History of Woods & Bates

Disclaimer:  I took a great deal of this information from an article that was written by the Logan County Genealogical & Historical Society and  published by the Lincoln Daily News on December 29, 2017.

Woods & Bates was founded in 1972 by my Grandfather, William C. Bates, Jr. and Robert J. Woods.  Many attorneys worked for the firm over the years including Dick H. Woods and Gerald Dehner, who would later become a Circuit Judge.

In 1979, upon his graduation from Drake University Law School, my Father, William B. Bates, joined the firm and became a partner in the firm in 1981.

William C. Bates, Jr. retired from the firm in 1985 and departed this life in 2014.

Robert J. Woods passed away in 1998.  Along with his legacy of the law firm he started with William C. Bates, Jr., he and his wife, Joan, started The Woods Foundation, a philanthropic charitable foundation that continues to invest in the community where he built his practice.

I, William B. Bates, Jr., also attended Drake University Law School and graduated in 2007.  I joined my Father in the practice in 2008.

In 2012, Woods & Bates acquired the firm of Harris & Harris.  Our roots and our history came full circle at that time.

Harris & Harris was founded in 1921 by Judge Thomas Milton Harris and his son, Homer Blinn Harris.  Thomas Milton Harris studied law under attorney Edward D. Blinn, who was my Great-Great-Grandfather.  (Edward D. Blinn was the Father of Annette Blinn Bates, who ultimately married my Great-Grandfather, William C. Bates.  William C. Bates, Jr. was Annette's son and my Grandfather.)  Thomas Milton Harris joined Edward D. Blinn and James T. Hoblit in practice in 1893 following his graduation from Valparaiso University Law School.

In 1895 Harris became a partner in the law firm of Blinn & Harris. Harris became the first Circuit Judge to be elected from Logan County. In 1914 Judge Harris was appointed to the Illinois Appellate Court, now the Fourth District.

Homer Blinn Harris was named after his father’s senior law partner, Edward D. Blinn, and graduated from the University of Illinois Law School.  Homer was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1942, becoming the house majority leader in 1944. He served three terms in the Illinois State Legislature. Homer decided in 1948 to retire from politics to devote his time to trial work and the general practice of law.

Homer practiced law in Lincoln for more than 35 years.  Following his return to the law office, Homer’s sons, Tom and Bud joined the firm. Tom’s son Thomas M. Harris, Jr. began his legal career in the Lincoln office upon receiving his juris doctor degree from the University of Colorado in 1988.

Thomas M. Harris, Jr. worked as an assistant state’s attorney, later becoming an Associate Judge. He was elected a Circuit Judge in 2008. In 2012 the Illinois Supreme Court assigned Judge Thomas Harris to a temporary assignment on the Appellate Court of the Fourth Judicial District.  That assignment has now become a permanent appointment to the Appellate Court.

Michael T. Fleshman, who was raised in Lincoln and attended Southern Illinois Law School, joined the firm of Woods & Bates in 2017.  My Father, William B. Bates, officially retired from Woods & Bates in 2018.

Those that know me know that I go by my middle name, Blinn.  A picture of my Great-Great-Grandfather, Edward D. Blinn, hangs in our waiting room.  All of the men that are listed above made incredible and lasting impacts on Lincoln and Logan County.  Their history of practicing law spans not just decades, but centuries.  Centuries of good men providing quality legal services to the citizens of Logan County and beyond.

It is important to know where you came from.  I believe it helps you determine your path for moving forward.  We have quite the shoes to fill, but I hope to add to this story in a meaningful way.  So, for now, to be continued.