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Firm History
The branches of the Buchanan, Bibler,
Gabor & Meis Law Firm reach back to the very founding of
Algona in
1854 by brothers
Asa and Ambrose Call.
Asa Call was the first lawyer and first judge ever to serve this
territory near the headwaters of the Des Moines River. His
brother, Ambrose, was the grandfather of Donald C. and Theodore C.
(“Tedo”) Hutchison, who joined their father Archie in his law
practice in Algona in 1933 and 1941, respectively. Archie
Hutchison, could not have known at the time he opened his practice
here in 1896--no doubt appearing with some trepidation before the
rugged Judge Call--that he was practicing before his future “uncle
in-law.”
While the three Hutchison men built their
thriving practice, Tedo served two terms in the Iowa House of
Representatives (1941 – 1944). The firm of Hutchison &
Hutchison became Hutchison, Hutchison & Owens in 1948 when Paul Owens joined,
later leaving the practice in 1953, eventually to become general
counsel and manager of Western Buyers. A fourth partner, John
Carroll, joined the firm in 1950 when it became known as
Hutchison, Hutchison, Owens & Carroll. Carroll married Tedo's daughter, Sue Hutchison, and later moved to San
Jose, California, where he practiced for many years.
James H. Andreasen,
destined to become one of the firm’s most illustrious members,
joined them in 1958.
Meanwhile, in 1948, Algona native, Russell
G. Buchanan, was completing his education at the
University of Iowa
College of Law
and embarking on his legal career with the prestigious Stinson,
Mag & Fizzell law firm in Kansas City. In 1955, he returned to
his hometown to begin a solo practice. Russ would later become the
President of the
Iowa State Bar Association
and received that organization’s highest honor, the Award of
Merit. He was joined in 1959 by his first partner, Vern L.
McClure. In 1968 the law firms of Hutchison & Andreasen and
Buchanan & McClure merged to form Hutchison, Buchanan, Andreasen &
McClure.
James Andreasen was appointed to the Iowa
District Court bench by Governor Ray in 1975 and to the Iowa
Supreme Court by Governor Branstad in 1987, where he served until
opting for senior status in 1998. Along the way, the members of
the firm practiced with former partners
Eric J. Thomsen, now of
Stanley, Lande & Hunter, P.C., Muscatine, Iowa, and Robert A.
Dotson, now of Dotson Law Firm, Algona, Iowa. In 2006, the firm
acquired the practice of John Doran in Emmetsburg, who became an
associate in the firm as he began easing into his retirement. For
more information about existing members, please see our attorney
biographical pages.
It is with great pride that the members of
Buchanan, Bibler, Gabor & Meis carry on the tradition of
providing quality comprehensive legal services to their clients in
northern Iowa and around the state. We salute the members who
built this firm and hope that our efforts honor their legacy.
Representative Clients
Many of the firm’s clients have grown along
with the firm. Some of our representative clients include the
following:
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Ag Performance, LLC
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Algona Marine and
Sport, Inc.
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Algona Medical Clinic
I, LLC
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Algona Medical Clinic
II, LLC
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Algona Municipal
Utilities
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AmberWave
Communications, LLC
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Computer Systems of
Algona, Inc.
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Bancroft Implement,
Inc.
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Carroll Implement,
Inc.
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Central Financial
Group, L.C.
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City of Bancroft
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City of Lakota
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City of Swea City
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Corwith Red Power,
Inc.
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Exceptional
Opportunities, Inc.
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Farmers & Traders
Savings Bank
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Farm & Home Services,
LLC
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Farm Credit Services
of America
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Humboldt Red Power,
Inc.
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Iowa Trust and Savings Bank
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Kerber Milling Co.
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K. and H. Cooperative
Oil Company
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Manson Red Power,
Inc.
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Mason City Red Power,
Inc.
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Miller Lumber Co.
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New Hampton Red
Power, Inc.
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North Iowa Lumber &
Design, Inc.
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Titonka Savings Bank
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Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Co.
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Sbemco International, Inc.
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Security State Bank
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Suidae Health and
Production, L.C.
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Welp, Inc.
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Whittemore Truck &
Trailer, Inc.
Our firm is committed to support the work of nonprofit
organizations that enhance our communities and beyond. Our
commitment is expressed in many ways, including financial support,
donated legal services, and volunteer work in many capacities.
Some of the many nonprofit organizations we regularly support
include the following:
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Algona Area Chamber
of Commerce
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Algona Community
School Foundation
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Algona Country Club
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Algona Family YMCA
Foundation
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Algona Public
Library
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Algona
Revitalization Project (Movie Theatre)
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Active Senior
Citizens of Algona, Inc.
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Bancroft Community
Foundation, Inc.
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Countryside
Community Playhouse
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Exceptional
Opportunities, Inc.
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First
Congregational Church Endowment Fund Trust
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First
Congregational United Church of Christ of Algona
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Friends of Bishop
Garrigan
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Friends of Union
Slough
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Gopher College
Rugby Football Club
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Haggard-Twogood
Charitable Trust
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Howard and
Katherine Hoenk Foundation
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Iowa Legal Aid
Foundation
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Iowa Legal Aid
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Kossuth County
Community Foundation
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Kossuth County
Economic Development Corporation
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Kossuth County
Nature Center Foundation
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Kossuth Regional
Health Center Foundation
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Madden-Mallory
Foundation
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Palo Alto County
Economic Development Corporation
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Pheasants Forever
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Stinson Prairie
Arts Council
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Sullivan Building
Foundation, Inc.
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W. D. Ley
Foundation
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Willard and Ella
Thompson Trust
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