Career Reflections

Over 34 years as Hoffman Estates' village attorney, Richard Williams taught plenty of people a thing or two about the law.

But certainly one of the most unusual lessons he ever gave was explaining to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Byron White the purpose of a bong.

Williams found himself, at age 34, in front of the high court to defend the village's ban on the sale of marijuana paraphernalia.

The owner of a local business, Flipside Records, had sued the village over the ban, claiming free speech infringement. Appeal after appeal led ultimately to the Supreme Court -- and to then-Justice White's query.

Williams knew White was from Colorado, and Williams himself taught every August at the University of Colorado. So he decided to use White's familiarity with the campus to his advantage.

" 'All you have to do is go down the street, and there's 10 shops there (that sell such paraphernalia), your honor,' " Williams recently recalled saying, referring to the college's main drag. "And everyone was laughing."

Winning the case, though, was no laughing matter. It wasn't just a victory for the village or for Williams' career, but it became a precedent-setting ruling that is still reference.

"One could say he helped create the national standards for drug paraphernalia," said Peter Burchard, the former Hoffman Estates village manager and current Naperville city manager.

Twenty-six years later, , the colorful Williams has retired from Hoffman Estates with a sense of satisfaction. He and his wife have departed for Sun City, Fla., where he'll continue to practice law.

Available 24/7

Priding himself on being the first one inside village hall every morning, Williams offered his expertise, often explaining complex matters to confused village officials. Being a teacher came natural, as he taught law at Northwestern University.

"He is available 24/7," Trustee Gary Pilafas said at a previous board meeting.

Many residents might not know his face, but Williams had a major impact in the growing community. Sure, Williams helped residents who had questions about zoning and variances. But he also helped oversee the TIF district project that brought the Sears corporate headquarters to the village.

He successfully fought South Barrington and Barrington Hills in 1980 in state Supreme Court over the construction of the Poplar Creek Music Theater.

Williams took the attorney's post in 1973 when the village was cleaning up the debris of the developer scandal that sent six former village officials to prison for accepting bribes from developers.

With former mayor and village clerk Virginia Hayter's departure in May, Williams was the last member from the cleanup crew.

Supreme Court wins

Williams twice left the U.S. Supreme Court victorious representing Hoffman Estates. He had two courtroom drawings of his appearances hanging in his village office.

He remembers seeing Justice Harry Blackmun in the exclusive Supreme Court cafeteria -- which Williams said has best omelet in Washington.

Blackmun helped write the court's decision on Roe v. Wade. While dining, Blackmun was interrupted by a man asking questions about abortion.

"And out of nowhere comes two plain-clothed officers and move this guy right on out," Williams recalled.

A team replaces one

Williams' replacement, Art Janura, comes from the firm Arnstein and Lehr LLP, which has 150 attorneys. Janura promises to be aggressive.

"I don't know exactly everything that Mr. Williams had done, be we will be representative of the village of Hoffman Estates in all of the vast majority of their legal needs," Janura said.

Trustee Cary Collins hasn't held back his happiness with Williams' replacement during meetings, continually lauding Janura's presence. Trustee Raymond Kincaid has said Collins helped bully Williams out of town.

Williams has no comment to being pushed out, only saying that he was always available for village business. In the meantime, Williams backs his replacement, calling Janura "outstanding."

Municipalities' needs have grown, Burchard said, with towns leaning on law firms rather than a single attorney.

"There are few … Dick Williamses out there anymore, those who can literally serves as a jack of all trades," Burchard said.

In appointing Janura and Assistant Village Attorney Dominick DiMaggio, Mayor William McLeod and other board members wanted to distribute the village attorney's responsibility to more than one attorney.

But even at the twilight of his career, Williams carries even more enthusiasm. He didn't leave because he was burned out, he just wanted sunnier skies.

"I'd rather come to work than play golf the last couple years," he said. "I just can't wait to get at things."