WAR STORIES
& SNIPPETS
AFTER DECADES OF TRIALS, YOU COLLECT SOME INTERESTING STORIES AND SNIPPETS, IF NOT WISDOM.
HERE ARE A FEW FAVORITES FROM FORMER REGENT DENNIS SUPLEE.
TAKING OUR WORK HOME
Fellow Larry Hoyle recalled his grandfather who was a trial lawyer in Greensboro, North Carolina. After a
rough morning in court one day, he began the walk home for his midday meal (which he called suppa, not
lunch) in a sour mood. Along the way, a neighbor greeted him and inquired how he was doing. “I’ll tell you
how I’m doing,” replied Larry’s grandfather. “I’m heading home for suppa. And if it’s not on the table when
I arrive, I’m going to raise hell. And if it is, I’m not going to eat a bite.” How do our families put up with us?
THE CIVIL WAR AIN’T OVER
Larry ended up practicing law in Philadelphia but
tried a number of cases in the South, where he on
occasion sensed that the judge was irritated that this
Southern lawyer had chosen to practice law in the
North. So Larry would tell the judge, “My Granddaddy
practiced law in Greensboro, North Carolina.
My Daddy practiced law there. I was born and
raised there. During the Spring of my third year of
law school, I made a visit home. I was hoping that
my Daddy would invite me to join his firm. After
dinner, my Daddy and I went out on the porch
and sat on the swing together. After a bit, we got
around to talking about the practice of law. Finally,
my Daddy put his arm around my shoulders and
said, ’Larry, you’re just too dumb. You’ll have to go
North.’” That brought the judge around every time.
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