Standing on the Shoulders of Giants
"If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants"— Sir Isaac Newton, 1675
Steven Lee Payton
My Legal Mentor & Blueprint
1947-2011
Thomas Dale Hofeling
The Bridge Builder
1932-2025
Marvin Blaine Hofeling
The Heritage Keeper
1935-2025
Living Tributes
Honoring my legal mentor and the Hofeling family members who made it possible
Legal Excellence
Family Legacy
Eternal Influence
This page honors three extraordinary men whose paths intertwined to shape my legal career and life journey. At the center stands Steve Payton, my legal mentor who provided the blueprint for the practice of law. His mentorship came through the connection of Tom and Blaine Hofeling—my father's first cousins who considered Steve an "honorary Hofeling" and asked him to guide me as a favor to them.
Their story begins in the late 1970s when Tom Hofeling, serving as a Justice Court Judge, recognized something exceptional in a young Assistant Utah Attorney General named Steve Payton. Impressed by Steve's exceptional honesty and integrity, Tom invited him to Thanksgiving dinner with the Hofeling family. That invitation grew into a decades-long bond that would ultimately shape my professional path.
"A magnificent mind" — Steve Payton could recall case law from memory
November 3, 1947 – November 18, 2011 — Steven Lee Payton served justice for 35+ years
"A champion for the underdog" — Steve Payton's lasting legacy in Utah law
From Washington D.C. to Utah on a football scholarship — Steve Payton's journey began at College of Eastern Utah
University of Utah School of Law graduate — Steve Payton built his legal foundation
"The First 50" — Utah Minority Bar Association honored Steve Payton's contributions
Assistant Utah Attorney General in the 1970s — Where Tom Hofeling first recognized Steve's exceptional integrity
"Honorary Hofeling" — Steve earned family status through character and trust
Meticulous preparation, exhaustive research, precise writing — Steve's three pillars of legal excellence
Golden Braid bookstore basement became Steve's law office — A synchronicity of space and time
"Ethics, smart practice, and how to be a good, useful human being" — Steve's teaching philosophy
30 years of practice before mentoring — Steve brought decades of wisdom to his teaching
April 3, 1932 – February 18, 2025 — Thomas Dale Hofeling lived 92 years of service
Justice of the Peace & President of Murray School District Credit Union for 30+ years — Tom Hofeling
Co-developer of the Hofeling-Phinney Method of Standard Grading — Tom's educational innovation
Korean War veteran, U.S. Air Force — Tom Hofeling served his country for four years
B.S. in Education, M.A. in Educational Psychology from University of Utah — Tom's academic achievements
Teacher and counselor at Murray High School and Riverview Jr. High — Tom touched countless young lives
Married to Joyce for 72 years — Tom Hofeling's dedication to family was unwavering
Thanksgiving 1970s — Tom invited Steve Payton to join the Hofeling family, changing two destinies
"The Bridge Builder" — Tom connected people across generations and professions
Justice Court Judge who recognized exceptional character — Tom's gift for seeing potential
Six generations of American heritage — Tom helped preserve the Hofeling family story
March 14, 1935 – August 19, 2025 — Marvin Blaine Hofeling, keeper of family legacy
110+ trips to Europe & connected hundreds of family members worldwide — Blaine Hofeling
Industry-leading risk manager at Utah Power & Light — Blaine's models became industry standards
J.D. 1964, MBA from University of Utah — Blaine combined law and business expertise
Worked graveyard shift with Salt Lake City Police while in law school — Blaine's incredible work ethic
15 years teaching Business Law and Management at University of Utah — Blaine's second career in education
Avid reader with vast personal library — Blaine's lifelong pursuit of knowledge
"The Family Historian" — Blaine preserved six generations of Hofeling heritage
From Ostfriesland to America — Blaine traced the Hofeling journey since 1798
Integrity, faith, and gentle strength — Blaine's defining characteristics
Corporate executive to educator — Blaine's transition mirrors modern career evolution
Rigorous real-world curriculum — Blaine brought practical experience to academic teaching
Three men, one destiny — Steve, Tom, and Blaine shaped a legal career through mentorship
From law to technology — Their blueprint transcends disciplines
Providence brought them together — Synchronicity made them family
"Standing on the shoulders of giants" — Isaac Newton's words made manifest
"A magnificent mind" — Steve Payton could recall case law from memory
November 3, 1947 – November 18, 2011 — Steven Lee Payton served justice for 35+ years
Portrait of Excellence
Steven Lee Payton
November 3, 1947 – November 18, 2011
My Legal Mentor & Professional Blueprint
Steven Lee Payton was more than a mentor—he was the architect of my understanding of what it means to practice law with excellence, integrity, and purpose. A graduate of the University of Utah and its School of Law, Steve practiced law in Utah for over 35 years, earning recognition from the Utah Minority Bar Association as one of "The First 50" for his significant contributions to the Utah legal community.
