In Their Own Words: Friends, Colleagues Remember Maxey

“He was the spirit of the African-American community.” Ivan Bush, Equal Employment Opportunity officer for Spokane School District 81

“He was a great boxer who never left the ring. He continued fighting injustice and standing up for those no one else wanted to stand up for.” Bob Lloyd, editor of The African-American Voice

“I’d say Carl’s clients were damn-well represented. When he took on another person’s war and fight, he did a helluva job. When you were stacked up against Carl, you knew you were in for a fight.” Jim Gillespie, Spokane attorney and former U.S. Attorney

“If there was anything I learned from Carl Maxey, it is you need to be a fighter, and I think that’s why I respected him so much. When the bell went off, he was in the ring for serious, to knock the prosecutor down.” former Spokane County Prosecutor Donald Brockett

“He was truly a giant in the field of human rights, and many of us had great admiration for him.” Bill First, civil rights activist and former aide to House Speaker Tom Foley.

“Carl taught me that as lawyers you never cross over the fence and represent the big companies and the big guys. They don’t need us; the little guys do.” - Spokane attorney Pat Stiley, Maxey’s former law partner.

“His life was dedicated to the disenfranchised, the poor, the victim, the underdog. They all have lost their champion.” - Spokane attorney Richard Eymann, president of the Washington State Trial Lawyers Association

“Spokane has lost an icon.” - Larry Roseman, owner of Larry’s Barber Shop

“He consistently occupied the moral high ground in all his work. He cared much more about the law than about the law business.” - Michael Donohue, Spokane County Superior Court Judge , DataTimes