Category: Opinions

Lawyer had long career of community service

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Opinion column

by Murrel Bland

I recall the first time I met John Jurcyk. It was mid-July in 1968. John was a campaign chairman for James K. Logan, a candidate for the U.S. Senate. Logan was a former dean of the law school at the University of Kansas, Lawrence. Logan, a Democrat, lost in the Primary Election to William I. Robinson of Wichita. Robinson later lost to Republican Bob Dole. But that didn’t discourage John from being involved in politics. He was an adviser to Jack Reardon and his son Joe Reardon. Both Reardons served as mayor of Kansas City, Kansas.

John was a longtime lawyer with the McAnany, Van Cleave and Phillips Law Firm. He served as president of the Wyandotte County and Kansas bar associations. He also was a fellow of the American Trial Lawyers Association.

John was a volunteer leader for various community organizations. He served as chairman of the board for The Kansas City, Kansas, Area Chamber of Commerce, Providence Medical Center, the United Way of Wyandotte County and the school board at Ward High School. He was a longtime active member of St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church.

I recall that John was an excellent news source when he was in Mayor Joe Reardon’s office. He was always accessible, straight-forward and honest.

John leaves his wife Rita, two sons, three daughters, 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

I was drawn to a comment that John made that was published in the Kansas Bar Association’s Journal— “Be professional, courteous and truthful always. …Respect history’s lessons. Love your family and make time for them…” That’s good advice for lawyers and anyone else.

The community said goodbye to John last Saturday morning, Jan, 5 at St. Patrick Church.

John’s family has suggested that memorial contributions be made to Catholic Charities or St. Patrick Church. That would be most appropriate.

Murrel Bland is the former editor of The Wyandotte West and The Piper Press. He is the executive director of Business West.

Remembering John J. Jurcyk Jr. (1930-2018)

Opinion

John J. Jurcyk Jr.

We were saddened to hear recently of the death of John J. Jurcyk Jr., a lawyer and community leader in Wyandotte County.

Jurcyk, 88, was a past president of the McAnany, Van Cleave and Phillips law firm. He died on Dec. 29, 2018.

Visitation is scheduled at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 1086 N. 94th St., Kansas City, Kansas, with the funeral at 10:30 a.m. Jan. 5 at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to Catholic Charities or St. Patrick School. Porter Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

He served as senior policy adviser to former Mayor Joe Reardon. Active in the community, Jurcyk served on the boards of many community organizations, including the Kansas City, Kansas, Chamber of Commerce, Providence Medical Center, Wyandotte Health Foundation and Villa St. Francis. He served on the University of Kansas School of Laws Board of Governors. He also served as a past president of the Wyandotte County Bar Association and past president of the Kansas Bar Association.

He was a graduate of Rockhurst University, and he served in the U.S. Army 13th combat Engineer Battalion in Korea. As a student at the University of Kansas Law School, he was editor in chief of the law review.

In 1958, he joined McAnany, Van Cleave and Phillips, serving as president of the law firm from 1980 to 1984. In 2004, he left the firm to serve as senior policy adviser to the mayor, and returned to the firm in 2013, serving there through 2018.

In 2009, he received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the KU Law School.

MVP Law expressed its deepest condolences upon the passing of John J. Jurcyk Jr., according to a spokesman.

“John was a lawyer’s lawyer. Professional and respectful he would advocate to his greatest ability for a client without personal animosity to opposing counsel…He is an aspiration,” said Byron Bowles, MVP’s president.

“I am so grateful for the privilege of knowing and working with John and will forever treasure his wise words of advice,” Rep. Pam Curtis, D-32nd Dist., stated. “He was one of the people I knew I could call on to give good counsel and advice – it was great to see him serve in a mentoring role to so many these past years!”

His sense of humor, along with wisdom, could be found in an article in a law journal after he received an award. His advice: “Be professional – courteous and truthful always. Remember we practice the law – no one is perfect. Work hard, but work as a team. Love what you do, be passionate about it. Have fun and welcome creative solutions. Respect history’s lessons. Love your family and make time for them. Give back to the community in service and profits. Forget insults. Have a sense of humor. Keep brewed coffee on the warmer. Keep beer in the refrigerator. Keep popcorn in your drawer. Honor the law.”

We once asked him for a quote about another leading community member who had passed away, and, paraphrasing the Athenian oath, he said that individual left the city better than it was when he found it. The same should be said of John J. Jurcyk Jr. – Kansas City, Kansas, and Wyandotte County are better for his work here.

Legislature to deal with property taxes

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Opinion column

by Murrel Bland

The Kansas City, Kansas, Area Chamber of Commerce is drafting its annual legislative agenda as the Kansas Legislature will soon meet for its 2019 session in Topeka. Members of the Wyandotte County Legislative Delegation met with members of the chamber’s Legislative Committee Friday morning, Dec. 15, at the Chamber office.

Property taxes are sure to be an issue this legislative session. That issue is particularly important to Tony Privitera who is the incoming chairman of the chamber. He has seen values of commercial property he owns in the Fairfax Industrial Area jump as much as 100 percent.

The chamber’s proposal concerning property taxes favors a system that phases in changes to appraised value over several years. This would allow businesses to plan for and budget for tax increases. It also would allow local units of government time to adjust for revenue increases or decreases. Such a plan might be similar to the valuation used for agricultural land which is valued according to a floating eight-year average.

The chamber is proposing to oppose any funding formula that would place an undue burden on local property taxpayers. This chamber proposal is still in the draft stage and is subject to change.

There will probably be legislative action next year on sports gaming as it is now legal according to federal court action. The chamber is proposing to support sport wagering. It is uncertain who would administer sport wagering; It has been suggested it might be the existing Kansas casinos. This proposal also is in the draft form and is subject to change.

Turning to federal issues, the chamber is proposing to support a fair, accurate and complete count for the 2020 Decennial Census.

The chamber has supported a federal resolution when dealing with immigrants who are already here; this federal resolution should address situations compassionately.

The Board of Directors of the chamber will review the legislative agenda by the end of the year.

Murrel Bland is the former editor of The Wyandotte West and The Piper Press. He is the executive director of Business West.