Keenan Law Firm Celebrates 60 Years Providing Exceptional Legal Service to Great Bend Community

Keenan Clan – Pictured standing is senior partner Larry Keenan, and seated are his two sons and partners Tim and Marty Keenan. “At one point, there were five Keenan’s working in this building together,” Tim says. “My daughter plans to go to law school, so there’s a possibility that she’ll keep the firm alive for years to come.” Other members of the Keenan family are also practicing law, but the work in the Kansas City area.

When Larry Keenan thinks back on one of his more intriguing cases, he remembers the legal aspects. When his sons, Marty and Tim, recall that period of time, their memories are a little different. “That was the first time we had to get a haircut at a barbershop,” Marty said. “Dad used to cut our hair but he was too busy with the case.”

Larry laughed at being reminded that the 1967 barbershop adventure was the beginning of the end of his sons’ home-shorn haircuts. “They got a sucker at the barbershop, and that was the last time I cut their hair.”
               
Today Larry, Tim and Marty are partners in Great Bend’s Keenan Law Firm, which handles probate, trusts, oil and gas, real estate, corporations, banking, personal injury, worker’s compensation, criminal law and other civil matters.
               
The case that brought back the two-generational memories was the result of Larry being appointed special prosecutor to help the late Don Humphreys with the Parrish Hotel arson. “That was the Monte Parrish case,” Larry commented. “He was charged with arson in the burning of the Parrish Hotel in Great Bend. Gen. Parrish was in Washington, D.C., when it burned. That was his alibi. But after a two-week jury trial, he was found guilty.”

The Keenans noted that Parrish was a U.S. Army 2-Star general, and the case created a lot of local and not-so-local buzz. It was the topic of a True Detective article, as well as at civic club meetings.

Ahead of their Time- Keenan Law Firm’s unique building was built in the 1970s by the Keenan Law Firm and a doctor in private practice. Featuring Spanish style architecture, the building has a lot of sentimental value to the firm’s partners. “My uncle actually made all of the accent pieces you see on the ceiling and doorways,” Marty Keenan says of his Uncle, Robert Keenan. “He designed the décor for the entire building, before Spanish architecture was even popular around here.”

The late Robert Keenan, Larry’s brother, started the firm in 1949 when he purchased the law practice of Wayne Lamoreax. Larry joined his brother upon discharge from the Army JAG Corp in 1958, and the firm operated as Keenan & Keenan until May 1974.
               
That is when Robert, Larry and Hugh Mauch formed the professional corporation and opened the office at its current location, 2200 Lakin. Tim became a stockholder in 1991 and Marty in 1995. The name changed several times but became Keenan Law Firm, P.A., on April 19, 2000.
               
It is this longevity and strong family background that has helped with the firm’s success. “We have been here so long,” Larry said. “We know the families’ histories. We know grandfathers and great-grandfathers in some cases, which makes it easier to do our jobs.  In representing the families, the next generation tends to come back if they have been satisfied with the service."

"Law"ts of Law- The walls in Keenan Law Firm are sprinkled with certificates of achievement, awards, and educational achievement certificates of all kinds. Pictured are just a few of the many certificates hanging in senior partner Larry Keenan’s office.

Tim and Marty agreed that local knowledge goes a long way to helping them serve their clients. Local residents may be more likely to call on the Keenans if they know about the firm’s track record. The attorneys get calls from old high school friends, and friends of friends, and friends of friends of friends.
               
The best part of the job for all the Keenans is helping their clients through the maze of the system. “When you can make the legal system work for someone, when you can really help the client, that’s great,” Tim said. “A lot of times, the legal system lets people down.”
               
Marty pointed out that the only reason they got into this business was to help people. Larry summed it up by noting, “We have always worked at being loyal to our clients and the community. People understand that we put client loyalty first. Number one is to serve the client. Money is not the important thing. Service is more important than the income we get.”

It was especially gratifying to the firm in the 1970s when it could help Vietnamese refugees who had moved into the area. Even with the language difficulties, the firm represented a number of individuals who were sponsored by St. Patrick Church at the time.

Busy Bees- Keenan staff members Joann Korial and Ann Whithorn work at their desks at Keenan Law Firm. “These girls are hard workers, and once they’re here they don’t seem to want to leave,” Marty says. “One of our girls has worked here for 45 years, and another for 36. We’re sort-of a family down here.” Staff members not pictured include Jolene Hetzke, C.P.A., Marla Napolitano, and Stacy Grate.

The firm has employed several attorneys over the years that were not in the Keenan family, and another may be hired next spring. Addie Herres, a senior at Oklahoma City University Law School, was a law clerk at Keenans last summer and the partners hope she returns after graduation.
               
Herres would join a legal staff with over a century of experience. Larry has 53 years, Tim has 27 and Marty has 25. But it’s not just the lawyers who have longevity. Jolene Hetzke, office manager, is a certified public accountant, and has been with the firm for 25 years. She handles the in-house accounting, as well as accounting in some of the legal cases. “It is nice to have a CPA on staff,” Marty commented. “Especially with questions about tax law.”
               
Joann Koriel, secretary, has been employed at the firm since 1965 and Marla Napolitano, probate specialist, since 1974. The firm employs a total of eight people, who serve clients throughout central and western Kansas. About half the caseload involves oil and gas projects.

Rare Recognition- Larry Keenan, senior partner at Keenan Law Firm, recently received the James Woods Green Medallion & Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Kansas School of Law. The award recognizes individuals and law firms for their commitment to and investment in KU Law.

“Great Bend is well located for the oil and gas work we do,” Tim noted. “We can do a better job on oil and gas projects than Wichita lawyers that have to travel out here.”
               
The shaky national economy has not affected the law practice but Tim recalled the firm did feel the results of $8 to $12 oil in the late 1990s. “We were more affected by that than the overall economy,” Tim said. The Keenans agreed that Great Bend has been a good place to do business and said the firm has supported the Chamber of Commerce with five annual memberships and assistance with various projects.
               
Larry recently received the James Woods Green Medallion & Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Kansas School of Law. The award recognizes individuals and law firms for their commitment to and investment in KU Law.
               
All the Keenans are Great Bend High School graduates. Larry earned his KU law degree in 1954, and is licensed to practice in the United States Supreme Court. He served as Barton County Attorney from 1961-65 and as president of the KU Law School Board of Governors from 1985-86; he is a life member of the board of governors. Larry is vice chairman of the board of Farmers Bank & Trust, N.A., in Great Bend.
               
Tim received his law degree at Washburn University in 1982 and was a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. He serves on the Kansas Professional Ethics Grievance Committee, is current president of the Barton County Bar Association, and a member of the 20th Judicial District Bench and Bar Committee. Tim was a Great Bend City Councilman and Great Bend Chamber board member.
               
Marty graduated from KU Law School in 1985 and is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. He has published many freelance articles, is a Barton County Arts Council board member and former board member of the Kansas Humanities Council. Marty has served on the 20th Judicial District Ethics Committee and as a board member of the Southwest Kansas Bar Association. He is a member of the Kansas Association for Justice and the Christian Legal Society.

Matt Keenan and Beth Keenan-Hudak, Larry’s children, are attorneys in Kansas City.