About Us

Who we are

Weatherford Thompson is a general practice law office with attorneys specializing in various areas of practice. Filled with anecdotes of migration, self-improvement, tragedy, perseverance and public service, Albany’s oldest business boasts a history whose richness rivals that of Oregon itself.

Weatherford Thompson traces its roots to 1875. In July of that year, Missouri native James K. Weatherford was admitted to practice law in Oregon, and he chose to set up shop in Albany. Over a hundred thirty years later, Weatherford’s great-great-grandson, Mike Cowgill, is among one of the law firm’s attorneys, making the firm the state’s oldest with continuous family participation.

Born in 1848, orphaned in 1862 and reaching Oregon via wagon train in 1864, J.K. Weatherford went to work for the Thomas Kay Woolen Mills in Brownsville upon his arrival in the Northwest.

Ultimately, he enrolled at Corvallis College — the precursor to Oregon State University — graduated in 1872 and quickly became superintendent of schools in Linn County.

On the side he “read law” with an Albany attorney, paving the way for the Oregon Supreme Court to admit him to practice, which he did for 60 years until his death in October 1935. 1875 proved to be an altogether eventful year for Weatherford as he also won election to the Oregon Legislature — and was chosen as speaker of the house.

On top of his work in law and the legislature, Weatherford was a 29-year member of the Albany school board and a 44-year member of the board of regents of Oregon Agricultural College (which Corvallis College had become on its way to becoming OSU; iconic dormitory Weatherford Hall, which opened in 1928, is named after him).



A number of the firm’s other attorneys branched into politics as well. They include:

  • D.R.N. Blackburn, who worked with Weatherford in the 1880s and then was elected attorney general in 1898.

  • George E. Chamberlain, who also joined the firm in the 1880s and subsequently served as Linn County’s district attorney, an Oregon House member, Oregon’s first attorney general and the state’s governor; he won gubernatorial elections in 1902 and 1906, and served in the U.S. Senate from 1909 until 1921. (Chamberlain was also an owner of the Albany Democrat newspaper for about two years starting in 1882).

  • Mark Vern Weatherford, who went to work with his uncle in 1910 and in 1927 became the Democrats’ state party chairman. As a divisional ordinance officer during World War I, he devised a widely copied system of repairing artillery pieces without having to remove them from the field.

  • James Knox Weatherford, who in 1928 passed the bar exam a year shy of his law school graduation and joined his grandfather’s firm. Also trained as an engineer, he went on to serve in the Oregon House, as Linn County’s district attorney, and on two different school boards. “Young J.K.,” as he was known at the firm, came to the office almost daily until his death in January 1995 at age 93. The weather station he set up outside an upstairs window remains in place.

  • Orval Thompson, who went to work in 1938 at the firm that now bears his name and served in both the Oregon House and Senate. Born in 1914, he died after moving to Texas in the early 2000s.

  • Daniel Rayfield, who was elected in November of 2014 into the Oregon House, began practicing law with the firm in 2007 and worked for several years.



What say our clients

Testimonials

Dear Joel, one of the unexpected blessings of my “case” was getting to know you. I want to thank you so much for all you did to help me in this case. Your help was invaluable and saved me a lot of money. Your help was invaluable and helped save me a lot of money. I and my family really appreciate it!. Thank you!

- Rich -

I consulted with Shallon for a child modification proceeding three years after the initial divorce. She was amazing to work with. She is very knowledgeable, straightforward and takes a global view to the situation. She understood that my daughter was my priority, so she made my daughter her priority as well. We didn't have to go to court, but if we did, I am sure that she would have provided opposing counsel a formidable opponent. In the end, she was able to help me reach an agreement that was as fair as could be to all parties involved and prioritized the needs of my daughter. I would work with her again if I ever need a family law attorney.

- Frank -

After contacting multiple attorneys regarding discrimination by my employer, Dallas Garner agreed to take my case. I was told by the other attorneys I contacted, that my case was not one they thought would "play well with a jury in Marion county (Oregon)". Dallas very carefully listened to the details of my grievance, and decided that even though yes, my case might be challenging, he would represent me. He had great compassion for me, and took the time to dig deeper on initial consultation than the other attorneys. He kindly guided me through a very difficult process, answering my questions with patience, and providing excellent advice. My case was settled out of court, and in my favor! Dallas won a case that no one else would take, and I will be forever grateful!

- Grace -

I hired Shallon to have my marriage dissolution vacated after my ex-husband and his attorney misrepresented our agreement to the courts. Since my case was essentially already over, I was concerned about the time-sensitive nature and catching someone up to speed (and clean up the mess we'd created trying to go it alone without counsel.) Not only did Shallon capture all the details in our first conversation, but she provided an outline of exactly what we needed to do and also adjusted her schedule to start my case right away.
All in all, I am extremely pleased with Shallon, her attention to detail and sheer assertive nature. Not only was she able to pull my case back to where we were, but she also advised me of a number of my legal rights, putting me in a better spot than I had even hoped for!

