Obituary

Michael Vaughan, honored by the Wisconsin Corporate Report as “one of America's best lawyers,” died July 20 at the age of 85. A leader in several student organizations during his time at the University of Illinois, Mike was also a respected brother in Delta Kappa Epsilon.

 

After receiving his degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1962, Mike became chief attorney at the Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. He moved quickly up the ranks and in 1972 joined what is now Murphy Desmond S.C. in Madison, Wisc.

 

Mike became a partner in the firm in 1974 and for years served on its board of directors. He served as managing partner and president of the firm for a decade while representing several of the nation’s largest corporations. When he retired in 2006, the state’s Corporate Report praised him as “An intellectual who can grasp the subject matter of a situation as well as the politics.”

 

He became a world traveler and an avid golfer in retirement. Mike is survived by a son and daughter.