Tribute to William R. Greiner

Partial Transcript: This is an extraordinary university. Our Law School and its alumni have been extraordinary supporters, not only for the work the alumni do in representing the people of Buffalo/Niagara very well, and the people of NYS very well, but also for the work they do around the nation and around the world. I think of our profession as a public profession that has as one of its core values public service. And I think our Law Alumni do that superbly well.

Segment Synopsis: Greiner helped create an extraordinary law school and evolve UB values. His experience and commitment shaped his encouragement of interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary work throughout the university when he became Provost and later president. Greiner had a vision for UB, and a single theme could not capture it. He wanted to advance all of UB's missions. To accomplish this, he was a master at strategic thinking and tactful organization. He worked among hard-workers, lacking pretension. A UB law student alumni gave a speech admiring the work of Greiner. He noted Greiner's genuine interest and concern with all students that passed him. He educated and mentored all through their legal profession. Greiner knew that most of the students didn't have lawyers in their lives, so he emulated what they needed; a tutor, advocate, authority figure, friend, and life coach.

Keywords: Advice; Alumni; Alumni Association; Career / Professional Experience; Character and Values; Graduate / Professional Training; Relationship with UB; Reputation; Values

Subjects: LAW; PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE; TEACHING; UB LAW MISCELLANEOUS

Segment Synopsis: Dean Headrick talks about Greiner being a major driver of the interdisciplinary reach that has marked UB Law School apart from most others, and still does: a Law School looking outward, a Law School without intellectual boundaries. That experience commitment shaped his encouragement of interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary work throughout the University when he became Provost and, later, President. Greiner had a vision for UB; a single theme could not capture it. It aimed at advancing all of UB's complex multiple missions, piece by piece, opportunity by opportunity. To accomplish this, Greiner was a master at strategic thinking as well as tactical organization. That was his genius. Buffalo and UB were part of his being. Buffalo was to Greiner Meriden writ large, full of hard-working, able, good people, capable of shaping a better future for themselves and others. UB was a fine university with large and realizable aspirations and, importantly, without pretensions. Bill was without pretension himself which is what made him so special as a president, a leader, a teacher, a colleague, a person, and a friend. Francis Letro continues: I am but one of countless UB Law students whose career has been made possible by him. Greiner had a genuine interest and concern for each and every student as professor, provost, and president. Greiner considered students the lifeblood of the university, and thought of us as family. What was there that brought Greiner, to Buffalo, on a career path in public education, educating and mentoring ordinary kids like me, from ordinary families of little or no means but long on hope and big dreams, that through hard work and somebody's help someday one of us could enter the ranks of the legal profession. Bill Greiner was that somebody for me and for a lot of students. He understood the value of public education to families like mine. He understood that law students like me, from working-class families, needed a professional role model. Greiner was aware that very few of us had a lawyer or a judge in our families to emulate. By default and design, he mentored countless public education students who looked to Greiner as professor, tutor, advocate, authority figure, friend, and life coach. We can honor Greiner best and his memory as former students and colleagues by bringing to the courtroom, boardrooms, and classrooms the humanity and civility that our beloved professor and mentor epitomized during his forty-some years of service to this great university. Hundreds of law students I had the privilege to work with at the Law School; they have made me proud. They've gone on to be successful practitioners. They've gone on to success in business. They've gone on to be judges, and have become public administrators. This Law School has made a contribution to the development of this region and this State. I take great pride and I thank you for it. I'll accept the proposition that you didn't lower the admission standards here; that at least it's at the level of a good case, advocated by good advocates, including my wife, and I thank you for this honor.

Keywords: Accomplishments; Alumni; Alumni Association; Choosing UB Law School; Contributions; Greiner, William; Intellectual Tradition; Law Students; UB; UB Law School; UB Law School general; UB Preparation

Subjects: CAREER: LEGAL; PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE; UB LAW AS STUDENT; UB LAW FACULTY; UB LAW MISCELLANEOUS