Est. Tradition of Excellence
Pulaski County Bar Association
Past Recipients of the Annual Awards
A Brief History
Before PCBA Bar Year 1980–81, the Association gave a Liberty Bell Award and an Award to Lawyers. Since 1980–81, the Association has presented the “Liberty Bell Award,” the “Lawyer-Citizen Award,” and the “Outstanding Lawyer Award.”
In 1993, the PCBA Board of Directors voted to rename the Outstanding Lawyer Award the “Vincent Foster, Jr. Outstanding Lawyer Award,” in honor of Vince Foster, Jr., a former partner of the Rose Law Firm.
In 2004, the Board voted to institute a new award for professionalism in honor of former Governor Sid McMath: the “Sidney S. McMath Professionalism Award.”
01
Liberty Bell Award
1979-80
Volunteers in Public Schools, KARK TV Channel 4 for Action and Pulaski County Small Claims Court
1980-81
Mr. Milton Treadway, Restorer of the Pulaski County Municipal Courthouse
1981-82
Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families
1982-83
Roberts S. McCord, Forum Editor for the Arkansas Gazette
1983-84
Advocates for Battered Women, Inc.
1984-85
Dr. John Schell
1985-86
Arkansas Juvenile Advisory Group
1986-87
Carolyn Layman
1987-88
Judith Gray, Assistant Executive Director of Arkansas Bar Association
1988-89
Walter V. Smiley
1989-90
Amy Rossi, Executive Director of Arkansas Advocated for Children
1990-91
Arkansas Repertory Theater
1991-92
Sanford Tollette, Executive Director of Joseph Pfeifer Kiwanis Camp
1992-93
Bobs Sells and Stacy Brewer Pittman
1993-94
Cathy Reinhart
1994-95
Mary Berry
1995-96
Everett Tucker, III
1996-97
RAIN (Regional Aids Interfaith Network)
1997-98
Parents of Murdered Children
1998-99
Elaine Dumas, Board Member, Arkansas IOLTA Foundation
1999-00
Hayden Rather
2000-01
Rita Sklar
2001-02
Steve Barnes
2002-03
Ms. Shirley Herald, Administrative Office of the Courts
2003-04
Cindy Smith, Past Executive Director, PCBA
2004-05
KATV Channel 7 and Paul Eels
2005-06
Judith Gray, Associate Director, Arkansas Bar Association
2006-07
Sonny Simpson
2007-08
Julia Ann Baldridge
2008-09
Greater Little Rock Legal Support Professionals
2009-10
Nick Pierce (Judge Mackie Pierce’s brother)
2010-11
Carol King, Executive Director of the PCBA
2011-12
Osceola Lewis – CALS
2012-13
Tom Barnes and Jason Henry – with the Pulaski County Circuit Clerk’s Office for their work in implementing the new county e-filing system
2013-14
Sarah Cearley, PhD, LCSW, ARJLAP, Executive Director
2014-15
Jay Edwards, The Daily Record
2015-16
Sanford and Binky Tollette
2016-17
Lance Womack
2017-18
Muskie Harris and Jason Pederson
2018-19
Connie Jackson
2019-20
No Annual Meeting due to Covid-19
2020-21
James McCormick
2021-22
Senator Joyce Elliott
2022-23
Frances Ross
2023-24
Mandi Knight
2024-25
Rev. Dr. William Robinson, Jr.
02
Lawyer-Citizen Award
1980-81
Webster Hubbell
1981-82
Woodson D. Walker
1982-83
Governor Sid McMath
1983-84
Sam Perroni
1984-85
John Gill
1985-86
John Plegge
1986-87
Hillary Rodham Clinton
1987-88
Robert Shultz
1988-89
Marion A. Humphrey
1989-90
Judge Joyce W. Warren
1990-91
Senator Max Howell
1992-93
William L. Terry
1993-94
Herschel H. Friday (Posthumously)
1994-95
Philip E. Kaplan
1995-96
H. Baker Kurrus
1996-97
Patrick Henry Hays
1997-98
Bud Whetstone
1998-99
Judge Vic Fleming
1999-00
Lisa Ferrell
2000-01
Ike Scott
2001-02
Judge John Ward and Judge David Bogard
2002-03
Sam Perroni
2003-04
Clay Patty
2004-05
William H. Bowen
2005-06
Jean Carter, Executive Director, Center for Arkansas Legal Services
2006-07
Bud Whetstone
2007-08
Dean Chuck Goldner, Dean Richard Atkinson 1946–2005
2008-09
Judge Milas E. “Butch” Hale III
2009-10
Dan Herrington
2010-11
Governor Mike Beebe
2011-12
Professor Ken Gould
2012-13
Jean Carter, Executive Director, Center for Arkansas Legal Services
2013-14
Khayyam Eddings
2014-15
Stephanie Harris, Communications Counsel to the Arkansas Supreme Court
2015-16
Amy Dunn Johnson
2016-17
Jay Martin and Peggy Egan
2017-18
Judge Wayne Gruber
2018-19
Mark Stodola
2019-20
No Annual Meeting due to Covid-19
2020-21
Charlie Coleman
2021-22
Larry Jegley
2022-23
Paul Bowen
2023-24
Tom Carpenter
2024-25
Cindy Moody
03
Legislator of the Year Award
2021-22
Representative Ashley Hudson and Senator Clarke Tucker
2022-23
Representatives Ashley Hudson, Deniece Jones Ennett, Senator Clarke Tucker, Senator Linda Chesterfield
04
Outstanding Lawyer Award
Renamed the Vincent Foster, Jr. Outstanding Lawyer Award in 1993, in honor of Vince Foster, Jr., a former partner of the Rose Law Firm.
