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Youngstown attorney receives Distinguished Service Award
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: July 23, 2015
Comstock, Springer & Wilson Co. partner (William) Scott Fowler has spent much of his legal career defending clients against medical malpractice and personal injury claims, but Fowler also goes the extra mile to help lawyers in need.
In fact for the past year, he’s served as co-chair of The Mahoning County Bar Association Lawyers Assistance Committee, lending an ear and providing other resources to support lawyers and judges experiencing problems with alcohol, substance abuse, depression and stress.
Since February 2015, he’s been vice chair of the Mahoning County Mental Health & Recovery Board. Prior to February, he spent three years on the Mahoning County Alcohol & Drug Addiction Services Board. The county Mental Health Board and the Alcohol & Drug Addiction Services Board were consolidated in February.
“Scott is always the first one to volunteer to assist anyone,” said Linda Martin Saunders, co-chair of The Mahoning County Bar Association Lawyers Assistance Committee. “He is very unselfish. He gives a lot of his time, whether it’s helping someone struggling with an addiction or a young lawyer in need of advice.”
Fowler’s dedication earned him The Mahoning County Bar Association 2015 Distinguished Service Award. The award is given annually based upon an attorney’s service during that specific calendar year or over the course of many years.
Fowler received the award June 29 at the Youngstown Country Club.
“I am grateful and humbled by the award,” said Fowler. “I am not sure that I deserve it but I am not going to give it back either.
“If I get a phone call from someone who needs help and I think I can provide it to the person then I am simply doing what I should be doing.”
“Scott’s self-deprecating sense of humor and humility in no way detract from his long-running record of service to the bar,” said J. Michael Thompson, former president of The Mahoning County Bar Association.
“Scott’s service tends to be mostly in the area of the Lawyers Assistance Committee dealing with legal professionals with severe addiction problems. It’s a delicate subject to talk about, but that does not make his contribution any less,” said Thompson, an attorney at Henderson, Covington, Messenger, Newman & Thomas Co.
A native of Olmsted Falls, Ohio, Fowler majored in political science and English at Ohio Wesleyan University, where he was also elected to Phi Beta Kappa. After securing his juris doctor from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law in 1984, he began his legal career as an associate at Comstock, Springer & Wilson. He became a partner in 1990.
“When I interviewed at the firm, I felt that this was the place I would want to be for the next 40 or 50 years and the attorneys were the kind of people I wanted to surround myself with,” said Fowler.
Fowler has been a trustee of The Mahoning County Bar Association, served as president from 1996 to 1997 as well as previously being on the Grievance, Unauthorized Practice of Law, Membership and Inquiry committees. He’s also been liaison to the Newsletter, Historical, Young Lawyers, Medical-Legal and Grievance committees.
“He delivers the invocations at most of our bar functions,” said Thompson. “He’s a great speaker and his invocations are meaningful and to the point, which is greatly appreciated by everyone.”
He and his wife, Tina (Christine), currently live in Canfield. Together they have three adult daughters from previous marriages. Fowler sits on the city of Canfield’s Design/Historical Preservation Committee.
“I’ve known Scott for about ten years and he has always been willing to lend a hand any time he’s asked,” said Tina. “He is part of the Lawyers Assistance Committee and if he gets a call from someone asking to meet right away, he does it.
“He’s the same way when it comes to his community, faith and church. He has a real strong sense of community that I think was ingrained in him by his parents. He’s always such an optimist. I am very proud of him.”
“Scott does not like to talk about all that he does,” said Comstock, Springer & Wilson partner Marshall Buck. “But he spends a lot of time working with lawyers. He receives calls at all times of the day and night. Beyond that, he has been very active in the bar association and he provides pro bono services to anyone he encounters who needs help, doing what he can civilly to help these people.
“I am not at all surprised that he received the Distinguished Service Award,” said Buck.
“The legal field is one in which we argue for a living but there are still colleagues who make you smile every time you see them and Scott is one of those,” said Thompson. “He’s just a great guy to be around.”