In Remembrance: Scott Lukins, Co-Founder of Lukins and Annis

Scott Lukins, one of the founders of Lukins & Annis, P.S., died Sunday, April 11, 2010, in Spokane. Mr. Lukins, age 81, practiced law since 1957. He was born in Colfax, Washington. He graduated from Clarkston High School in Clarkston, Washington, and graduated from Harvard University in 1951. He then attended the University of Washington School of Law, graduating in 1954. He received his LLM in taxation from New York University and served in the U.S. Army from 1955 to 1957.

From 1959 to1962 Mr. Lukins was an associate with Witherspoon, Kelley, Davenport & Toole. Prior to founding Lukins & Annis he was a principal with Butler & Lukins from 1963 to 1972. In 1972, Mr. Lukins, Gene Annis, and other attorneys formed a law firm which eventually became one of the largest law firms in Spokane, now known as Lukins & Annis. At one time, Mr. Lukins represented a significant number of the most successful commercial enterprises and individuals in the Inland Northwest.

Mr. Lukins was very involved in the Spokane community. He served on a number of boards including the Spokane Chamber of Commerce, Foundation Northwest, Spokane Symphony Orchestra, Sacred Heart Medical Center, and the Inland Empire Council of the Boy Scouts of America. He was also a former board member of Islanders Bank, Washington Trust Bank, and the Bank of Pullman. Corporate board membership has included Pearson Packaging(formerly known as R.A. Pearson Company), Idaho Forest Industries, Jensen Distribution Services, and the Pacific Northwest Bell Telephone Company. Mr. Lukins also belonged to a number of professional organizations and has served as the president of the Spokane Estate Planning Council.

Mr. Lukins was a member of the Washington State University Board of Regents from 1985 to 1997, and served as president in 1989. He was a loyal supporter of higher education and specifically the University of Washington School of Law for many years. In 2006 the University of Washington Law Alumni Association honored him with the Distinguished Alumnus Award.

He was very involved in the Democratic party, chairing former Speaker of the House Tom Foley's campaign committee for many years. In 1996 he was appointed to the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board by President Bill Clinton.

In 2004 Scott and his wife Betty created the Scott & Betty Lukins Fund to support the arts, Girl and Boy Scouts, and public radio and television. They recently donated a bronze work to the Museum of Arts and Culture, entitled, 'The Navigators' created by well-known sculptor Brad Rude.

After becoming an Honorary Member of the Washington State Bar Association, Mr. Lukins visited the firm regularly, visiting with staff and attorneys and generally spread a feeling of good will among those he encountered. His recollection of past events and legal matters continued as a valuable source of information for those at the firm. The attorneys and staff of Lukins & Annis send our best regards to the family of Mr. Lukins. We are proud to have had a long association with such an outstanding man, attorney and community supporter.