ISBA’s 2025 Illinois Bar Journal “Prized Possession” Contest Winner and Honorable Mentions

During Member Appreciation Month this past May, we asked members of the ISBA to submit a photo along with a 100-word caption describing a prized possession or memento on their desk, bookshelf, or hanging on a wall. The winner received a $100 Visa gift card and the opportunity to be published in the August issue of the Illinois Bar Journal.

Responses ranged from sentimental family heirlooms, to everyday necessities, to one-of-a-kind oddities.

First place - Darrel Parish

Rolla McMillen and Clark McMillen opened their law practice in the Millikin Bank Building in Decatur in October, 1906. On their very first day, one of them kicked a horseshoe out of the dust in Water Street. As he started to throw it down, the other one told him, “We better keep it for good luck.” Horace Garman, Robert Owen and others later joined their firm, as did I in 1975. All of my predecessors have retired or died. Mr. Garman’s desk is now mine, and so is the horseshoe.

Second place - Ed Reda

Attached is one of my prized photos--a note from a little old 85 year old woman. This lady was in a nursing home on the South side of Chicago. She was referred as a friend of one of my better clients. Since she was confined to a nursing home, I had to go see her. My office is near O'Hare, so it was quite a journey. I met with her, took down her wishes and told her I would come back with my wife so that we had enough witnesses to sign her estate planning docs. I returned with my wife about ten days later and we got all her stuff signed up. Though my time was much greater, I billed her $500, feeling compassionate about her situation. The check came with the accompanying note. I laugh every time I look at it. You can't please all the people all the time.

View all contest entries in the photo gallery below!