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Benjamin "Kip" Lombard Jr. Benjamin "Kip" Lombard, Jr., 62, died at his home in Ashland, Thursday, March 27, 2003. He was born in Seattle, Wash., on Sept. 2, 1940 to the late Benjamin Tongue Lombard and Jessie Craig Smith. Soon after his birth, the family moved to Portland, where Kip's father was stationed during World War II. After the war, the family moved to Ashland, where Benjamin Lombard Sr. was a practicing attorney. Kip attended Ashland schools and graduated from Ashland High School in 1958. He attended the University of Oregon and graduated cum laude in 1962 as a member of the first class of the University of Oregon Honors College. He graduated from the University of Michigan Law School in 1965. He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity and the Friars honorary at the University of Oregon. In 1967, Kip began practicing law in Portland with the firm of Mautz, Souther, Spaulding, Kinsey, Williamson, and Schwabe (now Schwabe, Williamson and Wyatt). In 1970, he married Bernadette Ann Verschingel in Portland. He returned to Ashland in 1972 to raise his family and to the practice law. Bernadette, his wife of 33 years and his three sons, Christopher, Ian and Russell and one grandson, Samuel, survive Kip. Kip was elected to serve as state representative from District 52 in the Oregon House of Representatives. He served in that position from January 1977 to January 1985, representing parts of Klamath (until 1981) and Jackson counties. Fellow legislators remember Kip's ability to work with both parties in order to best serve his community. Through his work in the legislature, he demonstrated best the art of compromise, legal responsibility and the importance of democratic governance in all legislative action. He retired from the Legislature in 1985 in order to devote more time to his law practice and his family. In 1985, Kip began concentrating his law practice in water law and estate planning, his two major interests. Through his devoted work, he became one of Oregon's premier water rights lawyers, representing many water rights clients throughout the state of Oregon. He was a frequent writer and speaker at conferences on water law. Between 1985 and 1999, he lobbied for agricultural water interests, representing the Oregon Water Resources Congress before the state legislature. At his death, he was a vice-chair of the American Bar Association Water Committee and was co-chair of the planning committee for the 2003 Annual Water Law Conference in San Diego, Calif. He was a member of the American, Oregon and Jackson County bar associations. Kip's service to his community extended far beyond his legislative work and legal practice. Over the years, he served on many public boards and commissions, including the Jackson County Education Service Board, Rogue Valley Medical Center Board of Trustees, Boy Scouts of America Executive Board, Oregon Water Trust, Southern Oregon University Regional Advisory Council, and the Ashland Chamber Board of Directors. He sill be long remembered for his integrity and devotion to his community. Kip was happiest when fishing, golfing, reading or hiking, especially in the company of family and friends. He was most proud of his wife and sons and of the fact that he and all three of his sons attained the rank of Eagle Scout. He was a member of Our Lady of the Mountain Catholic Church, Ashland. Family and friends are grateful for Kip's life. He will be sorely missed and his memory cherished. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the Boy Scouts of America, Crater Lake Area Council, 30309 Hanley Road, Central Point, Ore, 97502 or to the Benjamin "Kip" Lombard, Jr., Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Jackson County Bar Association, Stephan Jamieson, Treasure, 2592 East Barnett Road, Medford, Ore. 97504. The Recitation of the Holy Rosary will begin at 1 p.m., Saturday, April 5, 2003, at Our Lady of the Mountain Catholic Church, 987 Hillview Drive, Ashland, followed immediately by the Funeral Mass at 1:30 P.M. Arrangements are in care of Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home and Crematory, 1811 Ashland Street, Ashland. LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -