September Wethington-Smith

I am honoring the memory of my late wife, September Wethington-Smith, who was a very proud alum of ISU, graduating with dual majors of History and Political Science. Iowa State was such a pivotal milestone in her professional and personal development. After graduating, September went to that other school east on I-80 and graduated with a Juris Doctor degree with High Distinction. She clerked for Judge Michael Melloy who was the federal Bankruptcy Judge in the Northern Distirct of Iowa at that time but went on to become the Chief Judge of the US 8th Circuit Court of Appeals, causing September to constantly joke with him that he kept improving her resume. September spend the majority of her career as a member of the Legal Department of Wells Fargo. She was a highly successful advisor to many in her career working on some of the most difficult issues and recognized in and out of Wells Fargo for her subject matter expertise in the areas she worked in. Although she was very successful in her career, it always took a backseat to her love of family. She was a mom first and foremost, a wife, storyteller and had one of the greatest laughs of all times! She also loved her time at ISU and the ISU campus which we visited regularly to revisit her old haunts. When she died last summer, I received so many cards, emails or personal visits from others with whom her paths had crossed that talked about how they learned so much from her about being a lawyer, being a lawyer with a family, admiring her intellect and how she managed tough messages to clients. One said he owed his career to her. Many said she was their best friend. I have never met anyone else who had so many best friends. It was because she took the time to learn what was important to them and meet them where they were. I happened upon this site and knew I needed to do this to honor her for she was a heroine to so many in her life.