What I remember and appreciate most about Dave Becker was really unrelated to law school. I was an uninspired and uninspiring law student back in 1965-1968.
I think it was after law school when Dave joined a slow pitch softball team I played on. He was a great teammate, happy to share post game beers and just hang out with the guys.
After a few years of legal practice, I left St. Louis and wandered west, initially teaching at an undergraduate college, then working in various fields such as community organizing, government, and ultimately TV production. Along the way, I occasionally touched base with Dave with phone calls.
He was always sincerely interested in what I was doing, enthusiastic and supportive about my career trajectory and how I was utilizing law to influence changes in society. At best, I was a mediocre student, yet Dave took the time to reflect back to me the value in my work and to encourage me along the way. Dave’s support meant a lot to me
Thanks Dave!
Hap Freund, class of 1968 (barely)
I arrived at law school completely unsure about where this new path would lead me. Not only did Professor Becker teach me to start thinking like a lawyer in his 1L Property Class, he taught me to start thinking like an estate planning lawyer, which lead me to a career that I love.
Stephanie L. Moll, JD’06
After receiving my grades my first semester in law school, I was disappointed and my disappointment included my grade in Dave Becker’s Real Property class. I knew his door was always open so I venture in to ask him what I had done wrong to windup in the middle of the pack in his class. He was busy at that particular moment but invited me to come back and spend some time going over my exam as well as what he was looking for in answers to his complex exam questions. He spent over three hours with me concluding that I had written a fine exam for a political science class but it was now time to think and write like a lawyer. The light bulb went on in my head and the rest is history. The rest of my law school career went very well. I have been blessed with an extraordinary career as a lawyer. I can’t be absolutely sure that Dave made the difference but there is a very good chance that he provided the turning point. For that I have and will continue to say “thank you” to Dave Becker, the consummate teacher.
Maury Poscover, JD’69
So! Some years after graduating from Wash. U. a potential client walks into my office and says: “Mr. Schmidt, can you make for me a fee simple absolute?” I said, “No!” and threw him out of my office.
Dan Schmidt LW ’83
In the spring semester of 1980 I took Professor Becker’s Law of Future Interests and the Rule Against Perpetuities class. Not having had the good fortune to take Property from Professor Becker as a first year student I didn’t know what to expect, other than the rumors that this was the most difficult class in Law School. We met in the late afternoon, at a time of day that was conducive to sleepiness. Except it wasn’t! Not in Professor Becker’s class! It was the most intellectually stimulating class I have ever taken, and I loved every minute of it. I never dragged my feet to his class, never felt like skipping, never begrudged the time. I wished that I could spend every Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoon for the rest of my life attending this class. With Professor Becker at the helm I knew it would never get old and I envisioned a group of us getting together over the years discussing A to B for life then to C in ever more complicated iterations. It is a real regret that this little fantasy did not happen and I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to spend one semester sitting at the feet of a true master of his craft, and a wonderful human being as well.
Thank you, Professor Becker – it was a joy and honor to be your student.
Wendy W. Waller, JD 1981
The summer before starting law school, I needed to decide whether I would continue to play football at WashingtonUniversity. I was referred to David Becker to discuss whether I could handle the load of football and law school. I don’t remember the specific conversation, but I left him with a feeling that maybe it was time to grow up. He indicated that it was clearly my own decision.
I decided I would err on the side of caution and concentrate on school. I am glad I made that decision because I had no future as a football player, although after law school I did play three years of minor league professional football inKansas City.
Guess who David Becker called on the first day of class? Frank Miller, from whom I had also sought counsel, did the same thing. Welcome to law school.
Now I live almost directly behind David. We visit when I walk my dogs. I have learned he is an expert on Chicago Bears football. And can you believe, he ran the 400 meters in 68 seconds in the Senior Olympics. Regardless of age, you have to be in excellent shape to run that time. What a great guy.
David Hess Class of ‘67
” Thank you for all the years of pouring yourself into the lives of young people. May your example and legacy live on in perpetuity (unless, of course, that violates some rule).”
Thank you.
Dr. Robert D. Mansfield JD”83
Discipleship isn’t just taking a course or even regurgitating the information to someone else, it is the intentional effort to help someone else grow closer to the Lord.
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
The first cup of coffee I ever had was the result of my staying up all night preparing to be called on for the very first time in Professor Becker’s Real Property class, first year. I was so tired in the morning before class that I figured a large cup of coffee would allow me to make it through class and the rest of the morning. I ended up going home sick and missing Professor Becker’s class; he was very understanding and a bit amused, and I’ve never been a big coffee drinker since!
Dan Sherman – class of 1988 and big fan of Professor Becker!
David Becker is my mother’s first cousin. I grew up in Los Angeles, California, while David was living in Chicago and then St. Louis, so our paths did not cross much. During the year I was clerking in Little Rock, Arkansas, most months our court sat in session in St. Louis for a week. One of the best decisions I made in my life was to reach out to David to reconnect while I was in St. Louis.
David and his wife Sandy were always gracious hosts, repeatedly asking if I would dine and stay with them. I confided in David that I was interested in law teaching, and he was an enthusiastic supporter and mentor. On many levels, he helped pave the way into the profession for me. Over long dialogues, we would discuss our shared family, scholarly interests, and baseball. But it was always in discussing teaching that David’s passion and gifts as a teacher were evident. This was always a great inspiration to me. I have tried to pattern many aspects of my career after David, even from afar.
I think it is rare in life that we find a friend and mentor of the quality of David Becker. What made it all the more special to me was that he was quite literally a member of my family, or as we say, “mishpacha.” David, thank you for all that you have done, and congratulations on 50 years of gloriously doing what you love.
Michael Waterstone, Loyola Law School
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