Remembering 'Bobbie-Lou,' An Irrepressible Leader

One of America's finest bar association executives and a true civic leader has passed on.
And we mourn her passing.
Bobbie Lou Nailling-Files was also one of the most vivid and vivacious personalities we have ever known. You always knew when Bobbie Lou was on the premises. She was an irrepressible colleague, an accomplished professional and a dynamic leader.
Roberta Louise ("Bobbie Lou") Nailling-Files, of Kansas City, Missouri, died January 9, 2011, in Jacksonville, Florida, at the age of 70, following a rich and joyous life. Bobbie Lou was born March 29, 1940, in Memphis, Tennessee, to R. L. ("Mike") and Edna Nailling. Bobbie Lou and Richard Files married on January 9, 1983. 
They enjoyed traveling, antiquing, and spending time at their lake house at Table Rock Lake. Bobbie Lou served as the Executive Director of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association for thirty years, from 1970 until her retirement in 2000. 
Bobbie Lou's inimitable spirit, boundless energy, and creativity resulted in the growth of the KCMBA during her stewardship into a volunteer professional association with over 5,000 members. She single handedly promoted a congenial working relationship between the Kansas City Bench and Bar that encouraged joint discussions, problem solving, and communications designed to enhance the administration of justice. 
After her retirement as the Executive Director of the KCMBA, Bobbie Lou served as the Executive Director of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Foundation until 2006, and was instrumental in transforming the Foundation into a thriving charitable arm of the Bar. Bobbie Lou was preceded in death by her daddy and mother, and by her beloved husband, Richard Files, who died on August 13, 2003. Bobbie Lou is survived by her loving daughter and son, Cary Leigh Powers, Kansas City, Missouri, and Robert Todd Powers, Kimberling City, Missouri, her beloved granddaughter and grandson, Stephanie Brooke Powers and fiance Nathan Fields, Chicago, Illinois, and Justin Raymond Powers, Independence, Missouri, and her adorable poodle Sophie D.O.G. 
She is also survived by her sister Virginia Ann Nailling Nooyen, Memphis, Tennessee, cousin Mary Ann Williams, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and precious goddaughter Catherine Ann Dorsey, Green Bay, Wisconsin. Bobbie Lou treasured her friends, and thrived on their company. She lived her life to the fullest, always open to new adventures and opportunities. 
Despite experiencing significant health issues during her final years, Bobbie Lou refused to quit, and demonstrated the same charmingly stubborn resolve and courage that permitted a little girl from Arkansas to become one of the most respected and accomplished Bar Executives in the country. Friends are invited to celebrate and to pay tribute to Bobbie Lou's life on Saturday, January 15, 2011, between 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., with remarks at 6:00 p.m., at the Mission Hills Country Club, 5400 Mission Drive, Mission Hills, Kansas. 
Donations are preferred in lieu of flowers, and may be made in Bobbie Lou's name to either: Wayside Waifs, 3901 Martha Truman Road, Kansas City, Missouri 64137, or the Nailling Society/Richard Files Law Scholarship, with checks payable to UMKC School of Law, and mailed to UMKC Foundation, 229 Administration Center, 5100 Rockhill Road, Kansas City, Missouri 64110-2499.

Red State Fun

We needed to sink our feet solidly into the soil of a true Red State for awhile.

So, we flew to our beloved Texas.

And we're here in Austin for the National Association of Bar Executives annual Communications Workshop where we will conduct a workshop and present this year's E. A. Wally Richter Leadership Award.

Austin is a beautiful city - and one that has preserved and restored so many lovely and historic buildings. This town sits like a finely polished gem on the Colorado River and our hotel has a lovely river view.

Austin is also the state capital and few states have a more stately and impressive capitol dome than Texas. While we're here we will be enjoying many of the historic attractions.

But last night we whooped it up with colleagues at Esther's Follies which is Austin's version of comedy, vaudeville, satire and music all combined into a show that is sort of like Washington's Capital Steps. (Cast of Esther's pictured).

The show lampooned everyone and incorporated a healthy share of audience participation. Esther's sits right in the heart of Austin's lively Sixth Street entertainment district which is lined with music havens that offer potent libations.

This is a mecca for live music and Sixth Street is the place to be.

In fact, Austin bills itself as "the live music capital of the world."

Good Morning, NABE!

Good morning to all our friends convening for the National Association of Bar Executives Conference (NABE) at the American Bar Association (ABA) Annual Meeting in New York this morning.
We hope you have a wonderful time in the Big Apple and that you enjoy a great conference and soak up all of the sights and delights of the world's most exciting city.
We have so many good things to say about NYC (and so many fond memories from countless visits) that it would take a whole new blog just to begin to catalogue them.
We never tire of visiting one of our favorite summer islands - Manhattan.
So, even though we're no longer regular conventioneers, we might just surprise everyone later this week with a live shout out. Enjoy!