Originally from Washington, D.C., Steve came to Utah on a football scholarship to the College of Eastern Utah before completing his education at the University of Utah. His journey from the East Coast to Utah, combined with his athletic discipline and academic excellence, shaped him into the formidable legal mind he became.
When Tom and Blaine asked Steve to mentor me, they were entrusting me to someone they considered one of their own—an "honorary Hofeling" whose character and capabilities had earned their deepest respect. Steve took this responsibility seriously, providing me with not just legal guidance but a comprehensive blueprint for professional practice that continues to guide me today.
My Personal Tribute
Providence—or perhaps synchronicity—placed Steve on my path at the moment I was sworn into the bar when I very much needed a mentor. By coincidence he had been an honorary member of Tom Hofeling's family (my father's first cousin), and Tom and his brother Blaine introduced me to him.
And by another astounding coincidence, Steve was already renting the basement office in the same building in which I had just rented my first room for an office on the third floor, and interestingly enough, a decade prior when the space Steve Payton would later rent was the original Golden Braid bookstore, I used to stand there in that same basement, when it was the Golden Braid bookstore, reading books about synchronicity, having no idea that in ten years the exact same space would serve as the classroom in which Steven Lee Payton would teach me the highly advanced techniques for the practice of law he had developed during the thirty years he had practiced prior to mentoring me.
Steve taught me how to use meticulous factual documentation and comprehensive legal research to make the courts do what they are supposed to do which, of course, is justice; and that is what has in turn made me valuable to others as a lawyer in highly complex cases.
The Blueprint He Provided:
- Meticulous Preparation: Never enter a courtroom or meeting without complete mastery of the facts and law
- Exhaustive Research: Leave no stone unturned in pursuit of the truth and the best argument
- Precise Writing: Every word matters; clarity and precision are non-negotiable
- Professional Relationships: Build trust through consistency, reliability, and integrity
- Ethical Practice: Your reputation is your most valuable asset—guard it zealously
A Magnificent Legal Mind
Steve was renowned for his exceptional legal knowledge—he could recall case law from memory, a skill that left lasting impressions on colleagues and opponents alike. His eloquent and forceful advocacy in the courtroom made him "a force to be dealt with," as colleagues remembered. Yet beneath this formidable exterior was a man of kindness, generosity, and remarkable sensitivity.
As a champion for the underdog, Steve taught me that the practice of law is fundamentally about service—to clients, to justice, and to the profession itself. He demonstrated through his own career how to maintain the highest ethical standards while achieving exceptional results. His approach to legal research and writing set the standard I've strived to meet throughout my career.
His Lasting Impact
Steve's influence extends far beyond the technical aspects of legal practice. He was a devoted mentor who taught ethics, smart practice, and above all—how to be "a good, useful human being." His unique combination of brilliance, humor, wisdom, and wit created an environment where learning wasn't just about memorizing statutes but understanding the deeper purpose of law in society.
Even as I bridge law and technology, I carry forward Steve's methodology: thorough preparation, meticulous attention to detail, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. The blueprint he provided for legal practice translates remarkably well to the challenges of cybersecurity, AI ethics, and technology consulting.
"I do not think any one person has taught me more about ethics, smart practice and above all—how to be a good, useful human being than Steve."
— A colleague's remembrance of Steve Payton
Tom & Blaine Hofeling
First Cousins Once Removed • Keepers of Family Legacy
Thomas Dale "Tom" Hofeling
April 3, 1932 – February 18, 2025
My Father's First Cousin • The Bridge Builder
Tom Hofeling was a pillar of his community who served in multiple capacities throughout his remarkable life. A Korean War veteran who served four years in the U.S. Air Force, Tom returned to pursue his passion for education, earning a B.S. in Education and M.A. in Educational Psychology from the University of Utah.
His career as a teacher and counselor at Murray High School and Riverview Jr. High touched countless lives. Tom co-developed the innovative "Hofeling-Phinney Method of Standard Grading," demonstrating his commitment to educational excellence. For over 30 years, he served as President of the Murray School District Credit Union, and was appointed to serve as a Justice of the Peace—the role through which he first recognized Steve Payton's exceptional character.
Married to Joyce for 72 years, Tom was the embodiment of dedication—to family, education, and community. His ability to forge lasting friendships and share stories and history with future generations created the connections that would shape my professional path. When Tom recognized Steve Payton's integrity in the late 1970s and invited him into the Hofeling family circle, he set in motion the mentorship that would define my legal career.
