PIONEERS

DONALD ALEXANDER
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld

Donald Alexander could say with pride that President Richard Nixon wanted him out. Within three months of becoming commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service in 1973, Alexander shut down the agency’s Special Service Staff. That unit was being used to launch tax audits and investigations into critics of Nixon and the Vietnam War. According to Alexander, Nixon made several attempts to fire him. But Alexander remained, serving as commissioner until 1977. In later years, he worked as a tax attorney in Cincinnati and Washington. He joined Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld in 1993 and died on Feb. 3 at the age of 87. — Jeff Jeffrey

HAROLD BAKER
Howrey

In his 30 years as Howrey’s managing partner — from 1956 to 1986 — Harold “Hal” Baker never lost his focus on the fundamentals of practicing law. His colleagues at the Washington-based firm said Baker believed that superior client service; hard, smart work; and a commitment to winning could build relationships that would span generations. They might have been on to something. Some of Howrey’s largest clients, including Anheuser-Busch Cos., International Paper Co. and MeadWestvaco Corp., have been with the firm for decades. Baker died on Nov. 13, 2008, at the age of 87. — Jeff Jeffrey