JONAH LAGRANGE/THE CREIGHTONIAN
Creighton University School of Law, where Daniel J. Gross graduated in 1916 at age 19, continues to educate future legal professionals and inspire generations of aspiring attorneys.
What were you doing at 19? Probably studying, hanging out with friends, maybe partying. Well, Daniel J. Gross was graduating from Creighton Law. The Lamine Yamal of Creighton’s law school. But just who was Daniel J. Gross?
Daniel graduated in 1916 from Creighton University School of Law, aged 19. He also went on to get a degree from Georgetown University before he started his own Omaha firm in 1927.
According to the Best Lawyers website, “Gross Welsh Marks Clare (Gross Welch) is a full-service law firm specializing in litigation, business law, estate planning and family law. For over 95 years, Gross Welch has consistently been awarded the highest peer ranking by the international registry of law firms, Martindale-Hubbell.”
Gross Welsh has won numerous awards including four “The Best Lawyers In America” awards, one “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch In America” award, and 11 “Best Law Firms®” awards.
According to an article in the Omaha World Herald, “born in Walnut, Iowa, Gross was a Navy veteran who later served as post commander of American Legion Post 1 in Omaha. He was also a grand knight of the Knights of Columbus.”
Gross is mainly remembered through his philanthropic contributions, specifically the Gross Fund.
According to the Nebraska Bar Foundation, “the Gross Fund, which was established in 1958, is to ‘aid the charitable and welfare purposes of active practicing Nebraska lawyers, their wives, widows and children’ through the relief of the poverty of such lawyers and their families. The Gross Fund provides a temporary lifeline to attorneys and their families to overcome financial difficulties.”
Gross even has a school named after him in Bellevue, Neb., Gross Catholic High School.
According to Gross Catholic’s website, “Gross Catholic High School is a co-ed, private, archdiocesan high school founded in the Marianist tradition in Bellevue, Nebraska, near the city of Omaha. With a focus on faith and service, Gross Catholic offers impressive academics, athletics and a variety of extracurricular activities.”
Gross may not be a well-known man to the average person, but in his industry, he is a titan. He has a legacy of success, excellence, and giving. He is truly an inspiration for all, and specifically for those who wish to go into law or the legal field.
“I mean, obviously, I won’t be able to finish by 19. But it does kind of give me the boost of, ‘Yeah, I want to get this done now. I want to start my career. I want to push myself to be better,’” Liz Murray, a freshman at Creighton on the 3+3 Pre-Law track, said when asked about Daniel J. Gross’ accomplishment of graduating at 19.