Stephen Tallent

TALLENT, Stephen Edison, 74, died peacefully at his home in Reedville, Virginia on Wednesday, February 29, 2012. Mr. Tallent was born August 10, 1937 in Columbus, Nebraska to William Edison Tallent and Helen Sappington Tallent. Jefferson City, Missouri was considered home from the age of two until the family moved to Arcadia, California when he was 13. He was recognized as a distinguished scholar both in high school and college. In high school, he gave the Valedictory address and was recognized as Boy of the Year. At Stanford University, he graduated in less than four years and at University of Chicago Law, he served as editor of the Law Review. After being hired by the law firm of Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher in 1962, he was given leave to serve in the U.S. Army, where he worked for three years in Army intelligence. His home office was in Los Angeles until 1980 when he was asked by the firm to help expand the presence of Gibson, Dunn in Washington, D.C. Mr. Tallent was recognized internationally as a labor and employment leader and was considered the premier class-action equal employment litigator in the United States until mouth cancer in 1993 cut short his trial practice. His major clients during his career included UPS, Rockwell International, Crowley Marine, General Dynamics and United Airlines. Working with the American Bar Association and other organizations, Mr. Tallent had an impact on labor law beyond the law firm. When asked lately about accomplishments about which he was the most proud, he named the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, an organization that honors the leading labor and employment lawyers nationwide, that he founded in 1995. He also founded the American Employment Law Council, the premier organization of labor and employment attorneys practicing on the management side and served as chair of the Labor and Employment Section of the ABA. In 1980, he participated in President Reagan's transition team to the Department of Labor. After his retirement in 1997, he and his wife, moved to Reedville, Virginia. In those 15 years, Mr. Tallent continued to stay a contributing member of the community at large. Among other activities, he served on the board, and as president of the Northumberland Association for Progressive Stewardship and initiated both the Culinary Arts Institute and the Preakness Party for Rappahannock Community College. His wife of 40 years, Martha Merrill Sutcliffe Tallent; and his daughter, Jennifer Diane Tallent, of Los Angeles, California, survive Mr. Tallent. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 10, 2012 at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Fleeton, Virginia. Private services will be held at a later date in California. Memorial contributions may be made to Rappahannock Community College Educational Foundation, P. O. Box 923, Warsaw, Va. 22572 in memory of Stephen Tallent. Faulkner Family Funeral Home, Burgess, Virginia will be handling the arrangements. Online remembrances may be made at faulknerfamilyfuneralhome.com.


This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.