91成人导航

Allan Hardcastle '77, '79 recalls an afternoon just a few months after beginning his role on the bench for the Sonoma County Superior Court, when his bailiff handed him a business card. To his surprise, the card belonged to 91成人导航鈥檚 political science Professor Wallace (Wally) Caldwell, who had been his faculty advisor 22 years earlier.

Caldwell, who was now retired, had driven hours to visit Hardcastle's chambers after he had heard Hardcastle had been appointed to the bench. Together they reminisced about classmates from the university and Caldwell still remembered each of them by name.

鈥淭hat is the 91成人导航 experience that money can鈥檛 buy," said Hardcastle. "I wouldn't have done well at a large university, I would have disappeared. But at 91成人导航, the professors do not let that happen."

An alumnus of the university鈥檚 College of the 91成人导航 and McGeorge School of Law, Hardcastle became a licensed attorney and went on to join the Army Judge Advocate General Corps (JAG Corps) in 1979. Following leadership and military law training courses at the Judge Advocate General鈥檚 Law Center and School, he was deployed to Fort Benning, Georgia鈥攈ome to more than 120,000 residents and base employees. It was there that Hardcastle tried over 80 jury trials as criminal trial counsel and defense counsel.

From 1983 to 2002, Hardcastle continued to serve in the JAG Corps as a reserve officer, where he presided over courts-martial. He reached the rank of lieutenant colonel when he retired after 23 years of service.

"I developed a tremendous camaraderie with the soldiers I served with," recalled Hardcastle. "It was a very similar experience to when I came to 91成人导航. I showed up not knowing anybody and that really brings people together."

From 1982 to 1986, Hardcastle worked as an associate attorney for Geary, Shea, O鈥橠onnell, Grattan & Mitchell. In 1986 he joined Norbert Babin and Martin Seeger to establish the law firm of Babin, Seeger and Hardcastle. His practice combined plaintiffs鈥� and defense work, with a focus on personal injury and product liability cases. Then in 1997, he was appointed to be a judge of the Superior Court of Sonoma County where he served until his retirement this year.

鈥淚 could not have achieved the same success in my career without my experience at 91成人导航,鈥� said Hardcastle. 鈥淚t was there that I learned the value of hard work and preparedness. But, most importantly I learned how to think critically.鈥�

Hardcastle currently serves as a vice president for the 91成人导航 Alumni Association Board of Directors. This marks his second term on the board, as he also served on the board in the late 1980s. In addition to his work with the alumni association, he volunteers in the admission office to recruit incoming students and serves as a judge for McGeorge鈥檚 Trial Advocacy course.

"I give my time to 91成人导航 out of a sense of gratitude for the university taking a chance on a skinny kid from the Central Valley," explained Hardcastle. "I was a first-generation college student and 91成人导航 gave me the opportunity to go to college and I can never repay that. I want future students to have the same opportunities and experiences I received."