1979-80
Ernest Steve Watson, Annabelle D. Clinton and Associate Justice Richard L. Mays
1980-81
Phillip Carroll
1981-82
Harry E. Meek
1982-83
Mark Lester and Jane Dickey
1983-84
Griffin Smith
1984-85
Henry Woods
1985-86
Ruth Brunson
1986-87
James McHaney, Sr.
1987-88
Robert S. Lindsey
1988-89
Edward B. Dillon, Jr.
1989-90
Vincent Foster, Jr.
1990-91
H. William Allen
1991-92
Judge Robert Fussell
1992-93
William R. Wilson
Renamed: Vincent Foster, Jr. Outstanding Lawyer Award
1993-94
Dale Price
1994-95
H. Maurice Mitchell, Mitchell Williams
1995-96
William H. Bowen
1996-97
Philip S. Anderson, Williams & Anderson
1997-98
Winslow Drummond, McMath Woods
1998-99
Phillip S. Anderson
1999-00
Gordon Rather, Wright, Lindsey & Jennings
2000-01
Judge Wendell Griffin
2001-02
William H. “Buddy” Sutton, Friday, Eldredge & Clark
2002-03
Judge David Bogard
2003-04
William A. Martin
2004-05
Frederick S. Ursery, Friday, Eldredge & Clark
2005-06
Donald S. Ryan
2006-07
Mike Huckabay
2007-08
Edwin L. Lowther, Jr., Wright, Lindsey & Jennings
2008-09
William O. “Bill” James, Jr.
2009-10
Justice Annabelle Imber Tuck
2010-11
Charlie Coleman, Wright, Lindsey & Jennings
2011-12
Steve Morley
2012-13
Michelle Ator, Friday, Eldredge & Clark
2013-14
Brian Rosenthal, Rose Law Firm
2014-15
Jerry C. Jones, Acxiom
2015-16
Judge Vann Smith
2016-17
Jeff Rosenzweig
2017-18
Judge Herb Wright
2018-19
Phil Kaplan
2019-20
No Annual Meeting due to Covid-19
2020-21
Judy Henry
2021-22
Will Bond
2022-23
Lynn Pence (posthumously)
2023-24
Judd Kidd
2024-25
Gary Rogers
05
Sidney S. McMath Professionalism Award
Instituted in 2004 by the PCBA Board of Directors to recognize professionalism, in honor of former Governor Sid McMath.
—
Isaac A. Scott
—
Winslow Drummond
—
William H. “Buddy” Sutton
—
Robert Shults
2007-08
Frederick S. Ursery
2008-09
Charles T. Coleman
2009-10
Sam Laser
2010-11
John Dewey Watson
2011-12
Roger Rowe
2012-13
Robert L. “Skip” Henry III
2013-14
Clay Patty
2014-15
Philip S. Anderson
2015-16
Judge James M. Moody
2016-17
Will Bond
2017-18
Don Bacon
2018-19
Judge Leon Holmes
2019-20
No Annual Meeting due to Covid-19
2020-21
Ed Lowther
2021-22
Judge Cathleen V. Compton
2022-23
Jim Simpson (posthumously)
2023-24
Rodney Moore
06
Special Award of Merit
Later renamed the Award of Excellence.
1981-82
Ruth Brunson
1986-87
Judge Bruce Bullion
1987-88
Judge John Fogleman
1988-89
Judge George Rose Smith
1991-92
Judge G. Thomas Eisele
1993-94
Patty Lueken
1994-95
Dean Howard Eisenberg
1995-96
Chief Justice Jack Holt and Judge Jack L. Lessenberry
2005-06
Mary McBride, WLJ and Trudy Jacobsen, 6th Division Circuit Court
2006-07
Lee Conner, Friday, Eldredge & Clark
2007-08
Will Bond and Don Hollingsworth
2008-09
William A. “Bill” Martin
2016-17
Dean Michael H. Schwartz, Bowen School of Law
2021-22
Colin Jorgensen, JLAP
2023-24
Chief Judge Dan Kemp
2024-25
Troy Price
Renamed: Award of Excellence
2018-19
Michael S. Moore, JLAP
2019-20
Jean Carter and Dean Theresa Beiner
2021-22
Jim Wyatt, PCBA President 2019–2022
07
President’s Award
Given by the current PCBA President.
