It’s important to recognize those people who are active in the community, people who voluntarily give the most precious resource they, or any of us have…their time.
It’s often been said that if you have a job that needs to be done, ask a busy person. Although that may seem a bit contradictory, it makes sense because a busy person is an industrious person. Contrarily, someone with lots of time on his hands probably isn’t interested in sparing any. Without volunteers to perform a percentage of the work in your city or town, it would cost taxpayers a significant chunk of change to pay for the extra services. Moreover, when those volunteers are also running a business in the town and paying taxes into the public treasury, residents get a double dip in benefits.
I had the pleasure of interviewing one such entrepreneur in the form of Chuck Elsey. As a partner with his son Chad in the Elsey and Elsey Law Firm in Flower Mound, and as a board member on a host of prominent local entities, Chuck has established himself as a distinguished member of the body politic in the county.
With awards and honors too numerous to mention, I’ll simply cite a few ways in which he contributes his extraordinary talents to the community at large.
Formerly in the business of oil and gas manufacturing, Chuck was a consulting and marketing specialist for Pacific Enterprises as Vice-president, and then President. Moving to Flower Mound in 1990, Chuck and his wife Lori hit the ground running as they sought out ways in which they could be an integral part of a rapidly growing population.
Although he had finished law school several years earlier, he was too consumed with his other business pursuits to take the Bar Exam. However, in 1997, with only 10 days to file for the exam and a few months to study for it, he decided it was time. Hence, while working a full-time job and, with his wife Lori, raising their three children, Chuck crammed four hours a day of study, and passed the bar on the first try. Originally located in Lewisville, his law firm moved to Flower Mound in 2007.
Since 2006, he’s been on the Executive Board of the Flower Mound Chamber of Commerce in an advisory council role on legal and business matters. He also serves as Chairman of the Governing Board for Texas Presbyterian Hospital of Flower Mound, a position he assumed even before the groundbreaking of the magnificent structure that now towers over the roadway on FM 2499.
As Chairman, he works with other Governing Board members regarding safety, patient satisfaction, policy and monitoring. He believes the ongoing construction of the River Walk, in close proximity to the hospital, will be a marvelous addition to the prominent medical complex that is rapidly expanding on the perimeter of the 160 acre property, north of FM 1171 and east of FM 2499.
Adding just a few to the list of accolades is board membership with the Lewisville Education Foundation and a former member of the Flower Mound Rotary Board. Furthermore, the Flower Mound town council recently voted to designate his law firm as the tax collection agency for the town and he provides that service to the Lantana community.
The entire Elsey family has a history of community service, beginning with his wife Lori who, for a few years, was an active member of the Flower Mound Chamber of Commerce, helping to develop some of its most spectacular and eye-appealing events. In addition to being a partner in the firm, Chad Elsey can be seen, with his wife Julie, attending and contributing to many charitable events in the area. The Elsey’s daughters, Ashley and Jessica, own and operate the Minerva Marketing Consultant service in Richardson. Ashley was also the Vice President for marketing for the George Bush Foundation.
I think you’d agree that this is a family with achievement in their genetic makeup. By the way, you might remember the classic section of Reader’s Digest entitled, “My most unforgettable character.” Chuck would make a good addition to that section.
First of all, he’s one of the most casual guys you’ll ever meet. Comfortable in his own skin, Chuck has enough accomplishments in his life to live it without feeling as though he has something to prove. He doesn’t have a phony bone is his 6 foot, 6 inch, lanky body. He’s that rare type of individual who you can meet for five minutes and feel as though you’ve known him all your life. A well-rounded conversationalist, Chuck can talk volubly about sports, science, politics, government, even the law, with fair and open-minded objectivity.
Every profession has people who bring negativity to their image, and lawyers are no exception. That’s why it’s so refreshing to meet those who, by virtue of their high ethical standards, raise the bar (no pun) for their colleagues to emulate.
Bob Weir is a long-time Flower Mound resident and former local newspaper editor. In addition, Bob has 7 published books that include “Murder in Black and White,” “City to Die For,” “Powers that Be,” “Ruthie’s Kids,” “Deadly to Love,” “Short Stories of Life and Death” and “Out of Sight,” all of which can be found on Amazon.com and other major online bookstores.
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