Monday Profile: Douglas A. Stover

Douglas A. Stover is the director of Equalization/Tax Mapping for Ingham County. He received his undergraduate degree in management from Michigan State University and his law degree with distinction from Thomas M. Cooley Law School. He practices law in the areas of estate planning and real estate law.

By Jo Mathis
Legal News

Residence: East Lansing.

What is your most treasured material possession? My 1965 Rolex Oyster DateJust wristwatch. I wear it every day.

What advice do you have for someone considering law school? Ask yourself: Why do you want to be an attorney? If it is for the money you are making a big mistake.

Favorite local hangouts: Texas Roadhouse—best rib-eye steak in the world. Steak ‘n Shake —great breakfast and best sausage gravy with biscuits. Denny’s in Okemos—best t-bone steak and eggs, period. Apparently, I have food issues.

What is your happiest childhood memory? Growing up in Holt. I know it sounds cliché, but things were simpler then – drinking water out of a garden hose, playing with the neighborhood kids, and going home when the street lights came on. No smart phones, no Internet. No voice mail, no 24-hour news and the hysteria that permeates today’s world.

What do you wish someone would invent? A way to clean and dust my condo without my involvement. Vacuuming would help also.

What has been your favorite year so far? 2010. I passed the bar exam and was sworn in as an attorney.

What is your most typical mood? Sarcastic.

Why did you become a lawyer? I wanted to help people. I wanted to know what the people in control knew so that I could help people that didn’t have the advantages I have been afforded in life.

If you could trade places with someone for a day, who would that be?
No one. We all live our lives and deal with the cards we are dealt. I’m doing the best that I can.

What’s the most awe-inspiring place you’ve ever been? Colorado.

If you could have one super power, what would it be?
Lose weight.

What would you say to your 16-year-old self? Don’t sweat the small stuff.

What is your proudest moment as a lawyer? Helping people.

How would you describe your home? Comfortable.

Any regrets? No regrets.

What word do you overuse? Not repeatable here.

What is one thing you would like to learn to do? Play the piano and speak Italian.
What is something most people don’t know about you? I am somewhat brighter than I look.

If you could have dinner with three people, living or dead, who would they be?
Gore Vidal, W. Somerset Maugham, and Christopher Hitchens.

What is the best advice you ever received? Be yourself.

If you can help it, where will you never return?
Ohio. All of my relatives are from Ohio. While I love my relatives, I am over Ohio.

What do you drive?
A Chrysler 300 8-Cylinder Hemi.

What would you drive if money were no object? A Chrysler 300 8-Cylinder Hemi.

Favorite place to spend money: Las Vegas.

What is your motto?
“Get busy living or get busy dying.” – Shawshank Redemption.

What would you like carved onto your tombstone?
“There goes the neighborhood!” Rodney Dangerfield.

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