History

By 1953 Sol had built a prosperous law practice, practicing with some of the leading trial lawyers in the area, including Clarence R. McNabb, former County Chairman and Circuit Court Judge. Sol saw his career challenge as moving from an individual practitioner to creating a larger law firm prominent in the community and among the lawyers. Two young lawyers, both already involved in the practice, presented Sol with this opportunity. Both Thomas A. Gallmeyer, Sr. (“Tom”) and Richard T. Doermer (“Dick”) were sons-in-law to Clarence McNabb, both had been honorably discharged as Officers in the Army and Navy, respectively, both had graduated from Cornell Law School and both were very promising young lawyers.

Sol promised to contribute to the new firm his long standing law practice – in consideration for which Tom and Dick joined the firm that now is known as Rothberg Logan & Warsco. Sol had great faith in both Tom and Dick, and it wasn’t long before his great faith was rewarded. Tom went to work in Republican politics and in a very short period of time became the Republican County Chairman, District Chairman, State Chairman and Representative to the National Convention for the Republican Party in Indiana. Dick, on the other hand, established himself in the commercial area of the practice. He became involved with several banks, some of which he participated in organizing, and served as a financial advisor to many companies and clients who adopted Dick as their general counsel.

Needless to say, all three of the lawyers, Sol, Dick and Tom, were in very short order, very busy lawyers with more legal practice than all three of them could handle.

Not only did the founders establish a prosperous practice (now over 50 years old), but each succeeded in making many permanent changes which had affects throughout the whole community. For example, the IPFW Business School is now known as the “Doermer Business and Professional Science School.” Tom organized the American Federal Savings & Loan Association. Tom and Dick were both heavily involved in a succession of successes within the Republican Party, and as the final tribute to Dick’s effort in the community, the Health Science Building at St. Francis College in Fort Wayne is now known as the “Doermer Family Health School Building.”

And so the Firm has prospered and has attracted now almost two generations of talented, young lawyers. The Firm continues to grow and to move strategically forward – with the original principles, goals and philosophies of the founders and its many distinguished alumni remaining at its core.