David Weiland holds his Hall of Fame plaque while surrounded by partners and co-workers from Coleman & Horowitt.
David Weiland, a 1992 graduate of San Joaquin College of Law, was all but overcome with emotion and gratitude at his Induction Ceremony on September 5th at the Sisk Courthouse. “My wife always teases me about tearing up,” he said, as he wiped his eyes. “This is really embarrassing.”
But the accolades kept coming for the partner at Coleman & Horowitt. Greg Norys, another partner at the firm, told the audience “I would not be where I am today without Dave,” who offered him a job at Dowling Aaron years ago. Before that, Greg had been study partners with David’s wife, Lillian, who also graduated from SJCL in 2002.
David did not choose law as his first career. He obtained a degree in Civil Engineering from Fresno State in 1972 and worked as an engineer for 20 years, sharing his expertise at the Kings County Public Works Department, a few civil engineering firms, and his own companies. In 1988, he enrolled in law school, where he also excelled. He holds the distinction of being the first managing editor of the San Joaquin Agricultural Law Review, which will publish its 28th volume this year.
After passing the bar, David opened his own practice in construction and real estate litigation. He later joined Dowling Aaron Inc. as a shareholder, and eventually became President. He practiced there for 15 years before moving into his current role as head of the litigation department and executive committee member at Coleman & Horowitt.
David gives his time generously to numerous community organizations, including previously serving as president of the Fresno State Bulldog Foundation, where he was instrumental in the quest to build the Save Mart Center. Former Fresno State Athletic Director Al Bohl has long since retired to Florida with his wife, but remembers David as more than just a board figure. The Bohls sent flowers for David’s Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, along with a personal message from Al, recounting their friendship, and also, what happened after his wife fell, hit her head, had a seizure, and was hospitalized.
“This was on a Sunday. Monday morning I was sitting by Sherry’s bedside at the hospital. Who walked in? David Weiland. Dave flew thru the night to Jacksonville Florida. Rented a car and drove to St. Augustine. In the afternoon, he drove back to Jacksonville and flew back to Fresno. That Monday was priceless to the Bohls.”
Congressman T. J Cox also presented a surprise accolade to David in the form of a Congressional Resolution recognizing his Hall of Fame induction, which reads in part “David’s track record as an attorney has earned him great respect in the Central Valley and throughout the State of California.”
David has also served as an adjunct professor at Fresno State’s School of Engineering as well as at SJCL, where he has been a member of the Board of Trustees for the past 20 years. Other SJCL Board members in attendance included Ross Borba Jr., Tony Mendes, Hon. Robert Oliver, and fellow Hall-of-Famer Deborah Coe. Other Hall of Fame members on hand to celebrate David’s induction included Kathy Hart, Rayma Church, and the Hon. Houry Sanderson. Additional support from the bench came from Hon. Geoffrey Sims and Hon. Adolfo Corona.