Tony Oliver ’51, J.D. ’53, a third-generation Californian, long-time resident of Glendale and Crestline, California, and prominent California labor and employment lawyer, was born on July 19, 1929, in San Jose, California. He passed away on Feb. 3, 2015 in Glendale, California.
Tony was the only child of Anthony T., Sr. and Josephine Oliver both of whom predeceased him. He was a graduate of Bellarmine College Preparatory in San Jose and he received his undergraduate degree from Santa Clara University in 1951 and his law degree in 1953. Tony was very proud of the fact that he was an Eagle Scout and at the time of his death he was a member of the National Eagle Scout Association and was serving on the Eagle Scout Association Committee for the San Gabriel Valley Boy Scout Council. At Santa Clara, Tony was a member of the Alpha Sigma Nu honor society and the Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity.
Tony enlisted in the California Army National Guard in 1948. While at Santa Clara, Tony enrolled in the University’s ROTC program and he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1952. Tony served in many command and staff positions in the National Guard including service in the 40th and 49th Divisions, until his retirement in 1974 as a Lieutenant Colonel (USA Ret.). He was a life member of the National Guard Associations of the United States and California, the Southern California Advisory Council, and the American Legion.
Tony was a practicing attorney in Los Angeles since 1954. He spent his first 4 years as an Assistant Counsel in the Bank of America’s Legal Department. In 1958 he became associated with John F. O’Hara and began his practice as a labor and employment attorney. In 1963 O’Hara and Tony joined the law firm of Parker Milliken, Clark O’Hara & Samuelian, to form the Firm’s Labor and Employment Law Department where Tony practiced as an Associate, Partner, member of the Firm’s Board, Chairman of the Department, and Shareholder until his retirement in 2011. After his retirement, Tony remained Counsel to the Firm until his passing.
Tony was a member of the Labor and Employment Law Sections of the California and American Bar Associations. He was Chairman of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section and a Management Co-hair of the ABA Committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution in the Workplace. He served as National President of the Labor and Employment Relations Association (LERA) after previously serving as President of LERA’s Southern California and Orange County Chapters. He was selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America in 1987 and was continuously selected thereafter until his retirement in 2012. He was also selected annually by his peers as a Super Lawyer in California. Tony was a Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. He served on the Board of Visitors of the Santa Clara University Law School. In 1974 he received the Law School’s Edwin J. Owens’s Award for distinguished service to the Law School and the legal profession.
Tony was predeceased by his first wife, Beverly J. Oliver, and is survived by his former wife, Margaret E. Oliver. Tony is survived by his 5 children; Jeanne (Ron) Hall of Prescott, Arizaona; Marilyn (Linnie) Guins of Riverside, California; Cyndi Eschardies of La Habra, California; Michelle Rogan of Dana Point, California; and Christopher Oliver of El Segundo, California. He is also survived under the more endeared name of “Papa” by 7 grandchildren; Ron (Celeste) Hall, Jennifer (Chris) Flores, John (Kimberly) Eschardies, Tony (Isabel) Eschardies, Eddie (Amy) Guins, Nicole Rogan and Samantha Rogan and great-grandchildren; Andrew, Evan and Tyler Hall, Gabriel and Evalynn Flores, Caleb Guins, Aaron, Benjamin, Heidi and Noah Eschardies. Tony has enjoyed spending time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren during his retirement. He will be greatly missed by his family.