In addition to being a highly skilled attorney Bill also served as a mentor, provided encouragement and otherwise touched the lives and careers of many people.
As word spread of Bill’s illness he received many, many e-mails and letters from friends and colleagues in the transportation industry and we would like to share with the readers just a few of these.
“I write you to thank you for your gigantic contribution to an industry to which I have dedicated my life and have served more proficiently because of your teaching. You have taught me prudence in this business and respect for the structure of agreements and the hidden perils in statutes and regulations that may lay sleeping until a calamity awakes them.
Your caveats, issued frequently to those of us drunk on the wine of free markets, were wise and saved many of us from leaving the framework of contracts. When even senior management folks in several industries believed deregulation meant that there were no more rules you held fast in your position that disputes will be decided by one or another rule or statute; anarchy cannot function in a commercial environment.”
“As I hope you know, you have been a great inspiration to many in the transportation community. I often remember the chance meeting we had in the hallway at one of the Conferences where you said to me, ‘fighting for justice in a commercial context is still an important form of fighting for justice.”
“I know of few others who were so selfless as you in this business, Bill. You were the sage who counseled our green recruits and advised them to be fastidious in their approach to agreements with both shippers and carriers. I am fortunate to have made your acquaintance and to have enjoyed the benefit of your advice. Your legacy will be long and your reputation will be remembered by many of us as one of a shrewd and tireless man who recognized not only justice but the dangers in laws that are intended to achieve a benefit but expose businesses to harm. God bless you for your stalwart service to an industry that is not glamorous but is critical to all industries.”
“For those of you who know Bill, you know that this industry has lost a great champion and spokesperson. And, for those of you that did not have the privilege of knowing Bill, suffice it to say that if your company ships or receives anything, then your company benefited from the activity that Bill conducted on behalf of all shippers located in this country.”
“You have always been a friend to me especially when I was on the carrier side, you would listen to me and you never singled out my company in a negative way without first talking to me to get the other side of the story. I have enjoyed our discussions, debates and friendly chats as well as our golf.”
“I am truly saddened by the passing of a "Giant" in the Transportation Industry. Bill Augello made an impact on every one of us in the Transportation Field. I wonder now, where and in what direction this whole "Undercharge" fiasco would have gone without his counsel and leadership. I know here at our company that Bill took on what seemed to me at the time to be an overwhelming challenge. With Bill’s help, we successfully defeated the Carrier's Undercharge Trustees efforts to collect anything. Bill will always be a Champion in my mind. We will miss him and I know up there somewhere he is still fighting for us Shippers.”
“We have always enjoyed your leadership and participation at the TCPC conferences. I still remember your encouragement on our web application over 7 years ago. Thank you for everything you have done for us. We will keep you in our prayers.”
“You are a true teacher and gentleman and I have been blessed to know you.”
“No one could have asked to have a better person than you in the position of leadership within transportation law and education you have held over the years. I always appreciated your friendly demeanor and how freely you shared your opinions.”
“I’m in the process of writing letters to those that have contributed to my many successes over the years, as I plan to retire at the end of the year. This seems like an appropriate time to acknowledge the one person who is most responsible for those successes and that would be you. Every penny recovered from freight claims, and every dollar saved as a result of a billing error or any variety of cost avoidance that I have encountered can be traced right to you and the guidance you have provided over the years.”
“I have long admired your work in the transportation industry, and greatly appreciate your help and wisdom.”
“I have always admired your style. You are a zealous advocate for your positions; a tenacious adversary; a dedicated teacher; and one heck of a lawyer. All that having been said, you are one of the few attorneys in our era that is truly unique. You perceived a vacuum in the industry and you proceeded to fill it with the force of your personality. You created something that was not there before and something that will exist far into the future.”
