Professionalism embodied, says Gov. Ritter

Fly fisherman, family man, practitioner of law and now, the Denver Bar Association president. Mark Fogg does it all. He has always loved to fly fish and has always loved his family, but he felt he had a calling to do something more — to make a significant difference in the legal community.

During his presidency, Fogg will promote mentoring, encourage professionalism and foster a dialogue to begin actively redefining what it means to be a lawyer in the community.
“My main goals are to bring more young lawyers into the Bar association, try to establish some kind of mentoring program for new lawyers, and try to bring public service lawyers and corporate counsel into the bar association,” he said. “The two most voiced concerns that lawyers have are the image of the profession and work-life balance. So, we need to develop programs to improve the image of lawyers, for example, getting more involved with Denver Public Schools.”
Fifty years ago, to be a lawyer meant you were someone who was really involved in the community, a leader for civic activities and events, Fogg said.

“I don’t think that same analogy exists anymore. I’d like to do whatever I can to make being a lawyer synonymous with being a good citizen. We need to have a dialogue about what is professionalism. We need to have a dialogue to redefine what it means to be a lawyer in our culture. And then everyone needs to get behind that.”

Fogg said he is most excited about meeting new people and working with the staff at the Bar Association.

“I’m amazed at the breadth of what lawyers are doing in the community,” Fogg said. “I’m excited to meet new people and to work with Chuck (Turner) and his responsive staff.”

Long before becoming president, in 1977, Fogg moved from Detroit and his large extended Polish family to attend law school at the University of Colorado at Boulder. While in law school, he worked at the Denver District Attorney’s office. Later, Fogg became the chief deputy DA for Denver. Before, he said, he had never dreamed about being a prosecutor.

“Working in the DA’s office was probably one of the best things I ever did,” Fogg said. “I had tremendous mentors. My father gave me the drive to be an attorney. Brooke Wunnicke taught me the honor of being an attorney. And Norm Early really taught me how to be a trial lawyer.”

Another significant colleague and friend in Fogg’s life is Gov. Bill Ritter. Fogg, Ritter and their sons travel to Montana together to enjoy fly fishing.

“Mark Fogg has been a good friend to me,” Ritter said. “His talent and energy have benefited the legal community and the community at large. His values embody the values every Colorado lawyer should have.”

Fogg is currently a shareholder at Kennedy Childs & Fogg and focuses on a health law practice. He speaks regularly to various groups on topics of professionalism and work-life balance.
“Mark loves being a lawyer,” said Kim Childs, friend, colleague and president of the firm. “He values community service enormously, is extremely bright and involved, and loves the Bar. He is a tireless worker. He really wants the quality of legal work and professionalism to increase in Denver and across the state.”

Inside and outside of the office, Fogg gives a tremendous amount back to the community and the legal profession. He is a past president of his firm and past president of the Catholic Lawyers’ Guild. He currently sits on boards for Escuela de Guadalupe and the Colorado Judicial Institute. He has chaired several CBA and DBA committees, and has served on many other boards of various organizations in the community and in the Bar.

Mark Fogg walks the streets of Athens with his family: daughter Becca, eldest son Jim, wife Patricia and youngest son Mike.

Fogg and his wife, Patricia, have been married for 24 years and live in Littleton, Colo. They have three children: Jim, 21, Becca, 19, and Mike, 14, who is Fogg’s adopted child from the Philippines.

“My wife and I went [to the Philippines] to get Mike in 1995,” Fogg said. “My wife really wanted to adopt a third child, and it was one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life. He is a wonderful kid.”

Fogg’s eldest son, Jim, recently finished his third year at CU-Boulder. He is following in his dad’s footprints and is studying environmental science and political science. One day, he hopes to practice natural resource law.

“He is a great student and clearly my fly fishing buddy,” Fogg said. “We fish all the time together. He is just an all-around great son.”

Fogg’s daughter, Becca, just finished her first year at CU and “wants to do something in the health sciences field,” Fogg said. “She is so much like me — very competitive, intuitive and controlled by her environment. She has been a lot of fun.”