By: Tiffany G. Welt Doctors, Esq.

Since my parents came of age in the 1960s, I never ques-tioned that our immediate family urban legend began in 1963 when my Dad, Jerry Welt, turned to my Mom and said, “I am going to law school to make some changes in this world. Would you like to help me?” They were married in 1966. There were civil rights sit-ins and the murders of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Bobby Kennedy. The war in Vietnam escalated. My Dad graduated from Cal State Fullerton and in fall 1968,
and entered Cal Western School of Law.

In 1972, Lt. Governor Harry Reid offered my Dad his first job as his law clerk at Beckley, De Lanoy and Jemison, where Dad became one of the many alumni who began their law careers at that prestigious firm. After a brief stint with Goodman, Snyder and Gang, Dad opened his own practice. Those few years turned into decades with my Dad keeping the doors open by himself, recently signing a seven-year lease in a building that once housed Beckley, Singleton, et. al.

Soon after he hung his shingle, Dad became General Counsel for the Las Ve-gas -Clark County Library District. For the past 45 years he has become the library district’s institutional memory as he works daily with their staff to resolve issues. He helped build 27 libraries, coordinated with counsel on 1st and 2nd Amendment issues and has seen libraries change their focus to remain relevant in the electronic world.

In 1976, Dad joined Nevada Trial Lawyers Association. A group of like-minded young attorneys, ready to battle, ready to protect the rights of the people of Nevada and ready to make a difference in the world. He eventually served as NTLA’s President, charting the organization’s future direction and mentoring new attorneys. NTLA, now known as Nevada Justice Association, has always held an important spot in his life.

There are lots of things Dad is proud of including serving as President of our synagogue, helping to establish the direction it would take. He is proud of being the President of a foundation that makes significant donations each year to help children and Jewish educational causes. He is proud of his two children, their spouses, and his grandchildren and all of their accomplishments. He wonders if any of the other grandchildren will follow Jordan’s lead in becoming a third-generation attorney. To serve with integrity was his goal and it became his gift and we are always proud of him.