Attorney Tom Finucane retired December 31, 2014 after a 46 year legal career in Franklin County.  Upon graduating from Georgetown University (both undergraduate and law school), Tom decided to become a 'country lawyer', and moved his young family (4 children) to Chambersburg, a community some of you would not recognize, given its incredible growth over the intervening years.   Franklin County had 40 lawyers in 1968.  Now there are 180.

Tom joined the firm of Wingerd and Long, a long established Chambersburg law partnership, and commenced his practice, zealously representing the interests of innumerable clients in their business, family and litigation matters.  Tom always strived to protect his clients, and learned that doing so involved problem solving skills, empathy and plenty of struggles, as he negotiated to reach resolutions not only with the 'other side', but with his own clients.

In 1985, after his law partner Daniel Long retired, Tom assumed the duties of Chambersburg Borough Solicitor, having previously served as Assistant Borough Solicitor. Tom served as the Borough's solicitor for the next 25 years, during the term of two Borough Managers, Julio Lecuona and Eric Oyer.  In 2010, Attorney Bryan Salzmann assumed these complex client responsibilities. 

Tom devoted tremendous time and focus on the needs of our legal community.  He served as President of the Franklin County Bar Association (when the position was a 2 year stint and did not include the support of an Executive Director).  He served for many years as Vice-Chair of the Orphans Court Rules Committee, was Chairman of the Law Library Committee, and served on the "Courthouse Committee" --when the 'Annex'was being constructed! 

During Tom's term as Co-Chair of the Child Support Committee, he teamed with Co-Chair Attorney Martha Walker, and a math professor at Shippensburg University (when it was still known as a college~), to create the first child support financial model program for Franklin County-subsequently adopted as the first child support model by the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare.

Tom also volunteered to support his local community, including years as Chairman of the Easter Seals Board, the Board of the Association of Retarded Citizens, the Hawbaker Nature Trust, and as a Rotarian.  He continues to serve with the Conococheague Institute.

We wish Tom all the best in his retirement, and hope it proves a little less challenging (but no less invigorating) than his many years as a country lawyer.

During the 3rd Annual FCBA YLD Pajama Drive we collected 219 pajamas with many thanks to Starr Insurance who collected pajamas, books AND stuffed animals and James Byrd Elementary who collected 127 pajamas and scholastic will match with book donations!

The pajamas, books and stuffed animals were distributed to WIN in Chambersburg, PA.  WIN also received the 157 pairs we collected last year, which is wonderful. "We are really excited we got to keep it local again." stated Kristen Hamilton who organized the pajama drive.

Thank you to everyone who participated and allowed your office to be used as a drop off location!

On a chilly Sunday afternoon, while everyone else was watching footfall, Barb Townsend and Marty Walker decorated the Courthouse Planters. They removed the Christmas decor and replaced it with the IceFest decorations.