Service was an important word in Sam Erwin's vocabulary. As the founding partner of Erwin, Martinkus, & Cole, Ltd., he believed service to a client always comes first.

A 1957 graduate of the University of Illinois and a 1963 graduate of the University of Illinois Law School, Sam had many close ties to the Champaign-Urbana community, particularly the business community of which he was an active member as both an attorney and civic leader. Sam Erwin believed that the best way to serve a client was to act as an integral part of that client's business.

He concentrated on business law, including corporate law, partnerships, securities, real estate, and estate planning and probate. By becoming involved in the earliest stages of a business decision, he helped many in planning courses that would help prevent legal problems. In Sam Erwin's opinion, business development is one of the most important services an attorney can provide.

Since Sam first came to Champaign-Urbana as an undergraduate student in the 1950's, he had seen his community grow from a sleepy college town to a major center for business. And he helped foster that growth. He served as a member of the Champaign City Council, as president of the Community Foundation of Champaign County, and as a member of the Alumni Board of Directors of the University of Illinois and Law School Board of Visitors.