Page 15 - Ohio Vol 4 No 7
P. 15
2018 VETERAN IN LAW
JOE GROSS
Proud to Serve
AALM: In which branch of the Armed Forces did you serve and what was your highest rank achieved?
Gross: I served in the U.S. Navy. My highest rank was petty o cer third class.
AALM: Brie y describe your most in- teresting tours of duty or duty stations. What was your main job?
Gross: I was based in Taiwan during the Vietnam War. I was a communica- tions technician and a Chinese linguist.
AALM: What do you nd particularly rewarding about your military service or law practice?
Gross: Back in the day, the military was not popular. Many of us who re- turned to civilian life did not want to
bring up the fact that we had served. I was not one of them, but the response I generally received was, “Why?” Not to- day’s “ ank you for your service.” But, I was proud to have served and thought it important. I feel the same about being a lawyer.
AALM: Are there any changes coming in the future that you’re excited about?
Gross: Technology. Although most of us are buried in paper, paper is losing its importance. Email, and other types of electronic communications, are in- creasingly becoming the norm, not the exception, even for formal communica- tions. I see the day coming soon when we won’t have to dra a letter or motion, print it, scan it, or convert it, and then send or le it.
AttorneyAtLawMagazine.com
AALM: What do you enjoy doing out- side of work? Hobbies? Sports?
Gross: I ride a big Harley when it’s warm and ski when it’s not.
AALM: What do you most hope to ac- complish in the future? Where do you see yourself in ve years? In 10?
Gross: I am currently the vice presi- dent of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association and will be its president in a couple of years. I hope to do that honor justice. I want to help the CMBA ac- complish its mission for the bene t both of our profession and our community.
I also believe that we, as a profession, can and should do more for our veter- ans. In the next ve or 10 years, I hope to see a lot more of the Rocky Moun- tains and the grandkids.
15
