Warsaw attorney Scott Reust keeps a positive attitude about his life behind and away from his desk. “I have a wonderful wife and family and work with great people,” he said. Photo provided.

By Ray Balogh
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — “A really important part of being an adult is showing up and honoring your commitments.”

Scott Reust, author of the above quote, has always shown up.

Reust works as an attorney with Rockhill Pinnick LLP in Warsaw, and has served for five years on the board of Kosciusko County Community Foundation, the past three years as board secretary.

At the law firm, he does “a little bit of everything, kind of a general practice,” which includes “a lot of litigation, land use and zoning” and other business-related legal work. He also serves as attorney for the city of Warsaw.

“I think I have always worked hard and been reliable and I want to set a good example for my children,” he said.

Reust acknowledged the day-to-day reality of being an attorney. “Almost nobody comes to you because they are having a good day,” he said. “They don’t call you on the phone and say, ‘I’m having a great day, I think I’ll come see you.’ Most of the time they have an issue they need help with.”

Nevertheless, he finds great satisfaction in plying his trade. “The most gratifying aspect in being an attorney is being able to help them through their issue, whether it is the sale or purchase of a business or getting permission for building a home.

“There is a lot of satisfaction from local government. In town council or city council meetings, those who ask for help almost always get it.

“Our office represents clients at meetings in Silver Lake, Leesburg, Cromwell, Syracuse and Etna Green. I have been to all of them filling in, though I currently only represent the city of Warsaw.”

Reust came to Warsaw in 2012 after working for several years in the public defender agency in Marion. He grew up in Huntington, graduating from Huntington North High School in 1989. He attended Indiana University in Bloomington, earning a bachelor of arts in finance and economics, and graduated from the Indiana University Law School in Indianapolis in 1996.

Not that his life has been all study and drudgery. He recounted his favorite job, which he began during law school.

“I needed a part-time job, so I worked in sports broadcasting and helped crews doing NFL and NBA games with the Colts and Pacers; college football and basketball for IU, Purdue and Notre Dame; professional wrestling, boxing and ultimate fighting; and Olympic trials.”

He also worked at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the Indianapolis 500, Brickyard 400 and a Formula One race.

He found the job hard to give up and continued the work for a time during his legal career. “I don’t think a person could ask for a more enjoyable part-time job,” he said.

As a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, he helped unload trucks of equipment in the arena or stadium and conduct sounds checks and rehearsals the day before the game.

He held a parabolic mic on football sidelines and assisted the cameraman stationed under the basket at basketball games. “I will never have a better seat than that,” he quipped.

Reust rubbed elbows with professional athletes, such as Indianapolis Colts quarterbacks Jim Harbaugh, Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck. He also had “incredible access” in locker rooms and “on the sidelines with the coaches.”

As a resident of Indianapolis, he escorted camera crews around the city to get bumper shots for broadcasts returning from commercial breaks. Shots included the Soldiers & Sailors Monument in downtown Indianapolis and other city landmarks and animals in pastures or at the Indianapolis Zoo, such as horses when the Denver Broncos came to town or tigers for Colts games against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Reust is a member of the Warsaw Breakfast Optimists and lives in Warsaw with Julie, his wife of 16 years, a speech pathologist at Jefferson Elementary.

They have two children: Ben, a freshman at Warsaw High School; and Claire, who attends Lakeside Middle School.

Scott likes to golf, fish and hunt. Every summer the family visits Hilton Head and travels to Scottsdale, Ariz., every spring break.

Reust summed up the motivation that gets his feet to hit the bedroom floor every morning. “I think I am a very optimistic person and I am truly blessed and grateful for the life I have. I have a wonderful wife and family and work with great people.

“The city bar association is great and we get along really well. We have outstanding judges and exceptional leaders. Warsaw has a lot of people trying to make this community really nice with a lot of opportunities. There is a positive communal spirit here.”

or more information, call Reust at (574) 267-6116.