1968

Collins & Lacy, P.C. is pleased to announce that Joel W. Collins was awarded the 2009 "Masters in Trial Award" by the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) Foundation during their recent national board of directors' meeting in Indian Wells, California. Collins served as the 2008 President of the Board of Trustees of the ABOTA Foundation, and was a featured speaker at the 2008 ABOTA-sponsored conference, Judges and Attorneys in Interaction: The Commonalities and the Differences in Portuguese and American Legal Systems in Lisbon, Portugal. He has also played a key role in numerous "Masters in Trial" presentations throughout the U.S. In September, 2009, Mr. Collins was the program director for the First Annual James Otis Lecture in the South Carolina State House, where approximately 135 selected high school students learned about the history of the United States Constitution.

1971

Charles S. Bryan announces the opening of The Law Offices of Charles S. Bryan, LLC located at 260 W. Coleman Blvd., Ste. B, Mt. Pleasant 29464.

David Turnipseed, Doug Brannon, Brac Turnipseed and Ben Stevens announce the opening of Turnipseed, Brannon & Stevens located at 128 Magnolia St., Spartanburg 29306.

1974

Wade S. Kolb Jr. and Timothy W. Murphy announce the formation of Kolb & Murphy, Attorneys at Law, LLC at 107 N. Main St., Sumter 29150.

1976

James W. Bradford announces the opening of his law practice, Jim Bradford Law Firm, LLC, located at P.O. Box 1347, 30 N. Congress St., Ste. 209, York 29745.

1977

Conway resident Kaye Hearn was officially be sworn in as a member of the S.C. Supreme Court on January 14, 2010, becoming the second woman to serve on the state's highest court. Hearn, who is replacing retiring Justice John Waller, has served on the S.C. Court of Appeals since 1995 and as its chief justice since 1999. Hearn graduated cum laude from the University of South Carolina Law School. She went on to become a law clerk for eventual Supreme Court Chief Justice Julius B. Ness before a six-year stint in private practice, then an election as a Family Court judge.

1981

Carol P. Black has been named administrative counsel for the U.S. House of Representatives located at 217 Ford HOB, Washington, DC 20515.

1982

Nexsen Pruet attorneys have elected John Sowards as the law firm's Chairman of the Board. As Chairman, Sowards will be responsible for shaping the vision and strategy for the 170-attorney law firm. Sowards has deep roots at Nexsen Pruet, joining the firm in 1980 when the firm had just one office in Columbia. Now, Nexsen Pruet serves clients out of eight offices throughout North and South Carolina. John Sowards' legal practice is focused in the areas of real estate, corporate and finance law. He has extensive experience with all aspects of shopping center and hotel development, as well as commercial lending including troubled debt restructuring and workouts. Additionally, he represents businesses on matters related to finance, acquisitions, mergers, employment, contracts and business negotiations. Prior to law school, Sowards was commissioned as a U.S. Army Second Lieutenant and served four years of active duty.

1990

Richardson, Plowden & Robinson, P.A., has named attorney Steven J. Pugh as the firm's new managing shareholder. A seasoned trial lawyer, Pugh has 20 years experience, focusing his practice on the defense of product liability claims, toxic torts, commercial disputes, and transportation cases. As Richardson Plowden's managing shareholder, Pugh is responsible for leading the firm's Executive Committee, executing its client retention and growth strategies, and providing managerial oversight for internal operations of offices in Columbia and Myrtle Beach. He also will maintain his active litigation practice. In addition to his new role as the firm's managing shareholder, he serves on the firm's Executive Committee. Pugh is a member of the South Carolina Bar, the North Carolina Bar Association and the State Bar of Texas.

1995

David Turnipseed, Doug Brannon, Brac Turnipseed and Ben Stevens announce the opening of Turnipseed, Brannon & Stevens located at 128 Magnolia St., Spartanburg 29306.

1997

Richardson, Patrick, Westbrook & Brickman, LLC announces Thomas P. Gressette Jr. has been elected member of the firm located at 1037 Chuck Dawley Blvd., Mt. Pleasant 29464.

1998

David B. Yarborough Jr. and William E. Applegate IV (2002) announce the opening of Yarborough Applegate, LLC located at 210 Wingo Way, Ste. 301, Mt. Pleasant 29464.

