First year of law school. First day of Property with David Becker. About 70 very nervous first year students in the lecture hall. Enter Professor Becker wearing a tan sportcoat and with his pipe in his mouth. Total Silence. Professor Becker removes his sportcoat in a very exacting fashion and lays it over the lecture table in the front. Professor Becker then spends what seemed like an eternity ministering to his pipe which he eventually places next to his sportcoat. Still total silence. Professor Becker then commences to speak giving the class a rather lengthy and detailed hypothetical question. All of us in the class are now seriously considering withdrawing from law school. Professor Becker finishes his hypothetical question and pauses as he scans the class list. Total silence accompanied by sheer panic. Professor Becker looks up and says something like “What do you think the holding should be, Mr. Big Bird (name changed to protect all , even though I’m quite sure the applicaple ‘Statute of limitations’ has expired) Mr. Big Bird is seated 2 seats away from me. 69 people in the lecture hall all heave an audible sigh of relieve. Mr. Big Bird mutters under his breath “Oh @#$% .” Without missing a beat Professor Becker deadpans: “No, would you like to try again?” Game set and match – Becker.
Edward Richard JD’74