Olympia Lawyer Edward F. Schaller Jr. Receives Local Hero Award

Seattle, Washington, January 19, 2001 — Olympia lawyer Edward F. Schaller Jr. received the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) Local Hero Award today at a luncheon in Olympia. WSBA President Jan Eric Peterson presented the award in recognition of Mr. Schaller's service to the residents of Thurston County. As the WSBA Board of Governors meets around the state, the Local Hero Award is presented to a lawyer in that area who has made noteworthy contributions to the community.

Since 1980, Mr. Schaller has been in private practice with the Olympia firm of Foster Foster & Schaller. He retired in October 2000 due to ill health. Prior to starting his own firm, Mr. Schaller worked for the Thurston County Prosecutor's office, and served as a clerk for Justices Hunter and Wright in the Washington Supreme Court.

Mr. Schaller has been an active member of the St. Martin's College Alumni Association for 10 years, including two years as president. For several years he managed the concession trailer at sports events to raise money for the college and the alumni association. He also served on the college's Board of Trustees for one year. Mr. Schaller has participated in fundraising activities for the American Cancer Society, including the Relay for Life. In the last two years, he coordinated a relay team sponsored by his firm. Last June, his team was the top fundraiser at the event. Mr. Schaller has been a member of the Kiwanis and the Elks clubs, and has been a supporter of Thurston County community programs for over 30 years. 

The Washington State Bar Association is a private, nonprofit organization authorized by the Washington Supreme Court to license the state's 26,500 lawyers. The WSBA both regulates lawyers under the authority of the Court and serves its members as a professional association — all without public funding. As a regulatory agency, it administers the bar exam, provides record-keeping and licensing functions, and administers the lawyer discipline program. As a professional association, the WSBA provides continuing legal education for attorneys, in addition to numerous other educational and member service activities.