1999

Richardson, Patrick, Westbrook & Brickman, LLC announces James C. Bradley, Christiaan A. Marcum and Robert S. Wood have been elected members of the firm located at 1037 Chuck Dawley Blvd., Mt. Pleasant 29464.

Dallas attorneys Jeffrey Goldfarb and Charles W. "Trey" Branham III announce the formation of the litigation firm Goldfarb Branham LLP, with offices at Saint Ann Court in Dallas. The firm handles complex commercial litigation throughout Texas and the nation and represents both public and private companies, as well as select individuals.

Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, PA announces that Charles J. Hupfer Jr. has been named shareholder in the office located at 1831 W. Evans St., Ste. 315, Florence 29501.

Turner Padget Graham & Laney, PA announces that J. David Johnson IV has been elected a shareholder with the firm located at 1831 W. Evans St., 4th floor, Florence 29501.

David Morrison announces that Kassi B. Sandifer has joined the Morrison Law Firm, LLC located at 7453 Irmo Dr., Columbia 29212.

2000

David Turnipseed, Doug Brannon, Brac Turnipseed and Ben Stevens announce the opening of Turnipseed, Brannon & Stevens located at 128 Magnolia St., Spartanburg 29306.

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP announce that Betsy Johnson Burn has become partner of the firm located at 1320 Main St., 17th Floor, Columbia 29201.

Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth & Detrick, PA announces that Grahame E. Holmes has become a partner of the firm located at 101 Mulberry St. E., Hampton 29924.

Stacy Elizabeth Thompson has been elected Board Member representing the Fourth & DC Circuits of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives (NOSSCR). NOSSCR is an association of over 3,900 attorneys and advocates who represent claimants applying for social security disability. Its members are committed to representing claimants in the adjudication process and advocating for beneficial change in the disability determination process. She has been a partner at the law firm of Bluestein, Nichols, Thompson & Delgado, LLC since 2005, with a practice primarily focused in the area of social security disability.

2001

Nelson Mullins Riley and Scarborough, LLP announces that Ben Barnhill has become a partner of the firm located at Poinsett Plaza, 104 S. Main St., Ste. 900, Greenville 29601.

Nancy Fennell announces the opening of The Law Office of Nancy C. Fennell, LLC located at 7210-B Broad River Rd., Irmo 29063.

Howser, Newman & Besley, LLC announces that Michal Cooper Jones has become a member of the firm located at 1508 Washington St., Columbia 29201.

Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein, LLP announces that Michael E. Kozlarek has become a partner of the firm located at 1201 Main St., Ste. 1450, Columbia 29201.

Turner Padget Graham & Laney, PA announces that Sam Sammataro has been elected a shareholder of the firm located at 1901 Main St., 17th floor, Columbia 29201.

2002

David B. Yarborough Jr. (1998) and William E. Applegate IV announce the opening of Yarborough Applegate, LLC located at 210 Wingo Way, Ste. 301, Mt. Pleasant 29464.

Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, PA announces that Joshua L. Howard has been named shareholder of the firm located at 75 Beattie Place, 11th Floor, Greenville 29601.

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP announce that Amanda Kitts and Ronnie McMahan have become partners of the firm located at 1320 Main St., 17th Floor, Columbia 29201.

Lincoln Memorial University-Duncan School of Law announces that Jonathan A. Marcantel has been promoted to Assistant Dean for Assessment and Assistant Professor of Law located at 601 W. Summit Hill Dr., Knoxville, TN 37902.

Matthew E. Tillman has been named a principal of the Charleston-based law firm Buist Moore Smythe McGee PA. He is a member of the firm's litigation practice group, and his practice focuses primarily on products liability, business and construction litigation. Milberg, LLP announces that Jennifer L. Young has become a partner of the firm located at One Pennsylvania Plaza, New York, NY 10119.

2003

Dority & Manning, PA announces that Neil M. Batavia has been elected a shareholder of the firm located at 55 Beattie Place, Ste. 1600, Greenville 29601.

