Taken from a Tribute by the Lackawanna Bar Association
Christopher T. Powell Sr., Esq., was the son of Attorney James J. Powell Sr. and Mary Boland Powell. Although he lived in Moosic for most of his adult life, he was born and raised in the Minooka section of Scranton. He graduated from Minooka High School and St.Thomas College, now the University of Scranton. "Chris," as he was known throughout the community, spent more than three years overseas in the Navy as a lieutenant during World War II. Following his return to civilian life, he attended the Catholic University of America School of Law and graduated with a Juris Doctorate in 1949.
Chris was the Assistant Regional Attorney for the U.S. Department of Labor for several years. In 1957, he was admitted to the Lackawanna Bar Association and with his brother, Attorney James J. Powell Jr., formed the law firm of Powell & Powell. After his brother Jim’s untimely death, Chris practiced law with his son, Christopher T. Powell Jr., and nephew, James J. Powell III. At the time of his death, Chris was the senior member of the law firm with offices in Scranton’s Barrister’s Row.
Active in Bar Association affairs, he was a member of the Board of Directors for several terms, and was a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors. In addition, he was a member of the Pennsylvania and American Bar Associations, as well as the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association. He was a familiar trial attorney in LackawannaCounty and Federal Courts.
He was survived by his wife, the former Nan Walsh, as well as four sons and a daughter. Two of his sons, Attorneys Christopher T. Powell, Jr. and Mark J. Powell are members of the Lackawanna Bar Association and current partners in Powell Law. A third son, Attorney Thomas Powell, resides and practices in Virginia.
Chris loved life in the proud tradition of native Minooka Sons. The zeal that he exhibited on behalf of all of his clients will be sadly missed. He was a wise friend to all members of the legal community. The halls of the second floor of the Lackawanna County Courthouse are simply not the same since his untimely death.
