Professional Affiliations
Ohio State Bar Association
Akron Bar Association
Membership Activities
Life Member of NAACP in following locals:
Akron – (wife and son also life members in Akron) Former active member, National Bar Association Former active member, Federal Bar Association
Member of Finance Committee for Summit County Democratic Party (1990-present)
Member, Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity (oldest black fraternity in United States)
Member, Summit County Democratic Party Finance Committee, 2004-2008
33° Prince Hall Mason
Former Board Member, Akron Urban League and Community Center
Former Executive Board Member, The Great Trail Council Boy Scouts of America
Former Executive Board Member, The Region 10 Council on Alcoholism
Education
Juris Doctor, The University of Akron C. Blake McDowell School of Law, Akron, Ohio, 1976 Honors and Activities: President of the Black American Law Students of America, Akron Branch.
Bachelor of Arts in Theoretical Economics, Minor in Speech, The College of Wooster, Wooster, Ohio, 1973
Honors and Activities: Varsity football.
The Schwartz Award for general excellence in college work.
Notable Achievements
Sponsor of The University of Akron School of Law, Gilbert Juris and Residence Annual Program, 2005-present
Akron Bar Association Diversity Committee Award for Leadership in the University of Akron Minority Clerkship program, 2008
University of Akron Law School Outstanding Alumni Award, 2006
Chairman, Akron Bar Grievance Committee, 2005-2007
NAACP National Outstanding Corporate Membership Award, 1999
Highlighted in U.S. News and World Report on developing legal dialogue in the local community on racial relations, 1997
Honorary Past Potentate, Al Kaf Shrine Temple #109, 1993
Received Outstanding Noble of the Year Award from Al Kaf Shrine Temple #109, 1992
Provided legal assistance to the State Representatives serving on a committee to assist in drafting new legislation for the State of Ohio Civil Rights Act, 1991-1992
Recipient of the 33rd Degree from the Free and Accepted Masons, 1990
Recipient of the National Association of Black Accountants' Role Model and Leader Award of the University of Akron, 1989
Recipient of the Black Law Enforcement Officers Association Criminal Justice Award, 1988
Honored by the Akron Beacon Journal as one of the top five young lawyers in Northeastern Ohio, 1986
Recipient of the Boy Scout Whitney Young Award, 1986
Named Outstanding Legal Counsel for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (Akron and Canton Chapters), 1984
Chairman, Akron Bar Association Certified Grievance Committee, 2004-2006
Former Special Counsel to the Ohio Attorney General, 1984-2001
Former President of the Akron Barristers' Association
Chairman and Past Chairman, The Legal Redress Committee for numerous branches of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (Akron, Canton, Alliance, Massillon, Portage County, Barberton, Mansfield, and Zanesville Chapters)
Presentations
Guest Lecturer, Ohio Trial Lawyers Association. Reviewing legal cases on anti-smoking litigation. "Waiting to Exhale" seminar, October 2006
Speaker, Street Law Programs at Revere High School, 2004-2008
Speaker, The University of Akron Black Alumni Law Students Association (emphasis on How to Practice Law and Do Not Cheat Clients), 2006
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