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The original law firm of Tofle & Oxenhandler was established in 1973. 28 years and a few name changes later, the current firm of Tofle, Oxenhandler, Hajicek & Simon, Attorneys, P.C. provides quality legal services in Columbia and around Mid-Missouri. Though Marvin Tofle and Gary Oxenhandler started law school at the University of Missouri – Columbia, together in 1968, Oxenhandler was drafted on March 14, 1969, and spent 21 months, 16 days and a few hours in the US Army. Tofle finished Law School on schedule, graduated in 1971, and went to work in St. Louis, Missouri, with the trial firm of Roskin and Popkin. In 1973, at the same time Oxenhandler was graduating from Law School and taking the Missouri Bar, Tofle was taking and passing the California Bar, planning to “go west young man” and find his fortune. The fourth grade buddies talked it over and decided to open an office in Columbia and see if they could make a living. Now, twenty-nine years later, it is clear that they have stayed for dinner. The original law office was in the second bedroom of Gary and Janet Oxenhandler’s home. Then, 2 small offices on the second floor of the Hunt Building at the corner of Ninth and Broadway. After that, the partners rented an office at 110 North Eighth Street, right across of the Boone County Court House (now the Boone Tavern Gazebo). About the location, the partners always said “if you had a 9 o’clock setting, you didn’t need to leave office but a minute ahead of time.” In 1976, the thirty-six hundred square foot Salvation Army Building located at 220 North Eight Street went on the market. The firm bought it, renovated it top to bottom (including the hand tooling of the massive oak entry door) and it remains the proud home of the firm to this day. In 1994, former law clerk and University of Missouri Graduate Brian Hajicek joined the firm as an Associate. In 1998, as the firm celebrated its 25th Anniversary, the associate attorneys and Audrean Gates, the firms long-time office manager, presented the above plaque to Tofle & Oxenhandler to memorialize the 25 year accomplishment of providing quality legal services to the Mid-Missouri Community. The plaque is currently displayed at the entrance to the firm. In that same year, the building next door became available and Tofle and Oxenhandler bought it and just recently completed the first phase of renovation: a reception area, new offices for Brian and Dan and a spectacular conference room with a unique conference table. On January 1, 2000, the firm announced a new name for the Professional Corporation: Tofle, Oxenhandler & Hajicek, Attorneys, P.C., proudly welcoming Brian as a principle in the firm. In May of that year, the firm completed the implementation of its online research system, furthering the firm’s continued commitment to staying up with the times. On April 27, 2001, Josh Oxenhandler joined the firm as an associate attorney. Anticipating great accomplishments for the Millennium, the firm looks forward to providing quality legal services from generation to generation. |
