1972

Spartanburg Methodist College on Saturday honored 1965 graduate Dwight F. Drake and at its annual Alumni Weekend. A veteran of the U.S. Army and Vietnam War, Drake has practiced law since 1972, managed political campaigns and served under Gov. Dick Riley. He has been with the law firm Nelson Mullins Riley and Scarborough in Columbia for 25 years and focuses on governmental relations, litigation and appellate work. Some of his clients have included BMW, Clemson University, USC and the Medical University of South Carolina.

1974

Toney J. Lister, of Lister, Flynn, Kelly & Talley in Spartanburg, SC, won the Platinum Compleat Lawyer Award from the University of South Carolina School of Law.

1975

F. Earl Ellis, Jr., of Ellis, Lawhorne & Sims in Columbia, SC, won the Platinum Compleat Lawyer Award from the University of South Carolina School of Law.

1977

Theo Nixon will represent Mecklenburg County as a District Court judge. He was selected to the District Court in 2008 to fill the term of retiring Judge Nathaniel Proctor. Before serving as District Court judge, Nixon was a criminal defense lawyer for 30 years in Mecklenburg County.

1978

Mayor Robert “Bob” D. Coble, of Nexsen Pruet in Columbia, SC, won the Platinum Compleat Lawyer Award from the University of South Carolina School of Law.

1979

Young Clement Rivers, Attorneys at Law, is pleased to announce that Wilbur E. Johnson has been elected to serve as Managing Partner. Johnson practices primarily in the area of employment and labor law, and is licensed to practice in State Court, the United States District Court, and the United States Court of Appeals. Until 1994, Wilbur worked as an assistant attorney general in the office of the Attorney General of South Carolina and was the recipient of the Earl Warren Legal Training Fellowship. He is a member of the South Carolina Bar House of Delegates, the South Carolina Bar Nominating Committee and the Employment and Labor Law, the Litigation sections of the American Bar Association and has recently been admitted to membership in the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel. He is also past chair of the Editorial Board of the ABA/BNA Lawyer's Manual on Professional Conduct.

1984

Nexsen Pruet attorney David Dubberly has been selected as the only South Carolina attorney for inclusion in Super Lawyers® Corporate Counsel Edition in the practice area of international law. Dubberly co-chairs Nexsen Pruet’s international team. In his international practice, Dubberly helps clients negotiate international sales, supply, joint venture, distribution, and licensing agreements, as well as set up sales offices and distribution centers in the U.S. and in other countries. Dubberly also represents clients in litigation and arbitration involving international business disputes. He also chairs Nexsen Pruet’s employment and labor law practice group.

1988

Gray T. Culbreath, of Collins & Lacy in Columbia, SC, won the Gold Compleat Lawyer Award from the University of South Carolina School of Law.

Kernodle, Root, Varnado & Coleman announces that Donna S. Givens has joined the firm in its Midlands office located at 4721 Sunset Blvd., Ste. D, Lexington 29072.

1989

A. Marvin Quattlebaum, Jr., of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough in Greenville, SC, won the Gold Compleat Lawyer Award from the University of South Carolina School of Law.

1990

Norman Valz has been admitted onto the Roll of Solicitors for England and Wales with an active Practicing Certificate allowing him to practice law in England and Wales. Additionally, this will allow him to practice law throughout the European Union up motion to the court of local jurisdiciton. Valz' decision to obtain admission to practice in England and Wales was to better serve clients' international needs. Such clients include a British-American company, as well as venture capital firms and hedge funds located on the east coast. Valz's law practice is based in both New York City and Philadelphia for the past 16 years, and it has focused upon commerical litigation, corporate governance and securities.

1992

Teri Callen Stomski, South Carolina Counsel for investors Title Insurance Company in Greenville, SC, won the Gold Compleat Lawyer Award from the University of South Carolina School of Law.

1993

Molly Hughes Cherry, of Nexsen Pruet in Charleston, SC, won the Silver Compleat Lawyer Award from the University of South Carolina School of Law.

Frederick “Fritz” Jekel and Paul Doolittle, former Motley Rice LLC lawyers, announce the formation and opening of Jekel-Doolittle, LLC.

1994

The Board of Governors (BOG), the governing body of the Greater University of South Carolina Alumni Association, met in March and approved the slate of new members to serve terms on the Board from July 1, 2009 until June 30, 2012. Kathy Randall was one of those selected to serve this term.

1996

Thomas R. Young, Jr., of Whetstone Myers Perkins & Young in Aiken, SC, won the Silver Compleat Lawyer Award from the University of South Carolina School of Law.