2004

Margaret League Boylston and Matthew Vernon Creech were married on Saturday, January 9, 2010, at Bethel United Methodist Church in Walterboro. She is an attorney with Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth and Detrick, P.A. in Hampton.

2006

Trident Technical College announces that David Aylor has joined the Legal Studies Department as an adjunct professor. His firm remains at 24 Broad St., Charleston 29401.

The law firm of McAngus Goudelock & Courie is pleased to announce that attorney David M. Bornemann has joined the firm's Columbia office. Bornemann's practice focuses on workers' compensation defense. He served as president of the Student Bar Association, was a member of the John Belton O'Neal Inn of Court and founded the Law School Advocates, a student organization designed to represent the school in various capacities while at the USC School of Law.

Lloyd McGuire of Liberty, Texas was recently promoted to Captain in the United States Marine Corps. His military education includes graduating from the USMC Officer Candidate School located in Quantico, VA, the USMC Officer Basic Course located in Quantico, VA, and the Naval Justice School located in Newport, RI. He is currently serving as Trial Counsel, Military Justice Office, Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

2008

Haller Law Firm, PC announces that Matthew E. Pecoy has become an associate of the firm located at 180 Meeting St., Ste. 230, Charleston 29401.

In Memoriam

Charles Dennis Aughtry, 64, passed away January 12, 2010 at Lexington Medical Center. He had lived in Columbia for well over 30 years where he maintained his law practice. Aughtry earned his Jurisprudence Degree from the University of South Carolina Law School December 31, 1977. He earned a Bachelor's Degree in English at Lander College and later earned his Master's Degree in English at Georgia Southern in Statesboro, Georgia. Having served in the U.S. Army, Aughtry was stationed at Fort Dix, New Jersey. He later served as the speechwriter for the Commanding General at Fort Jackson in Columbia. While in Columbia, he worked as the assistant Richland County attorney and later full-time attorney. In 1989, he served as acting administrator for Richland County. In 2007 he ran as a candidate for Governor of South Carolina.

Jenel Marie Domke, 48, died of complications of pneumonia on Oct. 27, 2009, at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital. Jenel was born July 26, 1961, and came to Fairbanks after practicing civil and criminal law and teaching law in South Carolina for more than 12 years. She earned degrees in political science and world history from University of California, Davis, and her law degree in 1989 from University of South Carolina, making the dean's honor list. She was honored multiple times in South Carolina for her dedication and innovation in prosecuting the most serious felony cases. Although she was proud of awards and recognition from colleagues and supervisors, Jenel was most honored when victims in some of her cases came back or write to tell her what a difference she made in their lives. That was why she loved her work. Sadly, Jenel did not have the opportunity to experience her next professional challenge: She had just been offered a new statewide position involving prosecution of computer facilitated sex crimes, also a special area of interest.

James "Jamie" Robert Porter, Jr., 35, of Mt. Pleasant, SC, entered eternal life on the morning of Saturday, January 16, 2010. He graduated cum laude at the University of South Carolina and received his law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1999.

Charles H. Randall, Jr., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Law and former Acting Dean of the USC School of Law, died January 29, 2010. He was 90. Born in January 1920, Professor Randall was raised in Massachusetts and served in the Army Air Corps as a navigator aboard B-24s in World War II. After the war, he attended Harvard University, where he completed his undergraduate and legal studies, receiving his A.B. in 1947, his LL.B. in 1950, and his LL.M. in 1954. Professor Randall was a member of the New York, Massachusetts and South Carolina Bars and was associated with the law firm of Hodges, Reavis, McGrath, Pantaleoni and Downey in New York City from 1950 to 1952. After receiving his LL.M. from Harvard, Professor Randall and his wife, Claire, moved to Columbia where he joined the faculty at the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1954. Through his long career at the law school, Professor Randall taught numerous subjects and was known to generations of lawyers for his ready sense of humor and gentle character. As the senior member of the faculty, he served as the Acting Dean of the USC School of Law for 18 months beginning in 1986, succeeding Dean Harry M. Lightsey, Jr. Dean Randall served in that capacity until the appointment of Dean John E. Montgomery in May 1987. Although Professor Randall formally retired from the faculty in 1991, he continued to teach for several more years, eventually completing more than 40 years as an active teacher at the University.