Editorial
Front Page - Friday, September 04, 2009
View from the Cheap Seats
I liked Ike
Bill James
WmJamesJr@aol.com
As I walked up to the Little Rock Athletic Club Sunday night, I noticed something was missing. The summer was now over and there was no one swimming in the pool. Sunday evenings at the pool are always popular during the summer for families. Now, the water on the pool was undisturbed and the quiet and tranquility made me sad to think of the summer that had passed.
I had a similar feeling when I learned that Ike Scott passed away last week. I felt like an era had passed. Just like I wished that I had the summer back to swim in the pool, I now wished that I had the opportunity to speak to him one more time and at least say goodbye.
I first met Ike when I was two years out of law school. I got myself nominated and elected to the Pulaski County Bar Association board of directors in 1997. Ike was the president elect of the PCBA at the time. I do not recall that I knew anyone else on the board including Ike. What I do recall is that no one made me feel any better about being there than he did that first year.
As president, he did a great job and helped steer the PCBA into the modern bar association that it is today. He understood the importance of making sure that the PCBA was responsive to the needs of the membership as well as the responsibility the PCBA had in representing the legal community to the people of Pulaski County.
As I became a leader in the PCBA, Ike was always the person I turned to when I needed advice on how to deal with tough issues. His advice was always right on the mark. Much, if not all, of the success I had as PCBA president was directly related to the help I received from Ike. He was always available to me and the bar when his help was needed.
At the 2008 PCBA Annual Meeting, I gave Ike a PCBA Bar Foundation President’s Award and told the crowd that it was my intention to give Ike an award every time I had a chance. I had a chance in 2009 and did not follow through. I believe that was the last time I saw Ike and I really do not recall speaking to him at any length. Awards aside, I can’t tell you with any certainty that I actually ever said “Thank You” to Ike for the help and counsel he gave me over the years.
My father died four years ago in August and I have written about that symbolic time every year since then. I did not do such a column this year as I was not really sure what to say anymore.
The passing of Mr. Scott has reminded me of the original point four years ago. We are only here for a very short time, and those that are certain in tomorrow are likely to waste today. Remember to appreciate what you have today. Those we love and respect can be taken from us anytime. That is true everywhere, especially in the CHEAP SEATS! Thank you Ike. You will be missed.
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