"The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers." Dick the Butcher's famous quote from Shakespeare's Henry VI, Part 2, Act IV, Scene 2 is known by almost everyone.
"The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers." Dick the Butcher's famous quote from Shakespeare's Henry VI, Part 2, Act IV, Scene 2 is known by almost everyone. We have all heard lawyer jokes and statements about how bad lawyers are as people, but lawyers, by and large, are good people who want to give back to their communities. Shakespeare's famous quote was not a proposal designed to restore sanity to life, but rather to eliminate those who might stand in the way of a contemplated rebellion. This underscores the important role lawyers play, both in and out of Court.
The overwhelming number of lawyers in the world are good honest people who not only care about the law, but the community they live in. These people routinely contribute back to society in ways that effect our lives, but lawyers rarely come forward to let people know about their good works. Don Cosley is one of those lawyers.
Some of you know Don as an attorney they have seen in the Courts over the past 25 years. Some of you may have seen him on the basketball court of one of the many AHYBA games in Arlington Heights, but most people don't know that for the past 11 years he has given back to his community by serving on the board and has been the guiding hand of the Arlington Heights Youth Basketball Association.
In his role on the board, Don gets no pay and works long hours. He has coached more than 20 teams in the league and intertwines his work day between answering emails to clients and legal work and answering emails, doing the league financials, proposing their budget, securing locations for league play and scheduling the games for the multiple age groups and teams of the league. Don has given up personal time, vacations and free time to devote himself to an association that fosters good health, sportsmanship and teaches leadership and team skills for the community. He has stated that his role in the organization and giving back to the community has become "an integrated part of his life".
Basketball has always been a part of Don's life. He played in AHYBA when he was a kid. Don's dad was on the board of the organization in the 1970s and 1980s. Don's play in the league was just the start of his involvement with basketball. He went on to play shooting guard at Buffalo Grove High School where he was President of the Senior class and is one of the school's distinguished alumni. When his own son was in 3rd grade he met a person through his law practice that encouraged him to become a director for the league.
Under Don's leadership the league has had to adjust in the world of Corona. The Governor's order in March forced them to cancel the playoff and all star games. The Outdoor summer leagues can't play outside. The new order from the Governor prohibits competitive sports like basketball and even if they could play, schools can't lease out their gyms for games. Don says the league will adapt and change with the times. This won't last forever and we will be here when it is over for the children of Arlington Heights.
Even with the drawbacks of Corona, Don says the rewards of giving back to the community are immensely satisfying. Aside from the achievement of redesigning the website, moving to electronic registration and having a direct connection with 1200 kids in the community each year, Don's involvement in AHYBA has generated other benefits for the community. The league has donated 3 scoreboards to District 25, as well as score tables and padded chairs for both South and Thomas Middle Schools. They have even replaced the old floor with a new one at Minor School in Arlington Heights. The league has been around for over 50 years and during the past 3 years alone, they have contributed over $100,000 in goods and services back to the district.
Why does a successful attorney take time away from his practice and his family to work at a part time job with no pay? "I just love helping the community. I grew up here and I raised my family here. It just seemed like the right thing to do."