“Don, this is George Clark…”

THE PAST…Professor Don Campbell was a very influential professor at Detroit College of Law. He had been there for decades. He was also a classmate of my father and one of his good friends. My LSAT scores were right about average. My undergraduate grades were, well…hard to describe.

When I first went to Albion, I thought I wanted to be a dentist. I was an extremely naïve and protected youth. I had spent the first half of my teen years in the City of Detroit in a pretty tough neighborhood. My dad, George Clark, was a first generation college student, let alone professional school graduate. When he got out of law school, he had nothing and limited opportunity. After bouncing around for a bit, he got the opportunity to become an associate with the firm he would ultimately become a named partner with, Kohl, Seacrest. He spent thirty years at that firm rising through the ranks and became one of eight partners with as many as sixty associates. He did insurance defense.

When I was in fifth grade, my dad made enough money to join the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club, to get us out of the city during the summer months and away from trouble. It was my first experience with wealth. It was a whole new world, one I had a tough time adjusting to.

Albion College was also largely a playground for rich kids. By the time I got to Albion, I had little idea of who I was or what I really wanted to be. My grades, in large part, reflected my lack of self.

Whether or not my dad got me into Detroit College of Law, there is little doubt that calls were made. Just before graduating unexpectedly from Albion College, it was official. Enrico was going to law school!