1959

The Southern Trial Lawyers Association awarded J. Lewis Cromer the War Horse Award at their annual convention in New Orleans on February 20. The award is given to trial lawyers with 30 years or more trial advocacy experience in state and federal court who have demonstrated a high degree of excellence as lawyers and a record of public service. Cromer is only the fourth lawyer from SC to receive this award. His accomplishments include the successful handling of numerous employment cases involving state agencies over the last several years, his leadership on the state, regional and national level with ABOTA and some of the awards which he has received over the course of his career. He is senior partner in the law firm of Cromer & Mabry in Columbia.

1969

Hagood & Kerr, PA announces that Wade H. Logan III has joined the firm located at 654 Coleman Blvd., Ste. 100, Mt. Pleasant 29464.

1971

Nexsen Pruet attorney Edward G. Menzie has been named “Columbia Corporate Lawyer of the Year” for 2009 by Best Lawyers®. Menzie practices in the firm’s Corporate and Real Estate Practice Groups. He combines extensive corporate, finance, real estate and securities experience in the representation of a variety of clients, including major financial institutions, governmental entities and real estate entities.

Delta Apparel, Inc. (NYSE Alternext US: DLA) today announced the appointment of Robert E. (Bob) Staton to its Board of Directors. Staton brings more than 30 years of outstanding business leadership to the Company. In 2002, after 17 years of service, Staton retired as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer from Colonial Life, a publicly traded company whose primary business is the sales and service of voluntary benefits programs.

Former S.C. House Speaker and Bush administration Ambassador to Canada David H. Wilkins has joined the law firm of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP. The Clemson University and University of South Carolina School of Law graduate will work from the Greenville office of the Nelson Mullins firm and will chair its public policy and international law practice group. The group will focus on representing businesses in the United State and Canada.

1977

Nine unsung heroes were honored recently for their efforts to improve the quality of life in Spartanburg. They are the newest members Community Weavers, a program that highlights the contributions of ordinary, unsung black leaders. James Cheek, 57, is a Spartanburg County native, was among those inducted this month. Cheek has devoted a great deal of time working in the community. He touched the lives of many young black men through a program he founded to teach them academic and social skills. Some of the participants have become lawyers, physicians, ministers and other professionals. Cheek is an attorney in the Public Defenders office.

1979

Governor David A. Paterson announced the appointment of Marty Mack to serve as Deputy Secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs. Marty Mack previously served as Deputy Secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs to Governors Paterson and Spitzer from January 2007 to June 2008, when he joined a private business development consulting firm. Prior to joining the Governor’s Office, Mr. Mack served for eight years as Deputy Attorney General to Attorney General Eliot Spitzer. From 1980 to 1998, Mr. Mack practiced law while serving as a public servant in a variety of capacities. He served as an Assistant District Attorney in Cortland County from 1980 to 1983, Cortland County Attorney from 1984 to 1987, and Mayor of the City of Cortland from 1988 to 1992. In addition, he was a partner in a private law practice for over 18 years.

Dustin Johnson, and his amateur partner Joe Rice, an attorney from Charleston, S.C., finished tied at 193 in the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am PGA Tour golf tournament. They will share the pro-am team title with another team.

1980

Culp Elliott & Carpenter, P.L.L.C. is pleased to announce that Super Lawyers Magazine has named Managing Partner W. Curtis Elliott, Jr. a 2009 “Super Lawyer.” The annual Super Lawyers list identifies North Carolina’s outstanding lawyers based on professional achievement as selected by their peers. Only the top 5 percent of lawyers in the state were included in this year’s list.

1981

Catherine Hood Kennedy has joined Turner Padget Graham & Laney as special counsel in its business group. Her practice focuses on estate planning, estate administration and litigation and alternative dispute resolution. She will provide counseling and representation in the areas of estate and gift taxation, wills and trusts, fiduciary representation and counseling, charitable remainder trusts, generation-skipping tax planning, family partnerships and limited-liability companies. She is a member of the South Carolina Bar, its House of Delegates, elder law committee and estate planning, probate and trust law section.

1985

In May 2008, Kent Fulton was appointed an Administrative Law Judge with the Social Security Administration's Office of Disability, Adjudication and Review in Springfield, Missouri; in August 2008, Judge Fulton was named the Springfield Hearing Office's Chief ALJ by Region VII Chief ALJ John Fraze. Prior to his appointment with SSA, Judge Fulton served over 11 years as a Judge of the Oklahoma Workers' Compensation Court in Tulsa.

1987

William Floyd III, an employment and labor attorney in Nexsen Pruet’s Columbia office, has joined The South Carolina Developmental Disabilities Council. Governor Mark Sanford appointed Floyd to the board, which is focused on providing leadership, funding and advocacy for people with disabilities. Floyd is certified by the SC Supreme Court as a Labor and Employment Law Specialist. He has been a long-time advocate of people with special needs. In 2007, he wrote Smart Move: An Employer’s Legal Guide to Hiring People with Disabilities, which was published and distributed by the South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs.