1995-96
Judge David Bogard and Marion McMullan
1996-97
W. Russell Meeks, III, Judge David Stewart
1997-98
Bill James, Laura Partlow
1998-99
Judge Wayne Gruber, Judge David Stewart
1999-00
Dean Rodney K. Smith
2000-01
Judge Mary McGowan
2001-02
Greg Kitterman, Jeffrey Ellis, Heather Callaway
2002-03
Bill James, Judge Mary McGowan, Angela Schnuerle, Chris Palmer
2003-04
Herb Wright, Laura Smith, Jeffrey Ellis, Greg Kitterman, John Kitterman, Will Bond, Melinda Gilbert, John Ogles, Melissa Singleton, Leon Helms, Carol King
2004-05
Annamary Dougherty, William O. “Bill” James, Jr., Judge McGowan
2005-06
Annamary Dougherty, Will Griffin, Judge Herbert T. Wright, Charles T. Coleman, Bill James
2006-07
Judge Vic Fleming, Judge Mary McGowan, Kent Rubens, Judge Herbert T. Wright, John Dewey Watson, Bill James, Charles T. Coleman
2007-08
Charles T. Coleman, Judge Herbert T. Wright, Regan Gruber, Tracey Dennis
2008-09
Hugh Finkelstein, Michael Barnes, Judge Jay Moody, Bill James, Tracey Dennis, Kim Keller, Steve Morley, Greg Jones, Regan Gruber Moffitt, Brandon Moffitt, Charlie Coleman, Judge Mackie Pierce
2009-10
Judge Mackie Pierce, Judge Herb Wright and Steve Morley
2010-11
Judge Herb Wright, Lana Taylor, Marie Nguyen and Jennifer Bush (co-presidents of the Law Student Division), Michelle Ator
2011-12
Dan Young, Judge Don Curdie, Katie Kirkpatrick, Regan Gruber Moffitt, Jill Rogers Barham
2012-13
Judge Herb Wright, Steve Morley, Charlie Coleman
2013-14
Leslie Copeland, President, PCBA Law Student Division
2014-15
Erin O’Leary, Lee Short, Marjorie Rogers, Judge Herb Wright, James Law Firm, Lindsey Lee, President, PCBA Law Student Division
2015-16
Jeff Swann and Kelly McNulty (leaving board), Rose Law Firm, Marjorie Rogers, Susie and Greg Kitterman, Ann Simmons, PCBA employee
2016-17
Charlie Coleman, CLE Chair, Chief Justice Howard Brill, First Lady Susan Hutchinson
2017-18
Megan Wells, Marjorie Rogers
2018-19
Taylor Dugan, Allison Pearson Rhodes
2019-20
No Annual Meeting due to Covid-19
2020-21
Betty Hardy, Brooke Steen, Cricket Harper and WLJ for the DR Webinar
2021-22
David Sachar, Emily Abbott, Charlie Coleman, Adrienne Griffis, William O. “Will” James III, Nicole Paladino, Judge Earnest Sanders, Chris Stevens, Megan Wells
2022-23
Khay Eddings, Megan Hargraves, Will James, Bill James, John Collins, Megan Wells
2024-25
Judge Amy Dunn Moore, Erin O’Leary, Adrienne Griffis, Amanda Williamson
08
Judge of the Year Award
2001-02
David Bogard, Vann Smith, Wayne Gruber
2002-03
Chris Piazza, Ellen Brantley, Vann Smith, Barry Sims
2003-04
James M. Moody, Jay Moody, Vann Smith, David Stewart
2004-05
G. Thomas Eisele, Timothy David Fox, Chris Piazza, Mary S. McGowan, Herbert T. Wright, Jr.
2005-06
James M. Moody, Tim Fox and Chris Piazza, Mary S. McGowan, Randall Morley
2006-07
John Forster, Chris Piazza, Ellen Brantley, Herbert T. Wright, Jr.
