DEAN FISHER RETIREMENT CELEBRATION
On May 7, a retirement celebration for West Virginia University College of Law Dean Emeritus John W. Fisher, II was held in the magnificently remodeled Law School building in Morgantown. Pictured above is WVU President E. Gordon Gee and Dean Emeritus Fisher. Dean Fisher served as Chief of Staff to President Gee during his earlier tenure as President in the 1980’s after Gee had also served as Law School Dean.
In addition, a ribbon cutting was held for the John W. Fisher, II Courtroom in the new classroom wing of the Law School. Federal District Court Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr., a Bar Foundation Fellow, provided stirring remarks during the courtroom dedication.
After welcoming comments by Law School Dean Joyce McConnell, presentations were made by Law School Professor Charles R. DiSalvo, Attorneys Charles M. Love, III, Robert M. Steptoe, Jr. and George R. Farmer, Jr. as well as Professor Emeritus Forest J. Bowman—-all of whom are Bar Foundation Fellows along with Dean Fisher.
Then, there was the presentation of the Distinguished West Virginian Award from Governor Earl Ray Tomblin, which was done by two lawyers from the Governor’s Office, Charles O. Lorenson and Jason C. Pizatella.
Dean Emeritus Fisher, “the state’s foremost authority in the field of property law” according to the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia and a College of Law faculty member since 1971, made a poignant presentation regarding his career at WVU, his interactions with thousands of WV’s judges and lawyers and the support of his family, especially his wonderful wife of 50 years, Susie.
LAWYER LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE
The Bar Foundation hosted its third annual Lawyer Leadership Institute on May 16-18 at the Stonewall Resort near Weston.
A diverse group of younger lawyers from various parts of the state participated in interactive sessions, networking opportunities and interpersonal relationship building in an informal atmosphere. A total of 13 hours of continuing legal education credits were provided for the well received seminars.
Each of the participants confirmed that they would recommend the Institute to other younger lawyer leaders and here are just some of the specific comments that they placed on the evaluation forms:
• Well done.
• Very well planned and very well executed.
• The speakers who had more interactive presentations were my favorite.
• Very thought provoking.
• The Institute did an excellent job of laying out our responsibilities as lawyers to lead not just within the profession, but in the community as a whole.
• The speakers were varied, and for the most part, very interesting.
• [I]t was a wonderful group of presentations with a star group of presenters.
• I am also grateful for the new friends I have made while here.
The speakers included Federal Court Judge Irene Berger, Circuit Court Judge Michael Aloi, WVU Law School Professor Emeritus Jack Bowman and Professor Tom Patrick, Lawyer Disciplinary Board Counsel Renee Frymyer, Jessica Alsop, Norwood Bentley and Elliot Hicks.
The younger lawyer participants were:
Matt Delligatti (Fairmont)
Lee Floyd (Charleston)
Jarrett Gerlach(Huntington)
Jeff Godfrey (Parkersburg)
Taylor Hood (Huntington)
Amy Rothman (Charleston)
Shannon Smith (Morgantown)
Kala Sowers (Morgantown)
Jeff Van Volkenburg (Clarksburg)
Ben Warder (Martinsburg)
LUNCH AND LAUGHS-FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17-JACK BOWMAN
The Bar Foundation’s Board of Directors is very pleased to announce that West Virginia University Law School Professor Emeritus Forest “Jack” Bowman will be the honored guest for the Fourth Lunch and Laughs With a Legal Legend on Friday, October 17, 2014!
This highly anticipated “friendly roast” of Professor Bowman will begin at 11:30 AM at the Erickson Alumni Center in Morgantown and will conclude by 1:00 PM.
You won’t want to miss this once in a lifetime opportunity to have colleagues talk about the Professor’s unique traits and listen to the Professor’s responses with the proceeds designated for a very worthwhile charitable activity.
Friday, October 17, 2014.
Erickson Alumni Center-Morgantown
11:30 AM-1:00 PM
Lunch and Laughs With a Legal Legend
(The Roasting of Jack Bowman.)
More details in the coming weeks.
Please visit our website at wvbarfound.org
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Thomas R. Tinder, Esq.
Executive Director
West Virginia Bar Foundation
Post Office Box 4845
Charleston, WV 25364
304-343-9823-phone
tom@wvbarfoundation.org
The philanthropic organization for West Virginia’s legal profession and justice system.
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