GORDON HAUPTMAN

Class of 1965
​Inducted in 1992

Gordon R. Hauptman was inducted into the SHSAA Hall of Fame in 1992. 

He attended South Lincoln grade school, and received his BA and JD at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.  He later graduated from the Association of Trial Lawyers of America College of Advocacy and Advanced College of Advocacy.  He was admitted to the Nebraska Bar Association and Federal Court, Eighth Circuit in 1974, after which he became a partner in two different law firms.  He served as President of the Omaha Barrister’s Club, publisher and presenter of educational materials for trial lawyers.  His law firm, Hauptman, O’Brien, Wolf & Lathrop won the Omaha Safety Council Award for their “Safe Ride Home” campaigns.  His community service included “pro bono” services for the needy; coaching the Omaha Metro High School Mock Trial Program; American Civil Liberties Union Volunteer Lawyer; Board Member of the Nebraska Leukemia Society; speaker on legal issues and services at various service clubs and organizations; and coaching children’s baseball and soccer teams.

Gordon said graduating from SHS meant he had the privilege of attending school with students of many nationalities and from diverse backgrounds.  This environment gave him the ability to communicate well with and to understand different clients, judges and juries.  It helped him to become a good problem-solver and gave him the ability to be empathetic.  He said he also received a sound academic foundation which prepared him for the demands of college.  The principles of hard work and setting goals were instilled in him by the teachers and staff at SHS.