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Our History
 Lathrop & Gage's rich history is best illustrated through the Firm's 125th Anniversary Historic Mural (shown here). The mural serves as a time line, tracing the development of the Firm from the 1870s on the far left to the present time on the far right.
The upper left corner of the mural depicts an 1870's steam locomotive representing not only the bygone mode of travel but also the railroad clients the Firm has represented, beginning during this period and continuing through today. As in other parts of the mural, this scene contains representations of clients or industries the Firm has represented, including a Wells Fargo stagecoach and the familiar Kelly's Building in Westport.
Portraits of the Firm's founders, Gardiner Lathrop and John B. (Jack) Gage are featured in the mural's lower left corner. Gardiner Lathrop (1850-1938) was a prominent attorney and Kansas Citian who founded the original "Lathrop and Smith" firm in Kansas City in 1873. (An accurate rendering of that original office is shown above Mr. Lathrop in the mural.) He is shown sitting to the left in the Mural as he appeared in 1905. To his right stands John B. (Jack) Gage (1887-1970), who founded the other principal part of the present day Firm. After 20 years of practicing with two other firms, Gage started his own firm in 1930. He later became Kansas City's famous "Reform Mayor" of 1940.
Next to Mr. Lathrop in the lower left corner, a young woman is shown operating a switchboard of the type used by the Firm during this period. To illustrate how technological changes continue to affect the practice of law, modern-day computer equipment is depicted toward the right side of the Mural displaying the home page of the Firm's web site.
In the lower middle left of the mural is a scene depicting the important civic contributions made to Kansas City by founder and Kansas City Mayor John B. Gage. Mr. Gage headed the good-government reform ticket whose goal was to oust the infamous Pendergast political machine from City Hall. Other marchers depicted include Firm attorneys William E. Kemp (1889-1968), founder of one of the major components of today's Firm and Mayor of Kansas City from 1946 to 1955 and Paul G. Koontz (1894-1988), another leader of the campaign to oust the Pendergast machine.
The courtroom scene (center) illustrates the Firm's strong litigation practice and contains representations of various Lathrop & Gage attorneys. Presiding over the trial is Judge H. Michael Coburn (1942-1994), a member of the Firm before being appointed to the Jackson County Circuit Court. The names of six other Firm attorneys who went on to become judges are listed on the door to the Judge's chambers. Represented in the Jury Box are eight former Firm members that were well-known trial attorneys during their careers.
The business closing scene (right center) includes portraits of eight former Firm members who were primarily known in their careers as corporate, tax or real estate lawyers, including (beginning at lower left of closing table and moving clockwise) John H. Kreamer, (unidentified sitting woman), Samuel W. Moore, (unidentified standing man), Samuel W. Sawyer, Elmer B. Hodges, O.W. Pratt, (unidentified standing woman), Richard S. Righter, Richard H. Brown and B. Douglas Varner.
Also represented (right center) are the significant civic contributions made over the years by various members of the Firm serving as School Board Members, Police Board Commissioners, City Councilpersons, Mayors, State Representatives and Senators including Governors Bennett, Bond and Donnelly and U.S. Senator Bond.
The mural was commissioned in 1998 because it was felt important to create an original work of art to celebrate the Firm's 125th Anniversary, a milestone few law firms reach. It was also believed that a mural depicting actual persons, places, clients and events associated with the Firm over the years would provide today's and tomorrow's attorneys and staff with an easy and enjoyable means of learning about the Firm's roots, practice areas and long and interesting history of serving its clients, the community and the Bar. Considerable research was undertaken to make the Mural as historically accurate as possible.
The original oil painting measures 5' by 10' and was created by Andy Thomas, an artist from Carthage, Missouri. The original hangs in the Firm's Kansas City office, with miniature versions on display in each of the Firm's regional offices.
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