LIBERTY BELL AWARD
According to the American Bar Association, the Liberty Bell Award is the most
prestigious award given by lawyers to a non-lawyer. The purpose of the Award is to
recognize community service that has strengthened the American system of freedom
under law. The announcement of the Award is one of the highlights of Law Day, a day
set aside by the Congress to celebrate our great heritage of liberty, justice, and equality
under law. President Eisenhower established Law Day in 1958.
The Liberty Bell Award is given for outstanding service in one of these areas:
promoting a better understanding of our Constitution and the Bill of Rights; encouraging
greater respect for law and the courts; stimulating a deeper sense of individual
responsibility so that citizens recognize their duties as well as their rights; contributing to
the effective functioning of our institutions of government; and, fostering a better
understanding and appreciation of the rule of law.
In local bar tradition, the Award is given to a Cherokee County resident to
recognize that person for contributions outside of the person’s regular employment. For
example, a police officer or a bailiff would not be recognized for those things which
he/she has done in the line of duty but outside of work, such as organizing and handling a
scout troop.
The Award Committee accepts nominations and traditionally meets at Two
Brothers BBQ in Ball Ground to discuss the nominees and vote. The person who has
made the nomination traditionally is the one to introduce the recipient on Law Day but it
could be any member of the Bar.
The following page is a list of past recipients.
ROBERT S. “BOB” STUBBS DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD
Where the Bar wanted to recognize a non-lawyer for work in the legal
community, such as the clerk of court, it was done as a special recognition by the Robert
S. “Bob” Stubbs Distinguished Service Award. This Award is not given every year, but
only when significant distinction is due. The Award Committee nomination and voting
process for this award is done together with the Liberty Bell Award, and the Award is
given at the Bar’s Law Day lunch.
Liberty Bell Award Recipients
Blue Ridge Bar Association
[formerly (through 1998) the Canton-Cherokee County Bar Association]
Rev. 2015
2015:
2014:
2013:
2012:
2011:
2010:
2009:
2008:
2007:
2006:
2005:
2004:
2003:
2002:
2001:
2000:
1999:
1998:
1997:
1996:
1995:
1994:
1993:
1992:
1991:
Pam Carnes
Pat Tanner
Byron Dobbs
John Hicks
Corporal Ronnie Reece
G. Frank Stone, posthumously
Paula DeLuca
Dan Owen
Wade Buchanan
Marguerite Cline
Donald Conkey
Joan McFather
Helen Stone
Ralph Owen, posthumously, and
Wylene Bryant
Leonard McClure
Arfellow Gates
Patricia “Pat” Gold
George Lingerfelt
James Cannon, Sr.
Robert “Bob” Campbell
Bernice Cagle
Floyd Falany
Pat Patrick
Annette Fleming
Shirley Pahl
1990:
1989:
1988:
1987:
1986:
1985:
1984:
Charlie Ferguson
Phyllis Porter
Debbie Haygood
Susan Padgett-Harrison
W.B. "Wally" Poss
John T. Shope
Victoria Cox
1983:
1982:
1981:
1980:
1979:
1978:
1977:
1976:
1975:
1974:
1973:
1972:
1971:
1970:
1969:
1968:
19 ?
W.A. "Short" Cole
T. E. "Gene" Holcomb
Mac Summey
Carl Barrett
James "Buck" Cline
--Clarice Bagwell
Ann Weeks
Cecil Boling
Spurgeon E. Hyatt
Hugh Boling
------Smith L. Johnston, Jr.
Dr. James R. Burgess, Jr.
Dr. Alan Jernigan
Liberty Bell Award Recipients
Blue Ridge Bar Association
Rev. 2015
2015:
2014:
2013:
2012:
2009:
2005:
2004:
Jane Johnson
John Martin
Johnny Nelson, Bob Stoner, Frederick Barrows
Linda Hames
Brenda Burgess
Elizabeth Payne
Anne M. Reneau