The two lives of Thomas Conklin

"I am an autograph freak. You give me the name of the person, and odds are, I have their autograph."

--- THOMAS CONKLIN, Shawnee County District Court judge

By BRANDON D. HENRY

Special to The Capital-Journal

Many Topekans are familiar with Shawnee County District Judge Thomas Conklin for his work in highly publicized court decisions such as the Meneley case. In these instances, the press has described him as a stoic hand of justice with booming courtroom commands.

However, there is more to this man than can be found in daily case summaries by the local media.

Conklin, 56, has been a district court judge for 12 years. Gov. Mike Hayden appointed him in 1987. He received his undergraduate education from Rockhurst College, Kansas City, Mo., and Washburn University, from which he graduated with honors in 1968, with a bachelor's degree in history. He is a graduate of law school at Washburn University, as well.

Following law school, Conklin worked for the Kansas Revisor of Statutes as a bill drafter and research assistant until 1969. He was then a law clerk for U.S. District Judge George Templar. In 1971, he took a position as a general attorney for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. This lasted until his appointment to the Shawnee County District Court.

Conklin also was a member of the U.S. Army Reserves.

From this background, Conklin said, he learned dedication and drive to reach his goals. It is those same characteristics that allow him to face the challenges of his position every day.

As a district judge, his duties include first appearance hearings, hearing pleas, waivers of extradition, continuances, setting bonds and reviewing affidavits. A typical week might include approximately 130 first appearance hearings, as well as about half of that number in criminal cases.

Although this would be plenty for most people, Conklin also is the criminal assignment judge, a position that presents an entirely new group of responsibilities in front of him. He is responsible for assigning cases to different courts, working with continuances, and hearing more first appearance cases. Also, this position means that he must be readily accessible, even if he is not in his chambers.

When arrested, a person must be indicted within 48 hours or released. Consequently, Conklin has heard first appearance cases in some unusual places.

"I've done them in gyms and at baseball diamonds," he said.

All 14 district judges are on nightly and weekend rotations for this reason. An assistant district attorney always knows where to find a judge.

"I could get a call at my house, in the middle of the night, on the weekend, or even on holidays, " he said. "I might hear the case in my office or in my home."

Conklin's hobby is collecting autographs. His collection ranges from presidents to athletes.

"I am an autograph freak," he said. "You give me the name of the person, and odds are, I have their autograph."

In his office, Conklin has a picture that ran in the Kansas City Star of Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower and his wife trying to leave on a train from Abilene. Their departure was delayed by a young autograph- seeker who also lived in Abilene. In the picture, the boy is standing in front of a crowd, before the future president and his wife, holding a piece of notebook paper. The young man was Thomas Conklin.

In his collection, Conklin has names that live in the Baseball Hall of Fame --- Ted Williams, Mickey Mantle, Lou Gehrig, and even athletes of today like Ken Griffey Jr. For Conklin, these autographs are not about money, but are about the memories.

"The autographs are great, but it's the memory," he said. "You remember who you were with, and what you were doing."

Conklin tells about being in Lawrence for a KU freshman basketball game where a famous Jayhawk named Wilt Chamberlain made his college debut.

"I can still remember it like it was yesterday, standing there talking to Wilt," he said.

From this pastime, and a bit of bad luck, Conklin stumbled upon another passion, coaching. At the age of 13, Conklin received a brain hemorrhage from a baseball to the head, which forced him to give up actively playing baseball and football.

This event led him to coaching. He began in Abilene at the age of 15. Since that time, Conklin has coached baseball, basketball and soccer through various organizations and youth programs such as AAU and the Knights of Columbus.

Judge Conklin coached travelling baseball teams in Abilene that competed in weekend tournaments in Salina, Tulsa, Kansas City and into Nebraska.

Before any of his players could travel, or even practice, they had to make their grades, and they were forced to show Judge Conklin proof.

"When I coached basketball, the players had to bring their report cards to practice, he said. "Anyone who didn't make their grades couldn't practice."

Conklin has coached kids from every walk of life and he tries to reach out and help each and every one of them.

"I don't like to give up on a kid," he said. "If someone needs help I will always try and be there."

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