In Memoriam – David Shorr (1955-2022)
Lathrop GPM mourns the loss of our partner and friend, David Shorr, who passed away on Monday, December 26, 2022, at the age of 67.
David was an icon in not only the Lathrop GPM community, but nationally as well, known for his passion and advocacy for environmental law. “If you had an environmental issue that was obscure, arcane and otherwise rarely dealt with, David was always your best bet to call for answers,” said fellow environmental partner Bill Ford. Lathrop GPM Managing Partner Cameron Garrison added, “David was our deeply respected long-time colleague, mentor, and friend. He will be missed, but his legal career will live on through the dozens of attorneys he has mentored and trained over the years and his legacy in the Jefferson City community.” We join David’s wife, Peggy, and their three daughters – who he was beyond proud of and always happy to brag about – and the rest of the Shorr family in mourning the loss of a truly good man.
David joined Lathrop GPM in 1998. He had an incredible legal career that first and foremost always focused on environmental law. Before joining the firm, he served as director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, on the cabinet of Missouri’s late Governor Mel Carnahan, and as Missouri Director of Environmental Quality for former Attorney General John Ashcroft when he was the governor of Missouri. He was a noted authority on water, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and the Endangered Species Act. David was repeatedly ranked among the best lawyers in Missouri and was ranked by Chambers for environmental law for 15 consecutive years and counting. A figurehead across the environmental bar, David was inducted into the American College of Environmental Lawyers in 2020, an honor he was proud of and grateful to receive.
David was also a member of the Lathrop GPM Consulting group as a registered Missouri lobbyist. He was a sought-after speaker, frequent author, and often quoted on a variety of topics, including the law, politics, and the environment.
We hold David’s family and friends close during this difficult time. Visitation will be held on January 6 at 4 p.m. and funeral service on January 7 at 10 a.m., both at Parker-Millard Funeral Service & Crematory in Columbia, Mo. Memorial contributions can be made to Coyote Hill. Additional information can be found here.