Judge Sam A. Crow

Judge Sam A. Crow, 96 years old, died peacefully at his home on Friday, December 2, 2022, surrounded by loved ones. He proudly served as a United States District Court Judge for 41 years, as a devoted husband to Ruth Crow for 68 years, and as a loving father to his two sons. He was the ultimate family man. Judge Crow lived life with gusto, true to his motto of “Be Careful, Do Your Best, and Do It With Enthusiasm.”

Samuel Alfred Crow was born in Topeka, Kansas, on May 5, 1926, to Samuel Wheadon Crow and Phyllis Katherine “Katy” Brown Crow (later Culliford). His family roots in Topeka date back to his grandparents’ arrival from England in 1883. As an only child, his early years were full of adventure, witnessed by his fun and flamboyant mother and his hard-working father. He attended Clay Elementary School, Roosevelt Junior High School, and Topeka High School, graduating in 1944. He left home at age 15 to live and work at the Jane C. Stormont Hospital at 3rd and Greenwood.

A zealous patriot with a passion for defending our country, Sam enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1944 and trained to be a frogman. After WWII, he worked his way through the University of Kansas to graduate in 1949. He graduated from the Washburn University School of Law in 1952.

With a stroke of luck, before he graduated from college, Sam met the love of his life, Ruth Marie Rush, at Union Station in Kansas City. The circumstances of their meeting are Crow family legend to be shared on request. Sam and Ruth were married in the Chapel at Grace Episcopal Cathedral, in Topeka, Kansas, on January 30, 1948. By January of 1952, they were the proud parents of two energetic (mischievous) boys born a mere 13 months apart. Sam and Ruth were the best of parents who routinely sacrificed their own needs and wants for the benefit of their boys. Sam and Ruth enjoyed 68 lively years together until Ruth’s death on Valentine’s Day in 2016.

Professionally, Sam Crow started his legal career from scratch as an enthusiastic private practice lawyer with a love for the law. His quest to provide the best possible legal representation regardless of the client’s ability to pay quickly resulted in a reputation in the Topeka legal community as one of the most trusted, respected, and zealous lawyers in northeast Kansas. His practice grew and flourished. By 1953, he was a partner in the law firm of Rooney, Dickinson, Prager & Crow, which eventually evolved into the firm of Dickinson, Aiken, Crow, Skoog, and Honeyman in the 1960s.

In 1973, Sam applied and was selected by judges to serve as the local United States Federal Magistrate Judge. In 1981, President Ronald Reagan personally called Sam to ask him to serve as a United States District Court Judge for the District of Kansas. Sam’s close friend from law school, Senator Bob Dole, presented him to the United States Senate for his confirmation hearings. Judge Crow began serving as a United States District Court Judge in Wichita in 1981 before he returned to Topeka in 1992 to continue serving with distinction until his retirement in October 2022 at age 96. Sam said that the president had appointed him for life, and he didn’t want to let him down. Sam wrote in notes to his family that he hoped to be remembered for his judicial understanding.

During his entire professional career, Judge Crow was surrounded by exceptional talent. His loyal legal secretary of 46 years, Bev Rector, was essential. His capable and professional staff over his years at the court became what Judge Crow called his “court family”. They include, but are certainly not limited to, Chris Allman, Judge Kathryn Gardner, Brenda Wessell, Jim Prentice, Melinda Barnes, the team of pro se law clerks led by Rachel Lyle, and his most loyal and dedicated elbow law clerk, Martin Albrecht.

Judge Crow was forever grateful to the U.S. Marshals Service, particularly to Special Deputy Marshal Gene Goldsberry, who lost his life in 1993 defending the Frank Carlson Federal Building when it was attacked by a man who was scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Crow on a firearms conviction. During the attack, Judge Crow patrolled the door to his office suite with his own gun and refused to leave his staff behind when the U.S. Marshals tried to evacuate him. That is who he was.

Judge Crow’s service to the United States Army spanned more than three decades. It included serving in the United States Army Reserve as a Judge Advocate General’s (JAG Corp) Officer and as an Officer in the Selective Service System. He retired as a full Colonel in 1986.

With his peers in the 1960s, Sam Crow helped found the Topeka Lawyers Club. In 1992, he was the founding Master of what is now The Sam A. Crow American Inn of Court which continues to thrive today.

Judge Crow’s professional associations are numerous, as are his awards and honors. He received the Distinguished Service Award from Washburn University School of Law, the Warren W. Shaw Distinguished Service Award from the Topeka Bar Association, an Honorary Doctorate of Law from Washburn School of Law, the Kansas Bar Association Medal of Distinction, and the Topeka High School Hall of Fame which honors graduates who have excelled at local, state or national levels. Judge Crow also served on the Attorney Disciplinary Committee of the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas and the Washburn Law School Association Board of Governors.

