Editorial | 2022 Annual Meeting & Banquet Award Review

On Thursday, December 8, 2022, The Nashville Bar Association celebrated the close of 2022 with our Annual Meeting & Banquet. Between reflections on the year and expectations of 2023, many awards and honors were given to members of the Nashville Bar Association who went above and beyond in serving the NBA membership and forwarding our mission to improve the practice of law through education, service, and fellowship.

Every year, the Nashville Bar Association recognizes attorneys who have practiced law for 50 years with the distinction of an Emeritus membership. The individuals who were present to receive their Emeritus Award at the banquet are listed:

W. Gary Blackburn is an 8th generation Tennessean who graduated from the University of Tennessee with a degree in history in 1969. Gary graduated from Vanderbilt Law School in 1972, still a Vols fan. He served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Nashville. He has been Secretary of the Metro Transit Authority, a member of the NBA Board of Directors, and a longtime member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, as well as a state chapter president in 2007. Gary is married to Judge Melissa Blackburn.

Tom Corts graduated from Hillwood High school in 1965. He graduated from The University of Tennessee in Knoxville in 1969 and then attended law school at The University of Tennessee College of Law where he graduated in 1972. He was licensed to practice in September of 1972 and after spending three months attending the U.S Armor School in Fort Knox, he joined the firm of Ortale Kelley Herbert & Crawford in January of 1973. He remained at Ortale Kelley until his retirement in October of 2022. He has handled or tried cases in all divisions of the Tennessee Federal Courts and in nearly all judicial districts or counties in the state of Tennessee. He is the father of 4 sons and has 10 grandchildren, all living in Nashville.

Hon. William C. Koch, Jr. is currently the President and Dean of the Nashville School of Law. Before joining NSL in 2014, he served on the Tennessee Supreme Court and the Tennessee Court of Appeals. During his 30-year judicial career, Dean Koch was recognized as one of the 500 Leading Judges in America and as Tennessee Appellate Judge of the Year. He also received the TBA’s Justice Frank F. Drowota III Outstanding Judicial Service Award and the NBA’s Liberty Bell Award. Before becoming a judge, Dean Koch served as Counsel to Tennessee Governor Lamar Alexander, Commissioner of Personnel, and Deputy Attorney General. Dean Koch earned his B.A. from Trinity College; his J.D. from Vanderbilt University; and his LL.M. from the University of Virginia. He teaches Constitutional Law and Tennessee Constitutional Law at NSL. He has also received appointments as an adjunct professor at Vanderbilt School of Law and Belmont College of Law. Dean Koch is a local and national leader in the American Inns of Court movement. He chairs the Tennessee Trial Court Vacancy Commission and serves on the Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct. He is also on the boards of Cumberland University, the United Way of Metropolitan Nashville, and the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

Hon. Walter C. Kurtz is a graduate of the Citadel 1965 and Vanderbilt Law School 1972. Serving in the U.S. Army 1966-69 including tour in Vietnam 1968-69 with armored cavalry squadron, he was four times awarded a Bronze Star Medal, including Bronze Star Medal for Valor. From 1973-76, he was the Director of Nashville Legal Aid Society and the Nashville Public Defender from 1978-82, where he argued case before the U.S. Supreme Court 1979 Rose v. Mitchell, 443 U.S. 545 (1979). Kurtz served as Circuit Judge from 1982-2008 and as a full-time Senior Judge from 2008-2013. He has Presided over hundreds of civil and criminal cases, both jury and nonjury, to include eight death penalty trials and a number of civil class action cases. Kurtz concluded his full-time judgeship in July 2013, however, continues to sit on occasion by special appointment. Through his career, he has been licensed to practice in courts that include Tennessee, U.S. District Courts Middle and Eastern Districts, U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court. Born in 1943, raised in Elmira, New York. He is married to Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle. He has three children and eight grandchildren.