- Jen -

Chronological order of the respective attorneys
who have been associated with the law firm in these past 100 years.


History

  • 1875 -1935

    J.K. Weatherford



    In July, 1875, a young man named James K. Weatherford was admitted to practice law in Oregon (Vol. 4 Oregon Reports.) He chose to settle in Albany, and so began 60 years of continuous legal service to the citizens of Linn and Benton counties.

  • W. G. Piper

    W. G. Piper was the first associate of J.K. Weatherford’s. There is little historical information about Mr. Piper and apparently his association with the law firm was terminated before 1880.

    ?
    -1880
  • 1880 -1888

    D. R. N. Blackburn



    D. R. N. Blackburn became associated with the law firm in 1880 and the partnership prevailed until 1887 or 1888. Subsequent to his affiliation with J.K. Weatherford, he was elected Attorney General of Oregon in 1898 and served on four-year term.

  • George E. Chamberlin



    George E. Chamberlin joined J.K Weatherford in the latter 1880’s and continued the partnership until 1892 or 1893. Mr. Chamberlin, a product of Virginia, was a very successful trial lawyer. He was known to be a very eloquent speaker and quite effective before a jury. Ambitious and personable, he later became a very successful politician.

    1880 -1893
  • 1888 -1934

    John Russell Wyatt



    John Russell Wyatt read law under the tutelage of J.K. Weatherford and was admitted to practice in 1888 or 1889. Shortly after his admission, he served as Assistant District Attorney in the judicial district containing Linn County until 1893. He then entered partnership with J.K. Weatherford. This firm, known as Weatherford and Wyatt, continued until 1908 at which time Wyatt secured an appointment as Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Oregon. He served in this capacity in Portland until he returned to Albany to once again enter into association with J.K. Weatherford about 1916 or 1917. This partnership continued until Wyatt was incapacitated by a serious hunting injury in the fall of 1933 or 1934

  • Mark Vern Weatherford



    After graduating from OAC, Mark attended the University of Michigan Law School graduating in 1910 with a L.L.B. degree. While a student at Michigan he prepared a brief for a case, which J.K. Weatherford was handling, that went to the Supreme Court of the United States. Upon his graduation from Michigan, Mark came to Albany and entered into partnership with J.K. Weatherford.
    Mark Weatherford was a lawyer’s lawyer. Other attorneys from various parts of the state frequently sought his advice and assistance in the preparation and trial of difficult cases. His reputation as a lawyer of high caliber and impeccable integrity was state wide. On two separate occasions he declined to accept appointment to the bench of the Oregon Supreme Court. He was truly an outstanding individual and a pillar of the legal profession in Oregon.

    1910 -1916
  • 1928 -1930

    James Knox Weatherford



    James Knox Weatherford, became associated with the firm of Weatherford and Wyatt, comprised of the elder J.K. Weatherford, Mark V. Weatherford and J.R. Wyatt.
    In the general election of 1930, J.K. was elected state representative from Linn County and served in the 1931 Legislative Assembly. He was re-elected to the same office in 1932 and served a second term. In 1934, he was elected District Attorney for Linn County, acting in that capacity for one term from1935-38.
    J.K. Weatherford practiced law in Albany for 47 years. Respected by his colleagues and esteemed by the community he has served, his contribution to the legal fraternity of Albany has been considerable and noteworthy.

  • Orval N. Thompson



    Mr. Thompson was admitted to practice in Oregon in 1937 and one year later became a member of the firm that today bears his name. He has practiced law in Albany since 1938 with the exception of the period from 1942-46 when he served on active duty as a lieutenant with the United States Navy during World War II in the office of Naval Intelligence. He was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives in 1940 and served on two-year term. Later, he campaigned successfully for the State Senate and held office from 1947-50. In addition to the political office, he was a member of the first Oregon Statute Revision Council; the Governor’s Committee on Parole and Probation from 1947-50; and the State Public Defender Committee for eight years. He also served as legal advisor to the Governor of Oregon in 1957-58.

    1938 -1940
  • 1952 -1956

    Harrison M. Weatherford

    The son of Mark V. Weatherford, Harrison studied law at Willamette University and Northwestern College of Law, receiving his LL.B. degree from the latter in 1952. As a third-year student at Northwestern he worked as a law clerk for Janet Starkey and the Multnomah County Legal Aid Department. He was admitted to the Oregon State Bar in 1952 and became associated with Weatherford and Thompson.

  • John S. Horton

    He studied law at Willamette University Law School and received his L.L.B. degree in 1949. Admitted to the Bar that same year, he entered practice in Baker with the firm of Hallock, Banta and Silven. He remained there until 1963, when he came to Albany and became associated with the Weatherford and Thompson firm.

    1963
    - ?