Moore, Susler, McNutt & Wrigley, L.L.C., a general practice law firm, was founded in 1923. Current active members are: Bill McNutt, Bob Wrigley, Greg Johnson, John Davis, and Caroline Bruder.
Original partners were Raymond E. Denz and Edward Buckner. Both veterans of World War I, they were the best of friends while they attended Harvard Law School following their discharges. That friendship lead to the creation of a partnership known as Denz & Buckner which had its offices in the Standard Life Building (now Millikin Court) and moved in 1930 to the Citizens' National Bank Building (now Barnes-Citizen's Building), both located in downtown Decatur on Water Street.
After Mr. Buckner’s untimely death in 1948, Mr. Denz continued in the practice of law at the same location, later adding partners who included: Herbert B. Lowe, Daniel M. Moore, Jr. and William A. McNutt. Mr. Denz died in 1981, after 60 years of legal practice. Thereafter, the firm added partner Robert I. Wrigley in 1983. Mr. Wrigley had been an Assistant State's Attorney in Macon County, and was in general private practice when he came to the firm. Mr. Lowe retired in 1988 after practicing law for 60 years, and is now deceased. Also practicing many years, Mr. Moore died in 2013. In 1996 the Illinois State Bar Association bestowed the “Tradition of Excellence Award” to Mr. Moore, and in 2002 he was placed on its list of Laureates, the designation of highly distinguished lawyers.
Shortly before Mr. Lowe's retirement, the firm merged its practice with Marshall A. Susler, a senior trial lawyer, who had been a former partner in a Decatur law firm. Mr. Susler's past legal associations had been with several distinguished lawyers, having begun his career as an associate of the firm of McMillan, McMillan & Garmen. Coincidentally, Mr. Denz, many years before, had also been employed as an associate lawyer by that firm's predecessor, then known as McMillan & McMillan, before he started his own law firm. Mr. Susler passed away in 2014.
In 1993 the firm moved its office to its present location at 3071 North Water across from the Brettwood Village Shopping Center. S. Greg Johnson joined the firm in 2003. Mr. Johnson, as a former trust officer in a local and regional bank. The Honorable John Davis joined the firm in 2006, following a distinguished career of 28 years as a Circuit Court Judge in Macon County, Illinois.