VADA Member Spotlight

This month’s spotlighted VADA member is Carlyle R. “Randy” Wimbish, III, of Wimbish Gentile McCray & Roeber PLLC in Richmond. A proud graduate of Virginia Tech, Randy earned his law degree at a law school in Charlottesville.  He has served in numerous leadership positions in VADA, including as our President from 2015-16.

1.         What is your hometown?

South Boston (Virginia, not Massachusetts).

2.         Tell us a little about yourself.  Spouse? Children? Pets?

I have been married for 33 years to Gill (a/k/a “Jill with a G”).  We have three sons—Cary, a musician who lives in Richmond; Grayson, a comedy writer and Hokie sports podcaster who lives in Los Angeles; and Hampton, who is finishing his Masters in Spanish in Blacksburg.  We also have a one year old Maltese named Banjo.

3.         What type of law do you practice?

Medical Malpractice Defense.

4.         How long have you been a member of VADA?

32 years.

5.         What do you like most about practicing law?

Learning just enough medicine to be dangerous, and hearing someone read these words:  “We, the jury, on the issues joined, find in favor of the defendant.”

6.         What have you enjoyed most about your time in VADA?

The many friends I have made over the years, who have served as sounding boards, sources of ideas for motions and dirt on opposing counsel and experts that have helped me win cases, and more laughs and war stories than I can count.

7.         What was your undergraduate major?

Political Science.

8.         What was your first job?

Driving a tractor in a tobacco field.

9.         What was the year, make, and model of your first car?

First car that was mine to drive:  1968 VW Beetle.

First car I bought:  1990 Saab 900S.

10.       If you could have dinner with anyone famous, living or dead, who would it be and why?

Theodore Roosevelt and Winston Churchill.  They both accomplished more by the age of 30 than most people do in a lifetime.

11.       What is your favorite movie or TV show?

Movie:  The Blues Brothers.

TV Show:  The Sopranos.

12.       What is at the top of your bucket list?

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.

13.       If you were to walk into my office, one of the first things you would notice would be …

Two autographed, game worn Virginia Tech football helmets.  In an odd twist of fate, one of the players later was the plaintiff in a case I defended.  He was a better linebacker than he was a plaintiff.

14.       When I am not at the office, I like to …

Travel and read things other than deposition transcripts.

15.       If I wasn’t practicing law, I would be …

I wanted to be a trial lawyer since I was in the 8^th grade, so it’s been a long time since I thought about doing anything else, but probably an Army officer.

16.       In what section of a bookstore is someone most likely to find you?

Biography or Military History.

17.       What is your courtroom walk-up music?

As I diehard Hokie, it has to be Enter Sandman by Metallica.

18.       Who is your real-life superhero?

My Dad, who at 85 continues to be an example of service to faith, family, and community.

19.       What is your favorite travel spot?

Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman.

20.       What advice would you give to someone who just passed the bar?

You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.