Charles “Charlie” A. Leach was born in Kentucky in 1939. His family moved to Nashville in 1951 and he attended Parmer School, Hillsboro High School, and the University of Tennessee. Before starting college Charles joined the USAF and in 1959, at age 20, graduated from Aviation Cadets, winning his commission and his Navigator wings. He was assigned to SAC and became a Navigator/Bombardier on B-47’s, leaving active duty in 1963. He joined the Tennessee Air National Guard and continued to fly part-time for the next 25 years, retiring from the military in 1988. Charles attended Nashville School of Law, graduating and passing the Bar in 1972. He joined the firm of Butler, Tune & Entrekin in 1972 (now Tune, Entrekin & White) and was mentored in litigation by Jack Butler and John Tune. In 1978 he became a partner in Thompson, Harris & Leach, a boutique Music Row law firm, where Charles continued his litigation practice.

Ronald K. Nevin After graduating from the University of Tennessee Knoxville in 1969, Nevin entered the UT College of Law and graduated in 1972. At that time, he could not imagine how challenging and fulfilling his law practice would be over the next fifty years. Nevin has had the pleasure of working with his colleagues, especially his son Ryan, and having great support from staff and his exceptional family. He has also enjoyed serving on Bar Association committees, including Chair of the Probate Court Committee, as well as membership on many community boards. Highlights include Chair of Multiple Sclerosis Society Board of Trustees of Middle Tennessee, Nashville Junior Chamber of Commerce Board of Governors, Legal Counsel; Davidson County UT Alumni Board of Directors, and Texas Christian University Parents Council Board. Nevin considers it is an honor to reach the milestone of 50 years practicing law and will continue to provide legal services to those who need assistance.

John H. Roe, Jr. attended Vanderbilt Law School, where he served as an Articles Editor on the Vanderbilt Law Review. At graduation in 1972, he was awarded the Founder’s Medal for first honors. After graduation, Roe was an associate attorney at King & Spalding in Atlanta from 1972 to 1974. In 1974 he returned to Nashville and joined the firm of Stephenson & Lackey until 1976 when he became an associate attorney at Trabue, Sturdivant & DeWitt and a partner at that firm in 1978. In 1981 he co-founded the firm of O’Hare, Sherrard & Roe with James O’Hare and Tom Sherrard, which is now Sherrard Roe Voigt & Harbison. Roe’s practice has concentrated in real estate and corporate law. He is a past Chairman of the Real Estate Section of the Tennessee Bar Association and was a member of its committee responsible for drafting the Tennessee Condominium Act of 2008.

Tom White is a founder of Tune, Entrekin & White, formed in 1978. A graduate of Vanderbilt Law School, he is a past president of the Nashville Bar Association and served on the Board of Directors on two separate occasions. He is a Past President of the NBA’s Young Lawyers Division, a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the Nashville and Tennessee Bar Associations. He is regularly listed among the Power Leaders in Davidson County. Often referred to as one of Nashville’s preeminent land use attorneys, White has represented many clients in high profile cases. His practice is not limited to land use but includes representation of the late Porter Wagoner in the successful litigation against Dolly Parton. He served as counsel for Harpeth Hall, Harding Academy and Father Ryan in its successful move to Oak Hill. He has represented Gaylord, Hoover, and many land developers in Nashville.

John P. Williams is a graduate of Davidson College and Vanderbilt Law School (’72). He has served as an attorney with the U. S. Department of Interior and the U. S. Department of Justice. Since 1996, he has been a member of the Nashville law firm Tune, Entrekin & White.

Ed Yarbrough is a 1972 graduate of Vanderbilt School of Law and a 1967 graduate of Rhodes College. Between those events Ed was an Infantry Lieutenant at Arlington National Cemetery and received a Bronze Star for combat service in Vietnam. He began his practice of law as an Assistant District Attorney in Nashville and was also appointed United States Attorney by President George W. Bush in 2007. In private practice, Ed was a partner at Hollins Wagster and Yarbrough for thirty-one years and is presently of counsel at Spencer Fane Bone McAllester where he still practices full time. Ed was president of the Nashville Bar Association in 1983 and returned to the Board in 2006. He has received the Nashville Bar Foundation’s David C. Rutherford Award, as well as the Jack Norman Sr. Award and CLE Excellence Award from the NBA. In 2011, he was awarded the Criminal Justice Section Service Award by the Tennessee Bar Association. Ed is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a Charter Fellow of the Nashville Bar Foundation.