Tom's Legacy to Me:
- • The connection to Steve Payton that defined my legal career
- • A model of lifetime service to education and community
- • Understanding of our family's six-generation American journey
- • The importance of recognizing and cultivating excellence in others
- • The value of extending family beyond traditional boundaries
Marvin Blaine "Blaine" Hofeling
March 14, 1935 – August 19, 2025
My Father's First Cousin • The Family Historian
Blaine Hofeling exemplified integrity, faith, and gentle strength throughout his remarkable career. While attending the University of Utah College of Law (J.D., 1964), he worked the graveyard shift with the Salt Lake City Police Department, demonstrating the work ethic that would define his life. He later earned an MBA from the David Eccles School of Business.
Blaine became a highly respected risk manager at Utah Power & Light, where he developed risk models that became industry standards. After his corporate retirement, he spent 15 years teaching Business Law and Management at the University of Utah, where his rigorous, real-world curriculum earned lasting respect from students. His transition from corporate executive to educator mirrors my own evolution from practitioner to consultant.
An avid reader with a vast personal library and a passionate traveler who made over 110 trips to Europe, Blaine's greatest passion was family history. He helped connect hundreds of family members worldwide through his genealogical work, giving me a broader perspective on my place in the Hofeling lineage—six generations of contributors to American society. Together with Tom, Blaine's endorsement of me to Steve Payton represented a profound act of family support and faith in the next generation.
Blaine's Contributions:
- • Co-architect of my mentorship with Steve Payton
- • Model of professional excellence in law, business, and education
- • Keeper of the Hofeling genealogical heritage
- • Bridge between generations of family history
- • Example of lifelong learning and intellectual curiosity
The Power of Connection
Tom and Blaine Hofeling's greatest gift to me wasn't direct mentorship but something far more valuable: they connected me to Steve Payton, whom they trusted as family. Their judgment, their relationships, and their willingness to advocate for me created the mentorship that defined my legal career. They also grounded me in six generations of Hofeling family history in America, providing context and continuity as I navigate my own professional evolution.
Their Interwoven Legacy
The story of these three men is one of interconnection and compounding influence. Tom Hofeling's keen judgment brought Steve Payton into the family fold. Tom and Blaine's joint advocacy connected me to Steve's mentorship. Steve's blueprint for legal practice gave me the foundation for a successful career and now guides my transition to technology consulting.
This is not simply a story of three separate influences but of how relationships, trust, and family bonds—both blood and chosen—create opportunities that span generations. Tom and Blaine saw in Steve what they valued most: integrity, excellence, and commitment to others. They trusted him enough to call him family and to entrust him with guiding the next generation.
Steve's Blueprint
35+ years of legal excellence, one of Utah Minority Bar's "First 50," champion for justice
Tom's Connection
Educator, Justice of the Peace, 30+ years Credit Union President, bridge-builder extraordinaire
Blaine's Heritage
J.D. & MBA, industry-leading risk manager, 15 years university professor, family historian
Living Their Legacy Forward
As I transition from law to technology, I carry forward the combined wisdom of these three remarkable men:
- From Steve: The discipline, methodology, and ethical framework that excellence demands
- From Tom: The ability to recognize character and build bridges between people and opportunities
- From Blaine: The importance of understanding our place in a larger narrative and preserving it for future generations
To Steve Payton, who gave me the blueprint for professional excellence.
To Tom and Blaine Hofeling, who made that mentorship possible and grounded me in family heritage.
Your combined influence continues to guide my journey from law to technology,
proving that the best legacies are those that evolve and adapt while maintaining their core values.
— With eternal gratitude, J. Keven Hofeling
Wisdom Through the Ages
On Mentorship
"The greatest gift we can give is not just knowledge, but the confidence to surpass us. A true mentor celebrates when the student becomes the teacher."
— The Blueprint of Excellence
On Legacy
"Legacy is not what we leave behind in stone, but what we plant in souls. It blooms in decisions made by those we'll never meet."
— The Bridge Builder's Wisdom
On Evolution
"We are not bound by the past but informed by it. Each generation must translate timeless principles into timely action."
— The Family Historian's Truth
On Knowledge
"Knowledge without wisdom is mere information. Wisdom without action is philosophy. But wisdom applied becomes transformation."
— The Synchronicity Principle
The eternal thread that connects us all is not blood or circumstance, but the deliberate act of lifting others higher than we ourselves have climbed. In this sacred exchange, the mentor becomes immortal, the student becomes worthy, and the future becomes possible.
— The Collective Wisdom of Three Giants
The Seed
Every giant was once a seed, nurtured by those who saw potential where others saw only soil.
The Growth
We grow not in isolation but in forests, our roots intertwined, sharing strength through hidden connections.
The Legacy
The true measure of a life is not its duration but its donation—what it gives to those who follow.
A Gratitude That Transcends Time
To stand on the shoulders of giants is to see further than one could alone. But to be lifted by those giants, to be deemed worthy of their strength and wisdom, is to understand that greatness is not achieved but received, not taken but given, not hoarded but shared.
This is my inheritance. This is my responsibility. This is my tribute.