DWYER, DYKES & THURSTON, L.C.
MEET THE MEMBERS
D. MICHAEL DWYER: Mike, born December 20, 1943, is a native of the Kansas City area. He graduated from the University of Kansas (B.A. 1965) and the University of Missouri at Kansas City School of Law (J.D. 1968). After completing his active duty with the United States Army Reserves, Mike served as attorney for the Legal Aid and Defenders Society, Kansas City, Kansas, and Assistant General Counsel for the Commerce Bank of Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri. In 1971, he joined the Kansas City, Missouri, firm of Morris, Foust, Beckett, and Ponick as an associate.
Mike's areas of emphasis are in real estate, probate, estate planning, tax, and corporate and business law. He is past president of the Mission Area Chamber of Commerce and served as president of the Johnson County Chamber President's Council. He is a member and past chairman of the Probate Bench and Bar Committee of the Johnson County Bar Association; a member of the Executive Committee of the Real Estate, Probate, Trust Law, Ethics Advisory Opinion and Title Standards Sections of the Kansas Bar Association. Mike serves on the Board of Directors for the Sigma Alpha Epsilon House Corporation, Lawrence, Kansas, and the Midwest Christian Counseling Center and the Ignatius Foundation. He has been active in the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce and is currently serving as Chair of the Metropolitan Affairs Committee. He is admitted to practice in the States of Kansas and Missouri, the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, the Western District of Missouri, and the United States Tax Court.
Mike, his wife, Sally, and their two children reside in Prairie Village, Kansas, and are members of the Cure of Ars Church, Leawood, Kansas.
GERALD W. DYKES: Jerry was born in Leavenworth, Kansas, on January 4,
1942. He received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from The University of Kansas in 1964. Jerry
received a Juris Doctor Degree from The University of Kansas in 1967 and an LLM Degree
in taxation from New York University in 1969. He served on the Board of Editors of The
University of Kansas Law Review from 1965 to 1967 and served as an Editor from 1966 to
1967.
Jerry's practice concentrates on corporate law,
business planning, probate and estate planning, tax law, and health care law. Jerry is a
lecturer at the University of Kansas Law School.
Jerry and his wife, Pamela, have two children and reside at Lake Quivira, Kansas.
THOMAS L. THURSTON: Tom, born March 28, 1948, a native of Topeka, Kansas, is a graduate of Rockhurst College (B.A. with honors 1977) and the Washburn University of Topeka School of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 1981). Tom worked for OwensCorning Fiberglass, Inc. in Kansas City, Kansas, while working on his B.A. degree at Rockhurst College. During law school, Tom was employed by the firm of Colmery, McClure, Funk, Letourneau & Entz, Topeka, Kansas, as a law clerk.
Tom works in the areas of domestic relations, personal injury, employment law, and civil and criminal litigation. He is admitted to practice in the State of Kansas, the United States Claims Court, the United States District Court for the District of Kansas and the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. He is a member of the Kansas Bar Association and the Johnson County Bar Association.
Tom is an adult member of the Boy Scouts of America serving as the secretary for the Troop Committee for Boy Scout Troop 283. He also serves as a basketball coach for the Great American Basketball League. Tom and his wife, Betsi, have two sons and are members of Rolling Hills Presbyterian Church. They reside in Prairie Village, Kansas.