Chapman, 82, has enjoyed working in the area of estate planning. But his legal career also has included stints as a local judge and the county's top prosecutor.
Chapman, who is known to many by the nickname Chappie, also has been involved with various organizations over the years including the Leavenworth County Historical Society and Leavenworth County Port Authority.
He had intended to retire at the end of September.
"I was unable to complete all the cases I was handling," he said.
He said it looks now as though he will be able to retire at the end of December.
Chapman said he will miss the intellectual challenge of analyzing a matter in dispute and working with the clients who are affected by it.
"You get to know the clients a lot," he said.
Chapman was born in Dodge City but grew up in Leavenworth.
His interest in the law was sparked by a radio program called "Famous Jury Trials" that he listened to as a child.
However, he considered a career as concert pianist and studied music at the University of Kansas before deciding to become an attorney.
He studied law at Columbia University. He had to return to home before graduating because his father died unexpectedly. He ended up transferring to the University of Kansas and finished law school there.
After graduating in 1959, he took a job with a law firm in Kansas City, Missouri.
But Chapman said he wanted to be in a position to handle his own cases.
"Also, I wanted to get back and deal directly one on one with people," he said.
He began working in Leavenworth in 1960, initially sharing an office with attorney Homer Davis.
"I learned a lot from Homer," Chapman said.
In 1960, he also was elected judge of the city court in Leavenworth. Despite the title, the position had a countywide jurisdiction.
Chapman said he handled trials for misdemeanor charges and preliminary hearings for felony cases.
In 1962, he successfully ran for the job of Leavenworth County attorney. He held that position for four years.
Near the end of his time as county attorney, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its famous Miranda decision which established the practice of advising suspects of their rights before interrogation.
"That changed the entire practice of prosecuting (cases)," Chapman said.
While serving as president of the Leavenworth County Historical Society, Ella Carroll handed him the deed to her house, wanting the property to be used as a museum.
The Carroll Mansion now serves as a museum and the home of the Leavenworth County Historical Society.
Chapman also served as the chairman of the Leavenworth Public Library board and negotiated the purchase of the property that now serves as the library's home. The building previously had served as a grocery store.
Chapman, who now lives in Lansing, said he has no plans at this point for his retirement. He said he decided to make no plans until he has retired.
By JOHN RICHMEIER jrichmeier@leavenworthtimes.com
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