Glenn R. Goodwin announces the opening of Oxford Dispute Resolution, LLC located at 401 Furman Hall Rd., Ste. 201, Greenville 29609.

Elizabeth B. Luzuriaga, partner at Young, Clement, Rivers, has been named an adjunct professor at the Charleston School of Law. She practices in the areas of workers' compensation and cases under the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Act. Luzuriaga also chairs the firm's longshore practice group.

1988

The S.C. Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers elected Nelson Mullins' Tim Madden as president for a two-year term. Madden is a partner and practices statewide in Family Court. He focuses on financial issues in divorce or related marital litigation. He serves as chairman of the South Carolina Education Lottery Commission and on the board of directors of Welvista.

1989

Callison Tighe & Robinson, LLC announces that George Harold (Hal) Hanlin has rejoined as a member. The firm is located at 1812 Lincoln St., Columbia 29201.

1991

Michael D. Hamrick has been promoted to assistant vice president, trust office at The Palmetto Bank. Hamrick has been employed at The Palmetto Bank for two years.

1992

The Charleston School of Law announces that Debra J. Gammons has joined the faculty as acting director of the Office of Diversity Initiatives and as a visiting professor.

1993

Frederick "Fritz" Jekel and Paul Doolittle announce the formation of Jekel-Doolittle, LLC located at 496 Bramson Ct., Ste. 100, Mt. Pleasant 29464.

Michael R. Smith, Ph.D. has been named dean of Georgia Southern University's College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, one of the University's largest colleges. He will join Georgia Southern University on June 15, 2009, and will also serve as a professor of political science. During his distinguished career, he has held faculty positions at the University of South Carolina, Washington State University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Sam Houston State University and the University of Colorado at Denver. He is the author of more than 25 articles published in social science and law review journals and is a nationally recognized speaker and presenter on the topic of criminal justice practices and their social implications.

1994

John Schmidt and Missy Copeland announce the opening of Schmidt & Copeland, LLC located at 1201 Main St., Ste. 1100, Columbia 29201

1996

Richardson, Patrick, Westbrook & Brickman, LLC announces that Jerry H. Evans has been elected member of the firm in its Mt. Pleasant office located at 1037 Chuck Dawley Blvd., Bldg. A, 29464.

1997

Richardson, Patrick, Westbrook & Brickman, LLC announces that Elizabeth Middleton Burke has been elected member of the firm in its Mt. Pleasant office located at 1037 Chuck Dawley Blvd., Bldg. A, 29464

Buist Moore Smythe McGee, PA announces that Daniel Q. Orvin has become a principal of the firm located at 5 Exchange St., Charleston 29401.

1998

Richardson, Patrick, Westbrook & Brickman, LLC announces that Daniel S. Haltiwanger has been elected a member of the firm in its Barnwell office located at 1730 Jackson St., 29812.

McKay, Cauthen, Settana & Stubley, PA announces that Marcy J. Lamar has joined the firm as Special Counsel located at 1301 Gervais St., Ste. 901, Columbia 29201.

1999

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, PC announces that Jeffrey P. Dunlaevy has become a shareholder of the firm located at 300 N. Main St., Greenville 29601.

2000

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, PC announces that William L. Duda has become a shareholder of the firm located at 1320 Main St., Ste. 600, Columbia 29201.

2001

Jonathan D. Hammond has joined Turner Padget Graham & Laney as a member of the firm's litigation team. Hammond, who will be based in Greenville, has experience in matters involving personal injury, premises liability, construction defects and general civil litigation. After completing a judicial clerkship with the Honorable Margaret B. Seymour of the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, he entered private practice in the area of civil litigation.

Ellis, Lawhorne & Sims, P.A., is pleased to announce Matthew B. Hill as its newest shareholder. Hill is a member of the Business, Real Estate and Finance Practice Group. Hill began working with Ellis Lawhorne 10 years ago as a law clerk. In November 2001, he joined the firm as an associate attorney. He focuses his practice on general corporate matters and transactions that involve the acquisition, development, leasing, and sale of commercial real estate. Hill provides legal counsel to individuals, lending institutions, corporate entities, and real estate developers.

Attorney Christina Rampey Hunoval has been promoted to of counsel at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough in Charlotte. A former associate, Hunoval practices in the area of business litigation. She has handled consumer-financial-services matters in federal and state courts and multiple arbitral forums. Hunoval has also managed case loads for several major financial institutions and handled other business-litigation disputes involving insurance, class-action and other commercial-law issues.

Dietrich A. Lake announces the relocation of the Lake Law Firm located at 1034 Briargate Circle, Ste. 201 Columbia 29210.

