Judge Allison served the county well

This letter is not about politics, or the election. (Lord, will I be glad when that is over...) Instead, this letter is a heartfelt thank you to a man who has served the people of our region honorably and faithfully since 1975, first as an attorney and then as 11th District Court judge.

It was with a bit of dismay that I learned that the Hon. Robert B. Allison decided not to run for another term. In my humble opinion, he is one of the finest judges in Montana. Nevertheless, I can only wish him well as he embarks on this new chapter in his life. 

I first met Bob in 1986, and engaged his services as my attorney in a particularly contentious divorce. In the years after that, I sought his counsel on several occasions for a wide-ranging variety of matters, and without exception, he provided me with thoughtful, insightful advice. 

I emigrated to New Zealand in 1993, where I was the CEO of two different companies, returning to the Flathead Valley in 2004 to live out my remaining life in retirement. On a whim, I dropped into his law office in Kalispell unannounced just to say hi. Characteristically, though quite busy, he dropped everything to chat and play catch-up. Just a few years ago, I stopped by the Justice Center, again unannounced, to ask if I could speak with him about an unusual, perplexing family matter that had arisen. As before, he immediately came out to greet me and shake hands. I was not asking for legal advice, nor could he ethically give it; we both understood that. I was simply asking him as a friend what his take was, regarding a series of unusual emails I had received. He read the emails and then told me his reaction, which later turned out to be precisely the true nature of reality. 

In short, he broke away from his pressing duties to speak to me as a friend. That’s the kind of guy he is. 

I have always held him in the highest regard as a man with incisive, high-resolution thinking. I am honored to count him among my best, most respected friends, and wish him the very best in whatever path he chooses next. You deserve the best, Bob. You’ve earned it.

Frank Owen duBois lives in Kalispell.