The Honorable Sam A. Crow, Senior United States District Court Judge, received his bachelor's degree from the University of Kansas in 1949 and graduated from Washburn University School of Law in 1952, setting the stage for almost seven decades of of service: seven decades as a lawyer, serving three in the Army Reserve and four as a judge.
Prior to graduating from the University of Kansas, Judge Crow served in the United States Navy during World War II from 1944-45. After receiving a Juris Doctorate from Washburn University, he entered the Judge Advocate General School at the University of Virginia. During the next several decades while working in private practice, he completed the JAG basic course, advanced JAG course, JAG officer career course, and military judge course certifications. In 1975, he completed the Selective Service Military Course in Washington, D.C., and received certification from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in National Security Management in 1977. Judge Crow served his country for more than 30 years, retiring at the rank of colonel in 1986.
In 1953 he joined the firm of Rooney, Dickinson, Prager & Crow in Topeka. He worked in private practice until 1975 arguing cases at the Kansas Supreme Court, the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals and the U.S. Army General Court Martial Courts. He was appointed part-time magistrate judge in 1973, becoming full-time in 1975. In 1981, President Ronald Reagan appointed him to the federal bench. Fifteen years later, Judge Crow became the senior judge for the district.
Judge Crow shared his talents and knowledge with others in the legal community by speaking at venues across the country including lecturing at his alma mater, Washburn University School of Law. Judge Crow has guest lectured at other law schools and legal associations, the Kansas Bar Association and Military Law institutes throughout the United States.
In addition to serving on the Washburn Law School Association Board of Governors from 1994-1998, Judge Crow has volunteered his time for Boys Scouts of America Board of Review, Grace Episcopal Church, Shawnee County Historical Society, American Legion, Riverside Hospital Board of Directors, Topeka Council of Churches Board of Directors, Shriner's, various law and social fraternities and has served as Kansas Chairman of March of Dimes.
His professional associations were numerous, as are his awards and honors. In June 2000, Judge Crow received the Distinguished Service Award from Washburn University School of Law, the Distinguished Service Award from the Topeka Bar Association in 2000, an Honorary Doctorate of Law from Washburn School of Law in 2006, the Kansas Bar Association Medal of Distinction in 2010, and was inducted into the Topeka High School Hall of Fame, which honors graduates who have excelled at local, state or national levels. Since 1999, Judge Crow served on the Attorney Disciplinary Committee of the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas.
He married Ruth M. Rush on January 30, 1948, and he and Ruth had two children, Sam A. Crow, II, Springfield, Missouri; and Daniel W. Crow, Topeka.
Judge Sam A. Crow, at 96 years old, passed away on December 2, 2022. He made a tremendous impact on the legal community and his legacy -- both through this Inns chapter and beyond -- will live on.
(Picture and article used with permission from Washburn University School of Law and edits by Daniel W. Crow.)