Lynn Jackson Legacy

Kelton S. Lynn (Kelly), a native of Deadwood, South Dakota, and one of the founders of Lynn Jackson, was an aggressive, imaginative, passionate, and compassionate lawyer, who earned and held the respect of his fellow lawyers, the courts, his clients, and the community. He practiced law with the law firm that bears his name from 1946 until his death in 1976. Kelly was an active member of local, state, and national bar associations, including a stint as a Uniform Laws Commissioner from South Dakota. He also served on many community and civic boards and commissions, including the Rapid City School Board and the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology Endowment Association. Kelly was a “Lawyers’ Lawyer” and has left an enormous legacy to this law firm.

Donald R. Shultz, a Huron, South Dakota native, has anchored the law firm since 1956. Under his leadership, the firm grew from four lawyers in Rapid City to one of South Dakota’s premier law firms, with offices in Rapid City, Belle Fourche, and Sioux Falls. Don served as President of the South Dakota State Bar and as National President of the American Board of Trial Advocates and was a member of many other legal organizations. His steadfastness, friendliness, courtesy, and perseverance were the character traits that his mentoring brought to all members of the firm. Don’s example of love and respect for his fellow lawyer has made congeniality a distinguished hallmark of Lynn Jackson.

Horace R. Jackson joined Lynn Jackson in 1961 after practicing law in Lemmon, South Dakota, and serving as Special Attorney General for the State of South Dakota. Horace was best known for his analytical skills and his ability to comprehend the most challenging and difficult legal and factual issues of a case and translate them into winning strategies for his clients. He represented many clients in condemnation matters throughout South Dakota and the City of Rapid City following the flood of 1972. An avid reader, bird watcher, and perpetual student, Horace was a true renaissance man. He was a guiding light for Lynn Jackson until his death in 1988.

Gene Lebrun, a native of Langdon, North Dakota, came to Lynn Jackson in 1964. His practice grew to include large public and private clients that have remained with the law firm throughout the years. Gene’s love of public service gained him prominence in local, state, and national organizations. He served as Speaker of the South Dakota House of Representatives, President of National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws, Chairman of the Board of Westhills Village, Chairman of the Board of South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, and President of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Society. Loyalty to his family and the law firm, a firm belief in the rule of law, and the principle of freedom and democracy best describe Gene’s philosophy of life.

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Steve was born and raised on a farm near Colton, South Dakota.  He graduated magna cum laude from the University of South Dakota and received his law degree from the University of Minnesota, graduating cum laude in 1990.  Steve began and ended his legal career at Lynn Jackson, first in the Firm’s Rapid City office, where he practiced from 1991 until 2017 when he moved to Sioux Falls and continued practicing out of the Firm’s Sioux Falls office until recently. Steve was a litigator.  He loved analyzing facts and the law, loved hashing them out with others, and he loved trial work, where he excelled.  Steve successfully litigated a number of commercial and personal injury cases, both for plaintiffs and defendants. Regardless of whose side he was on, he zealously advocated for them.  During his career, Steve was given many awards and recognitions, including being named to the list of Best Lawyers in America® in the areas of personal injury, products liability, commercial litigation, and insurance litigation, and being named a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA).

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