June, 2004
By: Laurie Eccles
Public Relations Writer
There's just something about graduating from Alma College that creates a common bond between alumni. Attorneys Julia Close '84, Jeffrey Dyer '87, Todd Gambrell '91 and John Wilson '90 strengthen that connection each day as they work together in their law firm, Cline Close Dyer Gambrell & Wilson PLC.
Close, Dyer and Gambrell met while working at Currie and Kendall, a large law firm in Midland. They quickly became friends and shared a distinct philosophy about how to practice law, a strong commitment to the community and a desire to balance a legal career with life outside the office. Another partner at Currie and Kendall, Daniel Cline, embraced these same ideals and together the four lawyers formed a new firm, Cline Close Dyer & Gambrell. Wilson, a friend practicing on his own, eventually joined the quartet and the firm adopted its current name.
"It's been neat working with other Alma grads because we all recognize Alma as a great school," Wilson said. Gambrell agreed, "Alma prepared me to pursue both law school and my master's degree better than most other schools would have."
Only Dyer and Wilson knew each other at Alma, where they were fraternity brothers in Sigma Alpha Epsilon. The four Alma alumni soon found more connections than their alma mater. Close had a summer course with Dyer and her younger brother was a member of Gambrell's Zeta Sigma fraternity family.
Although the four alumni eventually came together to work, they all took different paths to get there. Close attended Wake Forest University and graduated in 1987. She worked at Currie and Kendall for 13 years before teaming with the others and is heavily involved in volunteer activities. She is the director and former president of the United Way of Midland County; member and former president of the Zonta International Midland Club; director and past president of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Midland County; member and classroom volunteer of the Junior Achievement of Midland County; and member of both the Midland County Law Day Committee and the Art Midland Galleries and School.
Dyer attended the University of Kentucky and graduated in 1990. He is the director of the Affordable Housing Alliance of Midland County; director of the Ernie Wallace Memorial Blood Bank; director and past president of the Midland Softball Association; director of the Midland Community Cancer Services; and member of the Midland Public Schools Endowment Fund and Advisory Board, the United Way of Midland County Allocations Panel and Cleveland Manor, Inc.
Gambrell attended the Thomas M. Cooley Law School and graduated in 1997. He volunteers as the president and past treasurer of the Midland Community Cancer Services and is a member of the Midland Symphony Orchestra Fund Development Committee and the Midland Rotary Club. He also contributes to the legal profession through publications and co-authored Bad Things Can Happen to Good People: An Introduction to the Tax Law of Retirement Plans.
Wilson attended the University of Toledo College of Law and graduated in 1993. His volunteer positions include director of the Midland Community Cancer Services; associate director of the Arnold Center; director and past president of the Midland Lady Explorers Softball Organization; and member of the Midland Rotary Club and the Leadership Midland Steering Committee..
