Continuing its expansion, Thorwald J. "Ted" Husfeld joined the firm in 1952. During his tenure with the firm, Mr. Husfeld became known as a champion of people and causes, often bringing his distinctive "down home" touch to the practice of law. 

William E. Sherman joined the firm in 1959. After John Graham helped establish the West Volusia Hospital Authority, a taxing district set up to provide for indigent health care in West Volusia County, Mr. Sherman was appointed the Authority's general counsel. From its establishment in 1960 to the present time, with only minor interruption, the firm has represented the Authority.

Mr. Sherman served on the Volusia County Charter Study Commission that drafted the Volusia County Charter. This "County Constitution" was the First Article VIII County Charter in Florida. Many of the untested ideas that were pioneered by the County Charter have stood up over time, a testament to the quality of work from the drafting group.

After a long and distinguished career with the firm, Dossie Hull retired and shortly thereafter died in 1963. Mr. Hull left a substantial, multi-million dollar bequest to Stetson University upon his death. In 1967, the firm name was changed to Landis, Graham, French, Husfeld & Sherman.

Mr. Sherman continued his contributions to the BAR by facilitating the Attorney Realtor Accord. This group drafted the first FAR BAR Sale and Purchase Contract, by far the most popular contract in Florida for the conveyance of real property.

Erskine W. Landis, the son of founding partner Cary D. Landis, remained a member of the firm until his death in 1967. Additionally, his son, Cary E. Landis, a third generation Landis, was associated with the firm for a brief period before he became a career navy officer after World War II. Cary E. Landis rose to the rank of Captain, and then retired to live in London. In 1968, he died in Germany while returning from a vacation trip to Greece.

In 1969, after the completion of a merger with the law firm of Ford, Wren and Sanders, the name was changed to Landis, Graham, French, Husfeld, Sherman & Ford, P.A.  Mr. Ford was instrumental in the founding of the Oil and Gas Law section of the Florida BAR.

In the early 70's, Mr. Sherman served on the Joint Commission that drafted the Florida Probate Code, the law that governs wills in Florida. In 1984 though 1986, Mr. Sherman served as Chair of the Florida BAR committee that set up the BAR's Board Certification process for Estate Planning and Probate. He received his Board Certification in that area in 1986. He was recognized for his outstanding service to the BAR by the Robert C. Scott Memorial Award in 1987. Today, Mr. Sherman is recognized as one of the preeminent estate practitioners in Florida. Much of Mr. Sherman's current practice involves resolution of unique and difficult problems in this field.

Richard S. Graham, the son of John L. Graham, joined the firm in 1971. In one of his first cases, Richard Graham, along with Ted Husfeld, successfully obtained the release of Jesse Daniels, an indigent, mentally challenged young man wrongfully confined from 1958 to 1971. For more on this case, see Daniels v State of Florida 254 So2d 395 (Fla 2 DCA 1971). John L. Graham, Richard Graham's father and member of the firm, died in 1978. Richard Graham served as State Representative in the Florida House of Representatives, District 28 from 1988 to 1992. Mr. Graham defeated powerful house member Sam Bell (who was in line for the speakership) to take the position. Mr. Graham represented the School Board of Volusia County (1975-1988; 1997-2001), the same school board that Bert Fish was superintendent of in 1900. F. A. "Alex" Ford, Jr. became counsel for the School Board upon Mr. Graham’s appointment as Circuit Judge.

After serving a four year term as Judge of Industrial Claims under Governor Claude Kirk, William A. Ottinger joined the firm in 1972 to staff the firm's new Deltona office. Claude Kirk was the first Republican governor of Florida in 94 years. Mr. Ottinger also served as municipal judge for both DeLand and Orange City.

Joe Dykes joined the firm in February of 1978. Mr. Dyke's leadership has been instrumental in transforming the firm's business model. Mr. Dykes is currently the firm's senior litigator, with an emphasis on personal injury law.

