The law firm now known as Whitty, McDaniel, Bodkin & Combs, LLP, located at 444 N. 4th Street in Coos Bay, was started by Joseph W. Bennett in 1880. The firm is one of Oregon's oldest. Joseph Bennett was an amazing man, with a variety of skills. His talents and character are perhaps best summarized by this quote from his front page obituary in the Evening Record of September 15, 1916, which begins by saying that, on his death, "there was called, likely, taking men as men are, the biggest man of this section of Oregon. Joseph William Bennett was all man. He had his frailties, but, oh, he had so many, many virtues."