1998

James D. Galyean has joined Nexsen Pruet’s Business Litigation Practice Group as Special Counsel. Galyean will work in the firm’s newly opened offices next to Falls Park in downtown Greenville. Prior to joining Nexsen Pruet, Galyean served as Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. At the U.S. Attorney’s office, Galyean focused his practice on prosecution of drug trafficking, white collar, and gang-related crimes. As Special Counsel at Nexsen Pruet, he will also draw on his experience as Chief Counsel for Senator Lindsey Graham. While working for Senator Graham, Gaylean served as lead counsel on terrorism, immigration and tort reform issues. He also managed Senate Judiciary Committee business and subcommittee staff. Galyean’s experience also includes time as a Legislative Assistant for the late Senator Strom Thurmond. And, he served as Staff Attorney for the Supreme Court of South Carolina.

Smith Moore Leatherwood, LLP announces that C. Marshall Lindsay has joined the Charlotte office located at 525 N. Tryon St., Ste. 1400, 28202.

1999

Roper St. Francis Healthcare (RSFH) announces that Gregory T. Edwards has been named Vice President and General Counsel of the hospital located at 125 Doughty St., Ste. 160, Charleston 29403.

2001

Shannon Jones, Attorney at Law, LLC announces the opening of her family law practice located at 180 Meeting St., Ste. 305, Charleston 29401.

2002

Tanya A. Gee, of the South Carolina Court of Appeals in Columbia, SC, won the Silver Compleat Lawyer Award from the University of South Carolina School of Law.

Baker, Ravenel & Bender, LLP announces that Bradley L. Lanford has been named partners of the firm located at 3710 Landmark Dr., Ste. 400, Columbia 29204.

Eric Nodine announces the opening of Nodine Law, LLC located at P.O. Box 5151, Spartanburg 29304.

2007

Margaret Lynn Faller and Robert Kenneth Gotheridge were married in January 2009. Gotheridge is captain in the US Army JAG and stationed at Fort Polk, LA.

In Memoriam

Benjamin Owen Clary, Jr., died unexpectedly January 22, 2009. He earned his BA and JD (’64) degrees from the University of South Carolina. He first taught English and social studies at Wardlaw Junior High School. While teaching at Dentsville High School, he passed his love of poetry, beauty and all things “Victorian” on to his students. He later became assistant principal, also serving in that capacity when Spring Valley High School was opened. He was formerly th education liasion officer for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

Senator John Alfred Martin, 87, died at his home on March 7, 2009. He was a graduate of Dreher High School where he was president of the Student Body. Educated at the University of South Carolina, he earned a law degree at the University's School of Law in 1947. Senator Martin served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was discharged with the rank of Lieutenant. He married Mary McMaster Boulware of Winnsboro in 1943 and practiced law in Winnsboro until his retirement in 1990. He served two years in the S.C. House of Representatives and 35 years in the Senate. He was chairman of the Banking and Insurance Committee and second in Senate seniority.

Retired Judge Wade S. Weatherford, Jr., 88, who served the 7th Judicial Circuit for 14 years, died at his residence, following a brief illness. Weatherford was the first circuit court judge elected from Cherokee County, taking the bench in 1967 and retiring in 1981. He served in the state House of Representatives from 1961 until 1966 and was a state senator for one year before accepting an appointment to the judgeship by the legislature.

Weatherford received recognition by various groups for his ruling granting a petition by an adoptee to gain access to birth records, which are sealed in South Carolina. Weatherford graduated cum laude with a bachelor of arts degree from the University of North Carolina and received his doctor of law degree in 1948 from the University of South Carolina. He served as national president of Phi Delta Theta and was a World War II veteran and retired lieutenant commander with the U.S. Naval Reserve.

The Honorable David Norman Wilburn, beloved husband, father, brother and grandfather died peacefully Thursday morning, March 19, 2009, at Wallace Thomson Hospital following a brief illness. He was a graduate of Union High School, Furman University and the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1955. He was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, where he rose to the rank of captain and served in the Korean conflict. He was a member of the Episcopal Church of the Nativity, where he served as Senior Warden and Lay Reader.

Judge Wilburn practiced law in Union for many years, until his election by the South Carolina General Assembly to the court system. He served as the family court Judge for South Carolina's 16th Judicial Circuit which encompasses Union and York Counties. Following his retirement, "Sonny," as he was known to his friends and family, served his community not only through his church, but also as a member of the Board of the Salvation Army and actively participated in Meals on Wheels as a driver, fund raiser and advocate. Sonny and his wife Lou were avid golfers and gave their talents, support and leadership abilities to keep the Union Country Club viable as long as possible.