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Depression-era Arizona offered little for newly minted lawyers and, like everyone else, Wilmer adapted to the culture of scarcity and sacrifice. Bunking with fellow law associate Jim Walsh in their humble Mesa, Arizona, bungalow, Wilmer embarked on his Arizona career with a sense of hope and optimism. Almost immediately, however, his confidence in Michael Dougherty began to slip—particularly regarding his business practices and approach to the law. Dougherty, for example, hesitated in cutting paychecks and seemed unable to work efficiently with clients. Wilmer later described the situation: “Jim was then getting $50 a week and I was getting $25 weekly, but we didn’t know that Dougherty spelled it W-E-A-K-L-Y because many times we didn’t get paid on time. And I was living with Jim… and we were sort of living out of the same pocketbook. And I guess we decided it would be just as easy to starve on our own as with him.” So, the two young attorneys looked elsewhere to further their careers.1 By mid-1932 Wilmer and Walsh left Dougherty. Wilmer later described this early transition in his Arizona work environment: “We met Frank Beer at the time. He was associated with a lawyer in Chandler named Arthur Price who was an old-time lawyer there—not very active.” Thus Wilmer began his partnership with the short-lived firm, Beer, Walsh, and Wilmer. Beer maintained an office in Chandler, and Walsh and Wilmer remained in Mesa. Notably, during the summer of 1932, Wilmer transferred his activities to the Chandler office because Beer went to Florida in a successful effort to convince his then-girlfriend to marry him and move to Arizona. During that period, Wilmer became acquainted with the people in Chandler and made such an impression that he was elected town attorney, a position that brought in the handsome sum of $25 per month. Later, this retainer increased to $40 per month.2 Beer, however, never really commenced practice with his new partners. Chapter Two THE FIRM AND THE RIVER He was appointed to the state legislature, moved to Phoenix, and took no time to say goodbye. In early 1933 Beer, Walsh, and Wilmer downsized to Walsh and Wilmer.3 As Wilmer put it later, “His future was brighter in Phoenix without us.” Wilmer left the Chandler office and returned to Mesa, though he remained the Chandler town attorney until 1939. The new partnership struggled in the depths of the depression and Wilmer said that in 1934 “things were pretty tight, particularly when the banks closed.” “It’s kind of a shock,” he recalled, “not being able to cash your check.”4 They were not doing too well, but they were eating and existing mostly on notary fees. During the summer of 1934, Walsh secured work from the Homeowners Loan Corporation, which was, at that time, foreclosing on home loans in Phoenix. So, Wilmer remained in Mesa, in his multipurpose practice, and Walsh worked in Phoenix, driving back and forth between the Homeowners Corporation and Mesa.5 It was during this period in Mesa that Wilmer met and married Genevieve Tibshraeny, a lovely young woman from a prominent East Valley Lebanese family. She was the love of his life. A legendary cook with a great sense of humor, Genevieve was the perfect compliment to the rising legal icon. Accounts about their relationship vary little: Wilmer was devoted to his wife for the remainder of his life as they raised four children together. Mark Bernard, commonly known as “Bernie,” was born on September 1, 1937, in Mesa, Arizona. A second boy, Charles Mark, known as “Mark” in the family, was born on December 31, 1938. Shortly thereafter, on June 8, 1940, Elizabeth, “Liz,” entered the world on June 8, 1940. Finally, Genevieve, or “Gen,” was born on November 19, 1943. Their reminiscences confirm the fact that their parents loved and admired one another and that they led an almost idyllic childhood in north central Phoenix, attending St. Francis grammar school and ultimately residing at 2202 East Colter Street, near present-day Biltmore Fashion Park. Like many Catholic children in Phoenix, Liz and Gen advanced to Xavier High School, and Bernie and Mark attended both Brophy Prep and St. Mary’s Catholic High School where they completed their high school education.6 All attended and graduated from college; Mark continued his education receiving his law degree from the University of Arizona. Today he maintains a robust legal practice...

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