Founded in 1991
A legacy of love for the law.
Thorpe Waddingham and his son, Richard Waddingham, embodied fairness, integrity, and a love for the law. Their passings were losses to the legal community. Waddingham & Associates strives to honor their legacy by continuing to live and practice by the values held dear by these predecessors.
Thorpe Waddingham
In Memoriam
Thorpe graduated from Milford High School in 1941 and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1942. He was the pilot of a B-24 Liberator bomber as part of the 15th Air Force stationed in Italy and North Africa. He was shot down over Hungary and was a prisoner of war for 13 months. He received the Air Medal, Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
He returned home and married Norma Michaelsen on May 29, 1946 in Mayfield, Utah. She passed away June 8, 2002.
He attended Snow College where he served as student body president and went on to graduate from George Washington University Law School.
He began his law practice in Delta, Utah in 1952. As his law practice progressed, involvement in water-right litigation - so important to the Delta area - established him in the forefront of leading water-right attorneys in Utah and the surrounding states. He served as Delta City Attorney from 1958 to 1980. He served in the Utah State Senate for 12 years, including service as senate president, majority leader and minority leader. Thorpe served as president of the Utah State Bar in 1963. He chaired the Utah delegation to the Western States Water Council, of which he was an original member, and the Upper Colorado River Commission.
Thorpe received an honorary degree from Snow College in 1986 and was honored by Southern Utah State College in 1987 for his legislative support of education; served on the Utah Centennial Commission; honored by the University of Utah in 2002 at the Annual Veterans Day program; was a member of the Millard County Sheriff's Posse.
Thorpe was a member of the "Greatest Generation" and gave a lifetime of service to his family, community, state and country. Thorpe had a special love for the west desert, Millard County and the people who live here.
Richard Thorpe Waddingham
In Memoriam
Richard graduated from Delta High School in 1974. He was a star athlete, competing in track and field, basketball, and football. He broke records and helped win a state championship with his basketball team in 1972 and state championships with his track team in 1973 and 1974.
After high school, Richard continued his education and athletic pursuits at Snow College, where he ran track and served as student body president. Richard then served as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Brazil, Portuguese speaking.
He continued his education at the University of Utah and then went on to attend Oklahoma City University School of Law, graduating with a Juris Doctor. Richard was admitted to the Utah State Bar in 1986. Richard served in many legal capacities, including Delta City Attorney, Fillmore City Attorney, and Millard County Attorney. He also spent many years representing local water companies, serving to protect their interests. During his career, his cases landed him in front of the Utah Supreme Court and the Utah Court of Appeals.
Richard served on the Snow College Economic Advisory Board from 1993 to 1995 and on the Snow College Board of Trustees from 1992 to 1996. He also rooted on his Utah Utes until the very end.
Richard thoroughly enjoyed the practice of law and serving his community, but despite his many professional accomplishments, his greatest joy and success was his family. No words could ever describe what Richard’s family meant to him and what Richard meant to his family. On December 8, 2019, the world truly lost the greatest father, husband, grandfather, brother, and friend.
These men ask for just the same thing, fairness, and fairness only. This, so far as in my power, they, and all others, shall have.
- Abraham Lincoln