2002 Business of the Year Awards: Business of the Year Leader: Jack B. Middleton, president, McLane, Graf, Raulerson & Middleton, PA

Business NH Magazine, May 01, 2002 by Ducharme, Wendy

Jack B. Middleton

president,

McLane, Graf, Baulerson & Middleton, PA

Jack Middleton climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, lived at the summit of Mt. Washington and served in the Marine Corps during the Korean War. It's no wonder that he minimizes the challenges of combining a full plate of civic responsibilities with a 46year career as an attorney at one of the state's largest law firms.

Middleton joined what is now known as the McLane, Graf, Raulerson & Middleton law firm in 1956 and became a partner in 1962. When he joined the firm, Middleton says he signed on to a "firm history of being involved in the community."

Middleton was quick to continue that history. He served as secretary to the Mt. Washington Observatory, almost from the moment he joined McLane and continues to hold that position to this day.

Over the years, he has dedicated himself to a wide variety of nonprofit and business organizations, including serving as a director and the secretary of the Business and Industry Association and a member of the Board of Governors of NH Public Television. "I feel very strongly that if people enjoy the benefits. it is their duty to the community to participate," says Middleton.

This sense of duty extends to the professional arena, where Middleton has established a national reputation for his dedication to the legal profession.

Throughout his career, Middleton has assumed leadership positions with state and regional bar associations and legal foundations. His efforts have earned him recognition for special service to the profession. including the "Alumni Award for Distinguished Service to the Legal Profession" from the Boston University School of Law.

Thanks to Middleton's efforts, NH became the second state in the nation to establish an operational Interest on Lawyer's Trust Account (IOLTA) program to fund civil legal assistance for the needy and public education about the law.

Through the program, lawyers may place money that they are holding for short periods of time in a pooled interest-bearing trust account. The interest goes to the NH Bar Foundation.

Since the program was started in 1982. it has raised more than $13 million, but Middleton is characteristically modest about his contribution to its success.

"I just stole the idea from Florida and brought it up here," he says.

Administrators of the NH Bar Foundation are less cavalier about his contribution. In recognition of not only his IOLTA leadership, but also of his leadership on other fundraising efforts and long-time involvement as the Foundation's board chair, the Bar Foundation recently named Middleton an "Honorary Fellow" and named its highest giving category after him.

He continues to serve as president of his law firm, where he is a crucial leader, mentor, rainmaker, and strategist.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

* He is the longest serving chair of the NH Bar Foundation and holds a leadership role within the American Bar Association.

* Served the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce for 24 years as a director and chairman.

* Worked for the betterment of the greater Manchester community through the United Way for decades, including serving as chairman.

* Serves as secretary of the Board of Governors of the American Bar Association (ABA), making him only the second NH resident to serve as an officer of the ABA.

* Former president of NH Bar Association, New England Bar Association, the National Conference of Bar Foundations, and the National Conference of Bar Presidents.

* He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial lawyers.

* Twice awarded President's Award for Special Service to the Profession by the NH Bar Association.

* Recipient of the NH Distinguished Citizen Award presented by the Daniel Webster Council, Boy Scouts of America in 2000.

* Named the Citizen of the Year in 1994 by the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce.