CAPE COUNTY'S OLDEST PRACTICING LAWYER RETIRING

Raymond H. Vogel is no stranger to the law.

Vogel, 84, is the oldest practicing attorney in Cape Girardeau County. Later this month, after more than 54 years of practice, he will retire.

Vogel knew he wanted to be an attorney soon after entering Normal School (now Southeast Missouri State University) as a freshman.

But his friends and relatives weren't so sure.

"I fell in love with the study of law," said Vogel last week. "But a lot of people, including my dad, discouraged me from becoming a lawyer. They said there were too many lawyers already, and that some of them were selling cars now."

So after graduating from Normal, he entered the University of Missouri for future political science studies. It was there he decided to get back into law.

"I just said to heck with it, I wanted to be a lawyer," Vogel said.

In 1940, he graduated from the University of Iowa College of Law, cum laude, with his law degree.

He didn't start selling cars, but he didn't become a practicing lawyer, either.

Vogel joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation as a special agent and served in that capacity for six years. He served in a number of areas for the FBI from 1940 to 1946, including Washington, D.C., New Jersey, North Carolina and Florida.

"It was interesting," said Vogel.

In Florida, he was part of special team of agents looking for German saboteurs. And in North Carolina, he served with a group of agents looking for German subs. Posing as trunk men for a refrigeration service, the team kept tabs on off-coast subs.

"We found a few German subs," he said.

After the war, Vogel wanted to get back to Southeast Missouri.

"It (FBI) was a great experience. J. Edgar Hoover was my boss," said Vogel. "But I wanted to practice law."

He left the FBI, returned to Southeast Missouri, and joined the late Robert M. Buerkle in Jackson.

That was in 1946. He's been a lawyer ever since.

Vogel served three terms as prosecuting attorney and one term as state representative from 1957-1958. He was Cape Girardeau city attorney from 1959-1964 and was a Missouri special assistant attorney general from 1969-1973. He currently practices law in Cape Girardeau, as the senior partner of Vogel, Layton & Lewis, L.L.C., at 351 Silver Springs Road. In between he was a partner with the late William H. Frye, on N. Lorimier St.

Vogel's family moved to Cape Girardeau from Pocahontas when he was youngster. He graduated from Cape Central High School.

During his more than 50 years as a lawyer, he came to know and face some big names in the legal field, including Rush H. Limbaugh Sr., Rush H. Limbaugh Jr. and Stephen Limbaugh.

"We were foes in the courtroom sometimes, but we were friends," said Vogel. "We all adhered to a a certain code Do as a lawyer in court, strive mightily. But eat and drink as friends.'"

Vogel, who has tried cases of all types, said his longest case was in 1968, when he represented a farmer in Perry County who had lost a lot of livestock because a business had polluted water in a stream used as drinking water by the livestock.

"The case lasted a week," said Vogel. "It was tried in Wayne County."

The farmer was awarded $100,000, a lot of money in 1968, said Vogel.

Another memorable case for Vogel was the Gordonville Bank robbery in the 1950s.

Three men were charged, said Vogel. "And they each wanted separate trials. So I had to try the case three times."

On April 28, Vogel will retire.

"I've gotten a great thrill out of working in the legal profession," said Vogel. "I've enjoyed it, and never been sorry I changed my field."

He is now looking forward to fishing and enjoying a more leisurely life.

Vogel and his wife, Rosalind, are members of Trinity Lutheran Church. He is a past president the congregation. He has served as president of the Cape Girardeau County Bar Association, the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club, United Way and Public Library. He has also served as Republican County Chairman and district chairman.

Also retiring from the law firm is Lillian N. Schneider, Vogel's secretary for 43 years. She is active in the International Association of Administrative Professionals, and has served as president of the local chapter.

Schneider, an avid golfer, says she will be able to get on the golf course before 5 p.m. now.