Hiscock & Barclay 150th Anniversary Timeline - 1948-1979

1947-1948 - Prior to the Corinthian Club moving into the Hiscock home, LeMoyne College occupies the mansion for one year while its permanent home at LeMoyne Heights is under construction.

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1949 - The Frank H. Hiscock Legal Aid Society is founded on September 23, 1949 to provide free legal assistance to indigent residents of Onondaga County. The initial funds are provided by the Syracuse Foundation, Inc. from a bequest of Judge Frank Hiscock.

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1952 - Howard Munson clerks at Hiscock, Cowie, Bruce, Lee & Mawhinney in 1952 during his final semester at Syracuse University and later joins the firm, where he practices until he is nominated by President Gerald R. Ford and sworn in as a U.S. District Court Judge on Nov. 5, 1976. He serves as Chief Judge of the District from 1980 through 1988. In 1990, Judge Munson assumes the status of Senior Judge and continues to hear cases on that Court.

1954 - In April 1953, Rosamond Gifford passes away and leaves an estate of over $5 million. She was the only daughter of Hiscock's former partner, William Gifford. Her will directs her banker and attorney to create The Rosamond Gifford Charitable Corporation in 1954.

1956 - On April 25, many employees of Hiscock, Cowie, Bruce, Lee & Mawhinney, escape down fire-escape ladders from the third floor as fire sweeps through the First Trust and Deposit Building at Washington and Warren Streets. The fire is started by sparks from a welding torch used for a half-million dollar renovation project. Damage to the building is estimated at $250,000; the firm's offices suffer only smoke damage.

1961 - H. Douglas Barclay joins Hiscock, Cowie, Bruce, Lee & Mawhinney as an associate specializing in banking and administrative law.

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1965 - Barclay is elected to New York State Senate, serving from 1965-1984.

1968 - As a director of First Trust & Deposit Co. in Syracuse, Barclay begins working with the banks that would eventually become KeyCorp. In 1970, he handles the acquisition of First Trust and National Commercial Bank in Albany which becomes First Commercial Bank and later KeyCorp, with its headquarters in Albany.

1969 - H. Douglas Barclay becomes a partner.

1971 - Barclay serves as General Counsel & Secretary to KeyCorp from 1971 to 1989. When Barclay becomes general counsel to KeyCorp in 1971, the bank has one billion dollars in assets. In 2004, KeyCorp is one of the largest bank holding companies in the U.S. with assets of nearly $89 billion.

1974 - Hiscock, Cowie, Bruce, Lee & Mawhinney changes its name to Hiscock, Lee, Rogers, Henley & Barclay. Named partners Joseph P. Rogers and Gerald Henley had begun their careers with the firm in 1928.

1974 - Carter Chase joins Hiscock, Lee, Rogers, Henley & Barclay. He had previously created a legal department for Crouse-Hinds Co. in Syracuse and had been named vice president, general counsel and secretary in 1969. Chase primarily worked on KeyCorp and other corporate matters at the firm until 1990.

1975 - Ferdinand L. Picardi is elected Managing Partner of the firm and, working with Barclay in the ensuing years, oversees an impressive expansion at the firm in size and geographic reach.

1977 - The firm opens a Northern New York office in Watertown.

1977 - Hiscock, Lee, Rogers, Henley & Barclay hires its first female associate, Grace Anne Genova. After clerking at the firm for two summers during law school at Syracuse University, she is hired in 1977 in the real estate department. She worked for the firm until 1982 when she moved to Florida.

1979 - In December, the firm moves to the new Financial Plaza Building at 221 South Warren Street in Syracuse.