Among the many Emeritus Awards given to members that have reached their 50 years of legal service, a few other awards were given to a variety of people for their contributions and service.

The YLD President’s Award is given to a board member of the Young Lawyer’s Division whose dedication and efforts have raised the overall profile of the NBA. The 2022 YLD President’s Award recipient, Cherrelle Hooper, was an invaluable advisor to YLD President, Jeremy Oliver, on countless issues throughout his Presidency. She has also spearheaded a new initiative that will soon result in a beautiful mural on the side of the Tennessee Justice Center’s new building painted by Omari Booker.

The YLD Enterprise Award is given to a member of the Young Lawyer’s Division who has advanced the charitable purposes of the NBA through a new initiative, program, or activity. Hannah Kay Hunt Freeman has worked extremely hard to further advance the relationship between the TBA YLD and the NBA YLD. In doing so, she helped create new synergies between the two organizations, and even volunteered her time to spend a few days with Mickey Mouse at the TBA conference in Disneyworld.

The NBJ Contributor of the Year Award recognizes Nashville Bar Journal committee members who went beyond the call of duty to ensure the success of the publication. The 2022 recipient, Caroline Sapp, was recognized for her years of editing and contributions to the Nashville Bar Journal. As of 2021, Caroline opened her own law office, The Law Office of Caroline E. Sapp, in her hometown of Sparta, TN. While she recently had to stepdown from the editorial committee, her time spent to bring the best of the NBJ to the membership has been invaluable.

The NBJ Article of the Year Award recognizes contributing author(s) whose published work exemplified the quality, clarity, and relevance that the publication’s readership deserves. Hon. Jane B. Stranch received this award for her article, Advancing the Rule of Law Now, in the December/January 2021-22 Nashville Bar Journal. This piece was originally an inspiring speech given at the NBA’s 2021 Law Day Lunch, with a theme that encouraged reflection on the roles in promoting the rule of law, defending liberty, and pursuing justice. Judge Stranch was appointed as a federal judge with the US Court of Appeals of the 6th Circuit in 2009 by President Barack Obama and confirmed in 2010.

The CLE Excellence Award recognizes member(s) who have demonstrated dedication and commitment to the NBA’s mission to provide cutting edge, quality continuing legal education to improve the knowledge and practice skills of lawyers. The 2022 award was given to Tim Warnock due to his continued service to the Nashville Bar Association’s CLE department. Tim is a current member of the NBA Board of Directors and is a Partner at Loeb & Loeb, LLP. In 2022, Tim participated in and produced 3 of the NBA’s largest CLE programs. These seminars included an introduction to the Business Court Pilot Program, the Master’s in Trial program in collaboration with the American Board of Trial Advocates, and the annual Entertainment, Sports & Media Law Institute.

The President’s Awards are presented by the sitting president to recognize a variety of people, groups, or organizations that serve the Nashville Bar Association as well as the Greater Nashville community. The 2022 President’s Awards were given to the Executive Director Search Committee, which included Gulam Zade as the Chair, Laura Baker, Daniel Clayton, Judge Frank Clement, Beau Creson, Charles Grant, Monica Mackie and Joycelyn Stevenson. Additionally, an award was given to Diversity Committee Co-Chairs, Tabitha Robinson and Amy Bryant, for their work as committee chairs and the production of the 2022 Diversity Summit, as well as keynote speaker Cyntoia Brown Long. The final President’s Award was given to the Tennessee Innocence Project for their contributions to the Nashville community and their work to exonerate wrongfully convicted Tennesseans. We are always happy to celebrate our members and their excellence throughout the year, and we look forward to what 2023 brings. n

CAMERON ADKINS is the Nashville Bar Association’s CLE Director. She is a Nashville native and is expecting a baby boy in April. If you have CLE ideas or baby advice, please contact her before her maternity leave begins.

ADRIENNE BENNETT CLUFF is the Marketing & Communications Coordinator for the Nashville Bar Association. She moved to Nashville in 2016 from Austin, Texas to attend Belmont University.