EDWARD G. COLLISTER, JR, passed away December 1, 2020 at his home in Lawrence, Kansas, surrounded by family. Ed was born October 8, 1939, in Islip, New York to E. Gordon Collister and Dorothy Munyer Collister. The family moved to Lawrence, Kansas following his father’s acceptance of a faculty position at the University of Kansas. Ed attended local schools, was a graduate of Lawrence High School in 1957, Kansas University in 1961 with a B.A. in History and Political Science, and the Kansas University School of Law in 1964 with an LLB.
During high school and college, Ed was an accomplished member of debate teams, received numerous academic awards and was a Summerfield Scholar.
Ed was selected to the Law Review 1963-64 in law school. Ed was admitted to the Kansas Bar in 1964, the U.S. Court of Appeals, 10th Circuit in 1967, and the United States Supreme Court in 1972
After law school, Ed practiced law in the Kansas City area before being hired as the Kansas Assistant Attorney General from 1968-1972, and in that capacity argued before the United States Supreme Court..
Ed was president of the Douglas County Bar Association in 1981-1982. He was a member of the Board of Governors of the Kansas Bar Association from 1997-2003.
Throughout his career, Ed wrote numerous articles for the KU Law Review, the Washburn Law Journal, the University of Mo-KC Law Review and other legal publications.
Ed also served as lecturer at Washburn Law School and the KU Law School. Ed was a member of the Hugh Means Inn of Court, the Judicial Council Criminal Law Advisory Committee, and was appointed by the Governor to the Criminal Justice Recodification Project.
From 1974-2014, Ed was the Examiner for the Commission on Judicial Qualifications.
In 2019, Ed was awarded the Liberty Bell Award from the Douglas County Bar Association acknowledging his many contributions to the community as a Douglas County citizen. Throughout his time in Lawrence, he spent much time and energy working with the young lawyers in Douglas County, providing seminars and advice to aid them in representing their clients. He was a well-respected member of the Bar and much admired by his colleagues. He was a judicious debater, seeker of the truth, and stalwart defender of The Constitution.
Ed enjoyed playing handball with his handball buddies three times a week, gardening in North Lawrence, providing landscaping services after and around legal work, throwing a good costume party, participating in parades in Lawrence and Breckenridge, spending time hiking and relaxing in Colorado (mostly Summit County), and dabbling in ownership with various local businesses.
Ed is survived by his wife of 57 years, Anita, three daughters Sherri Wagner (Overland Park, KS), Laurie K Hay (husband Steve Rosenzweig, of Basehor, KS), and Kelly C Leid (husband Kelly R Leid of Phoenix, AZ), seven grandchildren: Nicholas Hay, Jeremy Wagner, Taylor Wagner, Sam Hay, Kassidy Wagner, Campbell Leid and Brody Leid, two step grandchildren Matthew Rosenzweig and Dana James; and siblings: Richard Collister (St. Louis, MO), and Christine Collister (Overbrook, KS). He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Dorothy and E Gordon Collister, Sr.
Graveside services will be held at a later date. A Celebration of Life will be planned after restrictions for gatherings are no longer in place.
The family would like to acknowledge the kindness and care provided by Kansas Palliative and Hospice Care. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Kansas University Alzheimer’s Disease Center, KU Endowment, or the charity of your choice.
