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Before there was income tax, there was LeMaster Daniels… LeMaster Daniels has served the Northwest for nearly 100 years. What began with Ellis LeMaster responding to national ads calling for accountants and auditors to a young Spokane Falls, became a firm whose arm reaches across eastern Washington, and whose influence is felt even in Washington D.C. But one principle has remained; the dedication to Northwest people. This dedication has intertwined the job of "crunching numbers" with corporate philanthropy, volunteering and continuing the educational growth of employees or others who wish to join the profession. What has emerged from nearly a century of work is an enduring firm philosophy – it’s the people behind the numbers who count. 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000 ... Early years 1908 – Ellis LeMaster and Thomas Cannon form LeMaster, Cannon & Co.
1913 – The 16th Amendment creates an income tax – and a career for countless future accountants.
[top of page] 1920s 1920 – Emery Clair Daniels and Eustace LeMaster (son of Ellis LeMaster) pass the CPA exam on the same day. Seth Crabtree offers Clair Daniels a partnership. 1922 – E.C. Daniels is elected first president of the Spokane Chapter of the Washington Society of CPAs.
1925 – After Crabtree’s death in 1922, Daniels merges with LeMaster & Cannon, forming LeMaster, Cannon & Daniels.
The governor of Washington State appoints Daniels to the State Board of Accountancy. He also becomes a member of the AICPA where he would remain a member for over 50 years.
1929 – The stock market crashes leading to the Great Depression.
[top of page] 1930s 1933 – President Roosevelt closes banks, requiring a statement of solvency to reopen. Clair Daniels uses the opportunity to help smaller banks that he knew would need CPAs to fulfill the requirement.
1938 – The Firm becomes LeMaster & Daniels, headed by partners Eustace LeMaster and Clair Daniels.
[top of page] 1940s At age 45, LeMaster nearly found himself in service through an offer for an immediate commission as a lieutenant commander in the Navy. The Navy wanted his services for auditing Navy contractors. He turned down the commission, feeling more needed on the home front. [top of page] 1950s At L&D, two visions united, taking the firm in new directions. LeMaster and Daniels’ goal was to expand and maintain its independence from larger organizations interested in purchasing the budding Northwest firm. By the 1960s, several of today’s branch offices had opened. In 1957, Daniels reduced his time with the Firm, but left his footprint on local accounting as president of the Washington Society of CPAs, Spokane’s chapter of the WSCPA, a member of the State Conference of Lawyers and CPAs, and a former chairman of the state CPA examining committee. [top of page] 1960s In 1961, after 47 years of service, LeMaster reluctantly resigned his partnership. Shortly after in 1964, he would die following surgery. However, just previous to his death, the Spokane Chapter of the Washington Society of CPAs chose LeMaster as its first Distinguished Service Award recipient. Daniels would be the second recipient of this award in 1965. 1960 – Colfax office is opened
1966 – Moses Lake is opened
1968 – Othello office is opened
[top of page] 1970s L&D had come a long way. There were changes in leadership with the passing of LeMaster, and Daniels’ retirement. The Firm passed its first peer review with flying colors and two new offices were opened. 1974 – Quincy office is opened.
1978 – Tri-Cities office is opened.
[top of page] 1980s The decade began with sadness when Clair Daniels died at his home in Arizona, but the legacy of his firm was just hitting its stride. Gone were the days of CPAs bunking in clients' homes or businesses while conducting their services. But a new type of interaction began. CPAs became more involved in the legislative process, testifying before state and federal legislatures for tax bills, fraud issues and banking industries, among others. CPAs were now being sought for not only tax returns and audits, but also for strategic business advice. 1982 – L&D moves to the Bank of America Building after residing in the Symons building for 60 years.
The LeMaster & Daniels Scholarship Award program begins at Eastern Washington University.
Omak office is opened.
[top of page] 1990s Growth and prosperity were witnessed in the 1990s. But with it came more responsibility, leading to greater advocacy for clients at national levels and a deeper commitment to local communities. L&D demonstrated this commitment through a corporate-embraced philosophy on volunteering and philanthropy. 1991 – Yakima office opened.
1996 – Dr. Lynn Marie Stephens was named the first E. Clair Daniels Distinguished professor at Eastern Washington University
1997 – Grandview office opened
[top of page] 2000 and the future… 2000 – Wenatchee, Walla Walla, Dayton offices are opened.
2001 – L&D named Washington Firm of the Year
2002 – L&D wins Practical Accountant’s Practice Innovation Award for work in HIPAA compliance
2004 -- L&D establishes the Tax Solutions Group offering advanced tax solutions including Research & Experimentation Tax Credits.
2005 -- The Firm expands into the thriving Boise market by acquiring a local firm, South Johnson.
The Washington Farm bureau chooses Chris Hesse, an L&D member/owner, as a recipient of its President’s award for help on tax issues affecting farmers and ranchers at the state and federal levels. [top of page]
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