Maine Biographies

Donald Ward Philbrick----Among the younger members of the legal profession in Portland is Donald Ward Philbrick, who is a partner in the well-known legal firm of Verrill, Hale, Booth, & Ives, with offices located at 57 Exchange Street, Portland.  Mr. Philbrick is a Bowden man, and received his professional training in Harvard.  He is also a veteran of the Would War, and was in active service overseas.
Donald Ward Philbrick was born in Skowhegan, Maine March 16, 1896, son of Samuel W. Philbrick, a native of Skowhegan, born August 5, 1862, and of Mabel (Ward) Philbrick, also a native of Skowhegan, born August 16, 1868, died April 30, 1924.  He received his earliest education in the public schools of his birth place, graduating from Skowhegan High School in the class of 1913, and the following fall matriculated in Bowdoin College, at Brunswick, Maine, from which he graduated in 1917, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts.  After two years in military service in France, he began professional study in the Law School of Harvard University, where he completed his course with graduation in 1922, receiving at that time the degree of Bachelor of Laws.  In September of the same year he was admitted to the bar of Maine, and began practice with the law firm of Verrill, Hale, Booth & Ives, at No. 57 Exchange Street, Portland.  Able, energetic and thoroughly prepared for his work he soon demonstrated the fact that he was the caliber which commands success, and on January 1, 1925, he was admitted to partnership in the firm.  He is engaged in general practice and although he has been so occupied for only about five years, he has already made himself an assured place among his professional associates, and there is every prospect that an increasingly successful future lies before him.
               Upon the entrance of the United States into the World War, Mr. Philbrick who was just completing his course in Bowdoin College, enlisted, April, 1917, and sent to the Officer’s Training School.  He was commissioned a lieutenant in the One Hundred Sixty Seventh Infantry, Forty-second Division, known as the “Rainbow Division” of the American Expeditionary Forces, and was in active service overseas from 1917, to 1919.  After the Armistice he served in the Intelligence Section at the General Headquarters of the American Expeditionary Forces.  Upon his return to civilian life he entered Harvard Law School, and since the completion of his course there has been successfully engaged in general practice.  He is a member of Phi Beta Kappa College fraternities:  of Bowdoin Club; of Portland Country Club; of the Reserve Officers’ Association; and of the military Order of the World War.  He is also a member of the Somerset Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; Somerset Chapter, and De Molay Commandery, of Skowhegan, Maine; and of the Exchange Club, of which he is president.  He is a member of the Andrews Post of the American Legion, serving on its executive committee, and is professionally associated with the Cumberland County Bar Association.  He is also a director of the Associated Charities in Portland.  Politically, he gives his support to the Republican party, and his religious affiliation is with the State Street Congregational Church of Portland.  
               Donald Ward Philbrick was married at Chipley, Florida, April 17, 1922, to Ruth Lockey, born in Chipley, daughter of William C. and Xuripha (Hutchison) Lockey, both natives of Florida.  Mr and Mrs. Philbrick are the parents of a son, Donald Lackey, born in Portland, Maine May 3, 1923; and a daughter, Jean, born in Portland, June 3, 1927.  (Maine Biographies, by Harrie B. Coe, Volume 1, page 64-65.)