Annual Meeting Report
 

KBA President Ruth T. Ellis presided over the Annual Meeting of the Knoxville Bar Association on Friday, December 14, 2007. More than 300 lawyers and judges were in attendance. Ms. Ellis announced that the following KBA members were elected as officers for 2008:  Thomas R. Ramsey, III - President-Elect, Samuel C. Doak - Treasurer and Michael J. King - Secretary. The membership elected the following KBA members to the four open positions on the Board of Governors: Tasha C. Blakney, Timothy C. Houser, Gregory S. McMillan and Chancellor Daryl R. Fansler.  In addition to these officers elected, Adrienne L. Anderson assumed the presidency of the Knoxville Bar Association at the close of the meeting.

Adrienne Anderson has longstanding ties to our community.  She is a graduate of Fulton High School, the University of Tennessee and the University of Virginia Law School.  Ms. Anderson practices at the firm of Kramer Rayson LLP, where she does all types of litigation, including construction, employment and contract law.  Those who work with her note her creativity, energy and focus.   In addition to her active practice, Ms. Anderson has held numerous positions in the Knoxville Bar Association and is active in pro bono work. 

Ms. Anderson thanked the Knoxville lawyers for the honor of representing and serving them, stating that, “You are the finest lawyers and judges that the legal system has to offer.” She expressed her pride in the value that lawyers add to the Knoxville community, specifically noting the efforts of both defense attorneys and prosecutors to make sure that our criminal justice system operates fairly and correctly, the integrity of local judges who must make difficult decisions on controversial issues based solely upon devotion to law and justice, and the dedication of lawyers handling the “everyday” legal matters that touch the lives of most citizens. Ms. Anderson described the commitment of local lawyers to providing access to justice for all through voluntary free legal service for the poor as a “proud tradition” of the Knoxville legal community. Another hallmark of the Knoxville bar is the commitment to professionalism and civility. As Ms. Anderson said, “In this community, lawyers treat each other with honesty, respect, and just plain good manners that may be aspirational elsewhere, but is the expected manner of behavior here.”

Howard H. Vogel was presented the highest award of the Knoxville Bar Association, the prestigious Governor’s Award.  In presenting the award, it was stated that… “no lawyer had done more on behalf of Knoxville Bar Association lawyers and on behalf of the organized bar than Howard Vogel...ever.” Following the presentation of the 2007 Governor’s Award to Howard Vogel, President Ruth Ellis, on behalf of the Board of Governors, in an unusual and yet unprecedented move awarded a second Governor’s Award for 2007 to William D. Vines, III in recognition of his significant contributions to the profession and as a measure of the Bar’s pride in his accomplishments.

The 2007 President’s Awards were presented to John W. Routh and John M. Smartt  for their service to the KBA membership and the community.  In addition, the family of Douglas M. Anderson was presented with the Courage in the Face of Adversity Award.  In presenting the award, KBA member Hon. John R. Rosson, Jr.  acknowledged Mr. Anderson’s exceptional courage, unselfishness and professionalism while facing considerable health issues.

Ruth Ellis announces new KBA President Adrienne Anderson who is shown flanked by her law firm Kramer Rayson LLP.

New KBA President Adrienne Anderson presents Ruth Ellis with a plaque honoring her for service as the 2007 KBA President.

Presenter Bill Vines announced Howard Vogel as the 2007 Governor's Award recipient.  His family looks on as Howard expresses his appreciation to the KBA membership.

 

President Ruth Ellis, on behalf of the Board of Governors, in an unusual and yet unprecedented move awarded a second Governor’s Award for 2007 to William D. Vines, III in recognition of his significant contributions to the profession and as a measure of the Bar’s pride in his accomplishments.  His family is shown looking on.

KBA President Ruth Ellis presents the 2007 Presidents Award to Bill Routh and John Smartt for their years of services on the KBA Memorials & Resolutions Committee.

DICTA Co-editor Mike King presented the 2007 DICTA Award to Jason Long for his timely, witty and rarely
mundane articles which have graced (disgraced) just about every edition of Dicta for the past 10 years.
Jason’s acceptance speech also won the “Brevity Award” for the day (He just smiled and nodded.)

The Honorable John Rosson, on behalf of the Professionalism Committee, presented the Courage in the Face of Adversity Award to  the family of Douglas M. Anderson for his exceptional courage, charity, grace, unselfishness and professionalism.

New Barristers President Tim Housholder presents Penny Arning with a plaque honoring her for service as the 2007 KBA Barristers President.

"Angel"  John Eldridge does his part to support the Barristers Angel Tree campaign at the KBA Annual Meeting.  He is shown here with Hon. Ken Irvine and Carol Nickle.