Longtime Bolivar attorney announces retirement

A third-generation family member practicing law at 100-year-old firm Douglas, Haun & Heidemann PC has set a Jan. 1 retirement date.

Kerry Douglas, president and senior attorney at DHH, will step out of the day-to-day operations of the firm starting in 2013.

Douglas - who co-owns the firm with his son, Patrick Douglas, and Craig Heidemann - said he will continue to serve as of counsel, wrap up client matters, manage trusts, and advise and assist DHH attorneys.

"Retirement, by my definition, means I'll be here when I want to be and not because I've got to be every day," Douglas said. "There will be a phase-out period after Jan. 1."

He said a determination on his successor as president of DHH likely will be made in the next two to three weeks.

For Douglas, smoothing the process was an important factor in his retirement. He said his father, DHH attorney Elvin Douglas, was unable to do so due to a heart attack that caused his death in 1979.

"It's very important to me to go out at a time when I still have mental and physical capacity, where I can make a smooth transition with my clients, who have been very faithful to me during 40-plus years," Kerry Douglas said. "I think this is the best way for me to smooth that transition while I'm still around to provide history, advice and assistance to the partners and associates at the firm."

Douglas said he has had the January date in mind for about four years, after his first wife, Synda Douglas, died from a long battle with breast cancer.

"My first wife's death made me realize that perhaps I wasn't immortal and that there are some things that I want to do in life that I haven't been able to do yet. I want to get those done while I'm well, both in mind and body," Kerry Douglas said, noting his second wife - Synda's twin sister, Lynda - is retired.

Douglas, who was named among Springfield Business Journal's 2012 class of Men of the Year, had a hand in shaping Bolivar's health care scene, serving as the first board chairman of Citizens Memorial Healthcare and filling that role until 2006.

Douglas also transitioned out of the role of city attorney of Bolivar last year and has served as assistant city attorney in order to train Don Brown, a partner at DHH, for the job.