Robert W. (Bob) Colflesh was born in 1900 and served with distinction in France during World War I, where he was injured and lost part of a leg. For his valor, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the Croix de Guerre. After the war, Colflesh graduated from law school and, in 1927, joined a Des Moines law firm. It was through his legal practice that he began frequenting the Iowa Capitol, advocating for changes to the Iowa Code on behalf of his clients. In doing so, he became one of the early pioneers of modern lobbying.

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As Colflesh’s lobbying practice grew, so did his presence at the Capitol. By 1961, his advancing age and partial amputation made navigating the Capitol’s hard tile floors increasingly difficult. He sought assistance from a young lawyer at his firm named James B. (Jim) West, who would later recall, “I was Mr. Colflesh’s legs” in those early days of his lobbying career. Colflesh would often sit in the Capitol’s lounges, directing West on lobbying strategies, mentoring him along the way. West, himself a veteran who served as a Navy test pilot during the Korean War, quickly became a formidable presence in the Capitol. Tragically, Colflesh passed away suddenly from a heart attack on April 17, 1967, during the legislative session, leaving West to carry on the firm’s growing lobbying practice.

Jim West, continuing the firm’s representation of lobbying clients, expanded the practice further. By the late 1970s, the workload required more hands, and West brought in a promising litigator named Keith E. Luchtel. Like his predecessors, Luchtel was a veteran, having flown 275 combat missions as an Air Force fighter pilot during the Vietnam War. Following his discharge, Luchtel enrolled in law school, and after graduating, joined the firm as a litigation associate. Over the next three decades, West and Luchtel became a formidable duo at the Iowa Capitol, with West spending 50 sessions there and Luchtel contributing for 32 years. Luchtel retired two years after West.

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This is our legacy.

 

When Luchtel began contemplating his own retirement, he sought out a litigator from within the firm who shared a similar background and skill set. That person was Brad Epperly. Epperly spent four sessions working alongside Jim West and six with Keith Luchtel. Although he had practiced law for 13 years by the time he ventured into lobbying, it was a new experience. Under the tutelage of these veterans, Epperly learned to apply the skills honed during his litigation career to the lobbying arena. He became adept at analyzing bills for potential issues, drafting amendments to safeguard client interests, and crafting legislation to achieve client goals while minimizing opposition. Equally important was learning the art of persuasion—reading people, crafting arguments, and influencing key decisions.

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CWL Group proudly stands on the shoulders of these three great lawyers and veterans. Their legacy is the foundation upon which we continue to build.