Posted 10:37 pm Sunday, April 26, 2009
Hundreds Of Legal Professionals Expected To Attend Law Day
By CASEY KNAUPP
Staff Writer
More than 300 Smith County legal professionals are expected to attend the annual Law Day luncheon Friday in Tyler, where several people will be awarded for their help in the community and the administration of justice.
Staff Writer
More than 300 Smith County legal professionals are expected to attend the annual Law Day luncheon Friday in Tyler, where several people will be awarded for their help in the community and the administration of justice.
The Smith County Bar Association is hosting the local event for National Law Day.
Attorneys and other legal professionals will be honored for their service to the community and area children will be feted for winning Law Day related local and state events.
Event organizers said they expect more than 300 people to attend the luncheon. The buffet begins at 11:30 a.m. and the awards program starts at noon Friday at the Rose Garden Center, 420 Rose Park Drive.
Jack A. Jackson will be honored with the Justinian Award, a lifetime achievement award given to an outstanding Smith County attorney for his community service, legal ethics and professionalism.
Jackson worked at the law firms of Jackson & Jackson from 1980 to 1996, Hathaway & Jackson from 1973 to 1980 and Johnson, Hathaway & Jackson from 1956 to 1972. He has been involved in many local organizations, including Tyler Chamber of Commerce, Ed and Mary Heath Foundation, Tyler Goodwill Industries and is currently chairman of East Texas Mental Health, Inc. and volunteers for Meals On Wheels.
He is a member of the American, Texas and Smith County bar associations and is a member of the Phi Alpha Delta Legal Fraternity. He is also active at Marvin United Methodist Church. He is a retired lieutenant colonel command pilot who served in World War II from 1943 to 1946 in the U.S. Army Air Corps and as a reserve in the U.S. Air Force from 1947 to 1970.
The Liberty Bell Award recipient is Dee Brock. The honor is given to an outstanding nonlawyer in Smith County who has made the most selfless contribution to strengthen the effectiveness of the American system of justice in her community.
Ms. Brock is serving her sixth year as president of the League of Women Voters of Tyler/Smith County. She is also an advocate for the arts and libraries and is an author.
Debora Race will be this year's recipient of the Award of Excellence, which is given to an attorney who has significantly contributed to the community and raised the profile of the legal profession within the community.
Ms. Race is board certified in civil appellate law. She is a Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, a Fellow in the Litigation Council of America and currently sits on the State Bar of Texas' Board of Disciplinary Appeals. She has served in several community organizations, including Hos-pice of East Texas, Habitat for Humanity of Smith County, Smith County Medical Alliance, Junior League of Tyler and she is the president-elect of PATH.
The recipient of the 2009 Smith County Young Lawyer of the Year is Tyler City Councilman Nathaniel Moran. Each year, the Smith County Young Lawyers Association recognizes one of its members for outstanding service to the community and the legal profession.
Moran, a partner at Ramey & Flock, has been practicing law in Tyler since 2002.
The Tyler Area Association of Legal Professionals will present scholarships to Jennifer Terry, Stacey A. Morris and Guadalupe Aguilar.
In the high school editorial essay contest, T.K. Gormon High School students Rick Hand took first place and Kathryn Huber, took second.
Area students competed in a poster contest, which is judged on the best use of the Law Day theme. Winners in the kindergarten through second-grade division include Ruby Timmons, Heaven Pybass and Zack Zimmerman. Winners in the third through fifth grade division are Mason Dacus, Marie Bowan and Ricardo Quintero Najera.
Bell Elementary will participate in mock trials later in May.
For ticket information to the Law Day luncheon, contact Cristy Keul at 903-526-2700.
