Edna grew up in Williamsburg, Virginia, the oldest of four girls.  She says that perhaps that’s where her “I’m the boss” mentality developed because that trait is typical of the oldest child.  She knows her sisters will attest to the fact that she’s bossy, but she prefers to use the word “decisive” because she believes it has a much nicer ring to it.

Edna not only handles most of the household repairs at home, but she also enjoys time out with Ed, her husband of twenty-five wonderful years.  In fact, all of her best memories involve her husband.  Lately, they’ve been on the road, driving to nearby cities, visiting art museums in Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston, and taking in the local sights on the weekends.  They are also avid movie-goers and though they frequent the Alamo Drafthouse to see the latest releases, Casablanca is still her all-time favorite movie.

As I said, “Edna” equals “verve.”  She and Ed went on a ski trip to Bad Gastein, Austria (near Vienna and Salzburg) the first year they were married.  She had never skied before but wanted very badly to ski the Alps.  They quickly noted the hill behind the hotel had ski instruction and she went for it!  She got about halfway down the mountain (hill) and managed to stop, but as she did, a class of very young children (had to be about six years old) passed her, going VERY fast, skiing like Olympians.  Edna dug in her poles, crouched into position and was off!  However, as she got closer to the bottom, she could hear Ed screaming from the top, "Stop, Stop!"  But she couldn't stop, so she turned sideways and fell over.  Not exactly a gold medal performance, but it was fun, and she can now say that she has skied the Alps!

Edna has been an ALA member for twenty-one years.  She has served as President of the San Antonio Chapter and the Austin Chapter, and has been a member of several committees.  She has taken on a less-active role in ALA lately as she believes it is time for the younger ALA members to take the reins.  She also enjoys mentoring some of the newer members of our Chapter and has remained on the Business Partner Committee because she feels very strongly that an administrator cannot do the job properly without building and keeping strong relationships with the business community.

In her current position for almost eleven years, Edna says that she is far from retirement and fully intends to work for another eight to ten years.   From 1989 to 1999 she was with three firms in San Antonio before moving to Austin to take her current position at Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell LLP.  She began her career in the legal field as a secretary in the mid 70’s at Foster Lewis Langley Gardner & Banack in San Antonio.  She then went to work as an office manager for several real estate development firms.  In 1989, she was offered the Assistant Administrator position at Foster Lewis, and within three months had taken on the Administrator role at that firm.  She says that being at Foster Lewis again was like coming home to many of the same attorneys and staff she worked with when she was a legal secretary.  Once she got “home” to the legal field, she hasn’t strayed. 

To me personally, Edna has been encouraging and supportive, a mentor and a friend.  She has kept us (along with many other members) grounded and she, with that “decisive” personality, helped our chapter formulate a blueprint for success!

Karie Rivkin, Firm Administrator, Schwartz & Eichelbaum