2002

Fisher & Phillips, LLP announces that Richele Keel Taylor has joined the firm located at 1901 Main St., Ste. 1400, Columbia 29201.

2003

The Law Office of Arie D. Bax, PA announces that S. Naki Richardson-Bax has joined the firm located at 1720 Main St., Ste. 301, Columbia 29201.

Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands announces that Ginny Waller has become executive director of the organization with offices located at 3700 Forest Dr., Ste. 350, Columbia 29204.

2005

Emily R. Gifford of Richardson, Plowden & Robinson, P.A., has been selected for membership in the Surety Claims Institute. The Surety Claims Institute is a national organization of claims professionals and attorneys who deal in fidelity and surety bond matters. Membership is by invitation only and is restricted to those attorneys with a significant practice in fidelity and surety bond claims. The organization’s purpose is to enhance the level of professionalism in the surety industry through seminars and interaction among practitioners. It provides a consistent year-round flow of current information in an ever-changing field.

2007

Ann Forest Wilson of Lexington and Wyman Ford Bowers of Estill were married December 27, 2008. He is associate general counsel for the South Carolina Medical Association.

2008

McAngus Goudelock & Courie has announced Barrett Burley has joined the Columbia office. He will concentrate his practice on workers' compensation. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the S.C. Bar, the Richland County Bar Association and the S.C. Defense Trial Attorneys' Association.

Mr. and Mrs. Burch Albert Harper Jr. of Conway announce the engagement of their daughter, Kathryn Long Harper, to David Richard Sligh of Myrtle Beach, son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Milton Sligh Jr. of North Augusta. She is an attorney with the law firm of Singleton, Burroughs & Young, PA in Conway. He is an attorney with the law firm of Turner, Padget, Graham & Laney, PA in Myrtle Beach.

Saint-Amand, Thompson & Mathis, LLC announces that Joseph L.V. Johnson has joined the firm located at 210 S. Limestone Street, Suite 1, Gaffney 29340.

Drake Kaiser and Tom Reddick announce the formation of Reddick & Kaiser, LLC located at 2821 Ashland Rd., Ste. G, Columbia 29210.

Dustin Lee announces the opening of Lee Law Firm, LLC, on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. The Lee Law Firm, LLC is a South Carolina based law firm that advocates for and counsels clients throughout the Low Country, primarily in Beaufort and Jasper counties (including Hilton Head Island, Bluffton, Ridgeland, Okatie, Hardeeville, and Beaufort). Practice areas include Criminal Law, Juvenile Law, and Family Law. The firm also handles other matters on a case-by-case basis.

Holly-Marie Sarvis Patterson announces the opening of Holly-Marie Sarvis Patterson Attorney at Law, LLC located at 355 N. Main St., Gaston 29053.

In Memoriam

Muldrow Burgess "Buzz" Mills passed away Thursday, February 12, 2009. He was president of Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity at the College of Charleston and the University of South Carolina, where he graduated from the School of Law in 1949. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and entered the F.B.I. as a special agent in 1949. He retired in 1975 to become an assistant professor in the Department of Criminal Justice at the University of South Carolina. In 1982 he accepted a position with the Nuclear Division of the S.C. Electric and Gas Company and retired in 1988 to practice law. He was admitted to the S.C. Bar, the U.S. District Court of South Carolina and the U.S. Court of Appeals Fourth Circuit. Mills was a member of the Society of Former Special Agents of the F.B.I. and a longtime member of Forest Lake Country Club where he was an active tennis player for many years.

William Brooks Tyson, Jr., Esquire, of Florence died February 5, 2009. Upon graduation, he began his professional studies at Washington & Lee University School of Law but was interrupted by the war. Seaman Recruit Tyson volunteered for the U.S. Navy the month following Pearl Harbor. Subsequently, the Navy called him to active duty, assigned him to Midshipman’s School at Columbia University and upon completion, commissioned him as an officer.

Tyson graduated from the University of South Carolina Law School in 1948, third in his class. He was a member of the Seldon Society, the Honor Court, Omicron Delta Kappa, and the Wig and Robe. He played on the University’s tennis team and was the first Editor-in-Chief of the South Carolina Law Quarterly (South Carolina Law Review Volume One). Tyson furthered his education by completing a Masters in Law (L.L.M.) from Harvard University with a concentration in taxation and estate planning. Attorney Tyson was admitted to the Bar in 1948 and practiced law in Florence for over 57 years. At the time of his retirement, he was the senior attorney in Florence County. He served as a Special Master-in-Equity a number of times. Judge Tyson was the United States Commissioner (Magistrate Judge) for the District of South Carolina for eighteen years. He is best remembered as an expert in property law, a scholar of the first rank, a patriot and for his great sense of humor.