The 1980's brought further changes and progressions to the members of the firm. In 1983, firm member Edwin P.B. "Eddie" Sanders was appointed Circuit Court Judge for Volusia County. Alex Ford, Jr., son of Frank Ford Sr., joined the firm in that year. J. Compton French, the oldest member of the firm, worked in the Daytona Beach office until his semi-retirement in 1983. He is the sole survivor of the original members of Landis, Graham & French and currently lives in Ormond Beach, Florida. Mr. French often attends firm functions. Mr. Sherman served as Chairman of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of the Florida Bar from 1984 to 1985.

In 1985, the firm moved its DeLand offices one and one-half blocks to 145 E. Rich Avenue in order to acquire additional inner-office space and parking. The firm also maintains offices in Deltona and Daytona Beach, providing full coverage of Volusia County.

Other attorneys from the firm were appointed to judgeships including Richard F. Conrad, who was appointed a County Judge for Orange County in 1986, and subsequently was appointed to a Circuit Judgeship; and John Roger Smith who was appointed to a County Judgeship for Volusia County in January, 1988. John Roger Smith is the nephew by marriage to Judge James W. Perkins, one of the early DeLand residents who may have been involved in the firm founding. Richard Graham is the newest judicial appointee from the firm, after appointment by Governor Jeb Bush to a newly created Circuit Judgeship.

Sam Masters, the newest partner in the firm, joined in 1989, after six years in the prosecutor's office. Mr. Masters practices in the area of criminal defense and civil litigation. He has handled many high profile cases. Frank A. Ford, Sr. became Of Counsel to the firm in 1989.

Seven partners of the firm are known to have served as President of the Volusia County BAR Association – Francis Whitehair, 1940; D. C. Hull, 1944; Erskine Landis, 1950; Compton French, 1960-61; William Sherman, 1969-70; Thorwald J. "Ted" Husfeld, 1973-74; and Richard S. Graham, 1979-80. At least three other associate members of the firm also served in that position, including John E. Socash, Curtis Basch and Walter Shelly.

Mr. Husfeld passed away in 1995. Upon his death, the firm named its law library the "Thorwald J. Husfeld Memorial Library" in honor of his commitment to justice which he embodied and which the firm continues to follow today.

The current members and associates of the firm are William E. Sherman, William A. Ottinger, Joe G. Dykes, Jr., F. A. "Alex" Ford, Jr., Sam N. Masters, E. Channing Coolidge, Jr., Janet M. Strickland, Steven N. Gosney, Basyle "Boz" Tchividjian, and Frank Ford, Sr., of Counsel.  The members of the firm are involved in a wide variety of government, community, political and legal affairs.  They have served in positions including municipal corporation counsel, State Representative, City Commissioner, School Board attorney, Judge of Industrial Claims and Municipal Judge.  Firm members have also participated as members of state and local political committees, both Democratic and Republican, as board members of major charitable organizations, and as presidents or committee and section chairmen in various Bar activities. The firm has achieved an "AV" rating, the highest rating awarded to law firms by the independent lawyer rating service, Martindale-Hubbell.  The firm is also listed in the BAR Register of Preeminent Lawyers.

In serving our clients and maintaining our reputation for excellence, the firm has continually kept pace with the technological advances in legal research and office management. The firm's central legal library, located in the DeLand office, is dedicated to the memory of Thorwald J. "Ted" Husfeld.  The library's extensive hard-bound materials include hard-to-find and otherwise unavailable documents and legal volumes.  Additionally, the library computer system allows access to WestLaw, West CDRom, and various other online and CDRom services. The firm is extremely proud of its ability to serve as a leader in the advances of research and management technology while preserving its wealth of history.

The firm is proud of its rich history of community involvement. It continues to encourage participation in community affairs, and remains dedicated to providing service to the general community at a level consistent with its performance in the practice of law.  As the firm's history reflects, members of the firm have accomplished great successes both during and after their associations with the firm.

Page # 1 2 3 4 5

Thorwald J. Husfeld
(1926-1995)

The old Landis Graham building on left (with three windows and spire); the historic Athens Theatre at end of Indiana Avenue
circa 1988