The below article was written by Jordan Winter, originally published in an internal company newsletter.

I officially met Charles Ward when I began working for Attorney’s Title Group in 2020. I was still supervising the title curative and post-sale departments for Wilson & Associates at the time, but ATG needed help, and I had some time. I had worked with Charles a few times before on post-sale files, but that was just through an email from time to time. Over our few prior interactions, though, I could tell Charles had boundless knowledge in real property title. When I began working full time at ATG in 2021, Charles trained me on their title processes. He always seemed to have the answer, and I appreciated his willingness to let me pick his brain on a title question. I knew Charles had worked at the firm a long time, but it wasn’t until I started working with him on a daily basis that I truly understood how lucky the firm was to have him and how lucky I was to learn from him. Now on the brink of retirement, I find it fitting to take a brief look back on Charles’ career and the 30 years he has dedicated to the W&A and ATG.

Charles is a Little Rock native and attended Hall High School (shout out to the class of 1973). His first jobs growing up were a local paper route and a bagger at a grocery store. I’m sure he hit the front porch every time and double-bagged like the best of them! After high school, he went on to Fayetteville where he graduated from the U of A in 1977. Graduating college in four years delighted his father, he said, as he likely wasn’t going to foot the bill for another year. After college, Charles wasn’t exactly sure what he wanted to do in life (like many of us), so he began working at a bank. He chose not to pursue a career in banking, however, and in 1981 he began law school at UALR, graduating in 1984. He served as a law clerk for Wilson & Associates during his last year of law school.

After law school, Charles began working at Wilson & Associates full time as an attorney. In 1985, he wrote the initial draft of the Arkansas Statutory Foreclosure Act along with Wilson & Associates’ founder, Robby Wilson, Jr. He finished the draft in 1986, and after a few edits it was approved and became law in 1987. Charles fondly looked back on his time working on this project as one of the highlights of his career. In fact, the law has largely stayed the same over the decades, and in April 2003, a federal court ruled it constitutional. There is a very cool framed copy of an article in Charles’ office covering the 2003 federal ruling. It is signed by Robby with a note saying “Charles, congratulations on your many years of accomplishments.”

Charles has worn may hats at W&A in his 30-year career. He actually left W&A for a brief period to pursue a private practice, but decided to shut that down and rejoined W&A in 1994, this time as a title searcher. He stayed in that role a few years, and then joined Randy Bueter as a title attorney working on title insurance commitments and refinance closings. Charles couldn’t recall the year, but another highlight he reminisced was the time he testified in front of a committee of the Arkansas legislature as an expert on mortgage assignments. In 2004, Charles moved to Fayetteville where he worked with Keith Morrison on judicial foreclosures and reformation actions. Family brought Charles back to Little Rock in 2006, and he continued practicing at Wilson & Associates. In 2013, he reunited with Randy and Jennifer Wilson-Harvey when they formed Attorney’s Title Group. Charles has been with ATG ever since as in-house underwriting counsel and resident title guru.

There is no doubt in my mind that Charles has accomplished a lot in his career, much more than I can cover in this short article. But I did get to ask him a few of the important questions, like, “How late are you going to sleep in after you retire and do you have anything planned?” He said he would sleep in “really late, like 6:00 or 7:00” and planned to “travel, catch up on reading, learn to cook and find a few more hobbies.” Charles always jokes that he has the diet of a college student, so learning to cook sounds like a great plan! As the time gets closer for Charles to fully retire, I think all us that he has worked with over the last 30 years can look back on our interactions with him fondly. I for one will tip my cap and wish him nothing but the best on his next life journey.

The last thing I asked Charles was, what he would miss most about working at W&A and ATG? He said, “The people.”

Though I think his coworkers may miss him more, judging by the responses I received when I asked them, “What is one thing you love about Charles?” Here are just a few of those responses:

• “I love how smart he is with probates, and how he loves small estates!”
• “One thing I love about Charles is how open he is about answering any legal questions and breaking it down for someone who doesn’t fully understand the law. He has saved my butt multiple times, and I can’t thank him enough for it.”
• “Charles is always willing to help or answer any questions you have. He never makes you feel dumb for asking and wants you to grow with your knowledge!”
• “I love that he always has a smile on his face. He has always been so kind to me."
• “Charles is one of my favorite people to work with! He is the best at what he does and always makes us laugh with his jokes.”

• “He has a warm, inviting personality from the moment you meet him!”

• “I’ve known ‘Carlos’ for a long time now, and even though he has shades of gray in his hair and doesn’t remember things like he used to, he finds the time to try and pick up a second language! Spanish! And, he is totally killing it. I mean like exploding into a million pieces and none of it absorbing into his brain (sooooo bad). So Carlos, keep giving it the good ole’ try because you make me laugh hysterically not only with that, but the crummy little joke exchanges we have. You may have missed your calling, though, to be a stand-up comic. However, it’s never too late to start a new chapter. You could very well be in the same predicament as your Spanish speaking! Lots of love to you Carlos!”

• “His jokes are amazing! His personality really brightens up the office and we love having him around.”

• “Charles is a warm hearted, steady, thorough, committed and competent guy. He is always willing to help and a great person to have on your team!”

• “I can talk to Charles for hours. Our conversations from work to life have been some of my favorite times working at ATG.”

Charles has been an incredible part of the Wilson & Associates and Attorney's Title Group team for over thirty years, and we all wish Charles the absolute best in his retirement.