The University of Iowa Eight Over 80 Award
Frank Pechacek Jr. 69JD
At age 82, Frank Pechacek is the managing partner of Willson & Pechacek, PLC, the Council Bluffs, Iowa, firm he co-founded in 1994. Throughout his 57-year career, he has served and supported the University of Iowa and numerous nonprofits, paying it forward to his community.
Over the years, Pechacek has remained active with the University of Iowa College of Law. He is a lifetime honorary director of the Iowa Law School Foundation Board. As a director, Pechacek participated on UI Law’s campaign committee from 2008 to 2016, developing critical scholarship funds, which he received as a law student. He also volunteers at events and acts as a professional mentor to recent graduates.
Pechacek’s accomplishments include co-founding the Southwest Iowa Educational Foundation Inc., in 1984, and continued board service. The foundation’s scholarships benefit the region’s high school seniors. His other board involvements include the American Red Cross Loess Hills Chapter, Pottawattamie County Community Foundation, and Pottawattamie County Civil Service Commission, among others. He also served in many roles for the Iowa State Bar Association.
The Hawkeyes hold a special place in Pechacek’s heart. Three of his children and one son-in-law earned a total of nine degrees from Iowa, including business, law, and medical diplomas. He has participated in the local Nile Kinnick I-Club for decades. Pechacek and the UI Law Class of 1969 established an endowment in 2015 to provide nearly $10,000 per year in scholarships. In 2024, he and several UI classmates attended their 55th reunion.