2007-08
Audrey Evans, Jay Moody, Ellen Brantley, Milas E. “Butch” Hale III
2008-09
Leon Holmes, Jay Moody, Mackie Pierce, Wayne Gruber
2009-10
Leon Holmes, Chris Piazza, Mackie Pierce, Milas E. “Butch” Hale III
2010-11
Jim Moody, Beth Deere, Rick Taylor, Jay Moody, Mackie Pierce, Randy Morley
2011-12
Leon Holmes, Beth Deere, Audrey Evans, Chris Piazza, Mackie Pierce, Judge Alice Lightle and Randy Morley (tie)
2012-13
Jim Moody, Rick Taylor, Joe Volpe, Jay Moody, Dick Moore, Randy Morley
2013-14
Jim Moody, Jim Mixon, Joe Volpe, Chris Piazza, Mackie Pierce, Randy Morley and Wayne Gruber
2014-15
Price Marshall, Beth Deere, Rick Taylor, Chris Piazza (civil and criminal), Patti James, Vann Smith, Randy Morley
2015-16
Randy Morley, Chris Piazza, Jay Moody
2016-17
Vic Fleming, Cathleen Compton, Jay Moody
2017-18
Hugh Finkelstein, Chris Piazza, Rita Gruber, Leon Holmes
2018-19
Hugh Finkelstein, Chris Piazza, Rita Gruber, Kristine Baker
2019-20
No Annual Meeting due to Covid-19
2020-21
Melanie Martin, Mackie Pierce, Tie – Judge Rita Gruber and Justice Dan Kemp, Tie – Judge Kristine Baker and Judge D. Price Marshall
2021-22
Melanie Martin, Mackie Pierce, Rita Gruber and Dan Kemp (tie), Kristine Baker and Price Marshall (tie)
2022-23
Melanie Martin, Cathleen V. Compton, Rita Gruber and Jay Moody
2023-24
James “Jay” Moody, Rita Gruber, Chip Welch and Karen Whatley (tie), Wayne Gruber and Randy Morley (tie)
2024-25
Judge Wayne Gruber, Judge Mackie Pierce, Judge Billy Roy Wilson, Judge Wendy Wood
09
Administrative Assistant / Secretary of the Year
Renamed the Legal Support Professional of the Year beginning in 2008-09.
2001-02
Trudy Jacobson, Pulaski County Circuit Court (Bogard/Fox)
2002-03
Linda Ring, Rose Law Firm
2003-04
Debbie Hall, Court Clerk
2004-05
Toni Coleman, James Law Firm, Registrar for PCBA Luncheons
2005-06
Martha Barnes, Rose Law Firm
2006-07
Greater Little Rock Legal Support Professionals
2007-08
Rose Sykes – Judge Mackie Pierce’s secretary
Renamed: Legal Support Professional of the Year
2008-09
Bev Eberle – Laser Law Firm
2009-10
Lisa Tatum – Judge Fleming’s Court Administrator
2010-11
Tiara King – Wright, Lindsey & Jennings
2011-12
Adele Evans and Susie Stracener (Judge Wright’s staff)
2012-13
Janice Meharg, Attorney General’s Office
2013-14
Berniece Saab, Wright, Lindsey & Jennings
2014-15
Jacque Harvey, Barber Law Firm
2015-16
Misty Cook
2016-17
Cathy Smith, Rose Law Firm
2017-18
Joe Barraza, James Law Firm
2018-19
Vicki Wilson and Gaye Knight, Wright, Lindsey & Jennings
2019-20
No Annual Meeting due to Covid-19
2020-21
Jordan Fowler
2021-22
Martha Cox, Jackson Law Firm
2022-23
Lorna Jones/Volpe
2023-24
Jessica Bennett
2024-25
Bonnie Stafford
10
VOCALS Attorney of the Year
2000-01
Floyd Healey
2001-02
Clay Patty
2002-03
Rebecca Denison
2003-04
Herb Wright
2004-05
Chris Barrier, Sam Hilburn
2005-06
Bill Allen
2006-07
John Phillips
2007-08
Jim Hyden and Shaneen Kellybrew
2008-09
Debra Brown
2009-10
Marcia Barnes
2010-11
John Coulter
2011-12
Danyelle Walker
2012-13
Anthony Mansell
2013-14
Kevin Odum
2014-15
The Legal Department of Entergy, Inc.
2015-16
R. Scott Morgan
2016-17
Abtin Mehdizadegan
2017-18
Lori Holzwarth
2018-19
Steve Joiner
2019-20
No Annual Meeting due to Covid-19
2020-21
Amber Bagley
2021-22
Drake Mann
11
Pulaski County Bar Foundation
The original founding members of the Pulaski County Bar Foundation were Ike Scott, Bill Martin and Bill James.
2004-05
Judge Mary McGowan, Producer – Gridiron
2006-07
Annamary Dougherty, Gridiron Silent Auction
2009-10
Judge Mary McGowan, Producer – Gridiron
2010-11
Bill James, founding board member of the Pulaski County Bar Foundation