Sam Crow volunteered his time for the Boy Scouts of America Board of Review, Shawnee County Historical Society, American Legion, Riverside Hospital Board of Directors, Topeka Council of Churches Board of Directors, and served as Kansas Chairman of March of Dimes. Sam was proud to be a lifelong member of Grace Episcopal Cathedral where he served in various capacities over his decades of membership. He treasured his membership as a Shriner, as a member of Shawnee Country Club, Topeka Rotary Club, the Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Nu Sigma Nu fraternities, and the Topeka Round Up Club, where his lifelong love of horses was known by all. In the 1960s and 1970s, Sam and Ruth joined the friendly family of neighbors at Lake Wabaunsee, where the Crows tended, improved, and loved a rustic old one-room cabin with no heat or running water. In his later years, though he had been reluctant to give up a beloved home in College Hill, he felt fortunate to be part of the Mayfair Place family with neighbors who helped him in immeasurable ways.

Whether serving professionally as a U.S. District Court Judge or as an Army Colonel, Sam Crow was the quintessential people person. He talked with everyone wherever he went. No matter their role in life, he wanted to hear their story. He valued everyone’s work in any productive role. He never forgot his early jobs as a hospital aide, picking oranges in California, a railroad signalman, and a dock worker at the Santa Fe Railroad. He admired anyone willing to work for an honest wage. He inspired people to strive for greatness. Thanks to him, many did.

When Sam Crow made a friend, he kept that friend for life. He regularly talked with Bob Dole until the last week of Senator Dole’s life. His junior high school friend, Dick “Por’e Richard” Cummins, was a treasured part of Sam’s family of friends, as were Eddie Van Horn and local matriarch Willa Mae Anderson, who inspired him with her unconditional love and dedication to her family.

Judge Crow was a passionate man who lived and loved with enthusiasm. Favorite things included travel, golf, Rat Pack music, antique shopping with Ruthie (actually, anything that involved Ruthie), American-made luxury cars, meaningful conversation, cufflinks, horses, the U.S. flag, the U.S. military, his family, and the United States Constitution. He gave away an untold number of copies of The Constitution — little booklets he carried by the dozen to try to help the world learn to love what he revered. Through his eyes as a criminal defense lawyer, he spent countless hours studying the details of President Kennedy’s assassination. When the old Shawnee County Courthouse was being demolished, he bought a jury box section and stored it in his garage for years before donating it to the State Historical Society. Sam might have been ten years old when his parents wouldn’t buy him the pony he wanted, so he saved some money, walked to the meatpacking plant in North Topeka, bought a horse, and brought it home to his parents’ garage at 6th & Western. Sam Crow was unstoppable.

With Sam Crow at the head of the table, every meal began with a toast to our United States military and police/first responders, to our country, to our United States Constitution, and to family.

No obituary for Judge Crow could be complete without expressing heartfelt gratitude to his devoted caregivers, Kathie Taylor, Susan Ladenburger, and Lynn Reeves, who made it possible for him to live his final years in his own home surrounded by peace, comfort, and love.

Judge Sam A. Crow is survived by his sons, Dr. Sam A. Crow II (Cheryl) and Dan W. Crow (Helen), and their children Andrew Crow (Donna), Melissa Crow (Roby), and Samantha Ruth Crow Quist (Jake). Surviving family includes Sam’s sister-in-law, Nancy Bond, nephew Jerod Bond (Stacy), and niece Heidi Bond. Great-grandchildren are Anthony, Hope, Anna, Camden, George Daniel, Aria Ruth, and Rosalie Ruth. Characteristically meeting the challenges of maintaining loving connections with his adult grandchildren even though they scattered far, Granddad Crow called each of them to chat every single Sunday until the last week before he died.

Judge Crow asked that any memorial contributions be made to the Washburn University School of Law. His funeral will be at 1 p.m. on Thursday, December 8, 2022, at Grace Episcopal Cathedral at 701 SW 8th Street, Topeka. Visitation will be the night before, 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday, December 7, 2022, at Penwell-Gable Midtown Mortuary at 1321 SW 10th Ave, Topeka. Burial will be next to Sam’s beloved Ruth under a full-scale American flag on their very own island at Mount Hope Cemetery. Sam’s favorite coconut cream pie from Annie’s Place will be served to family and friends in a reception at Grace Cathedral after his burial. To leave a message online for Judge Crow's family, please visit https://www.penwellgabeltopeka.com/Obituary/257492/Judge-Sam-Crow/Topeka-KS.