualified legal staff to serve its clients, the Firm continues to focus on the future as its evolution continues.