Class Notes
April 2007
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1939
In memoriam: Thomas A. Babb, 91, of Laurens died April 25.
1947
The Honorable Ernest "Fritz" Hollings will be presented with a Distinguished Alumni Award at The University of South Carolina Homecoming, September 28, 2007.
1955
William Hyrum Medlin passed away in April, 2007.
1956
The Honorable John Tarrant Black, 79, died Monday, May 14, 2007. Judge Black was born in Beaufort, South Carolina on January 13, 1928. Judge Black graduated served in the Office of Special Investigations of the United States Air force before attending and graduating from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1956. He served on Walterboro City Council and on the Lowcountry Council of Governments. He practiced as an attorney with the firm of Padgett, Moorer and Black in Walterboro but upon the death of his senior partner left the firm to pursue his love of high-performance automobiles by owning and operating Black Chevrolet-Olds and the Walterboro Dragstrip. He returned to the legal field in 1968 after his appointment as Colleton County Judge and later as Judge of the Family Court of South Carolina, Fourteenth Circuit, until his retirement in 1995.
1959
Richard W. Riley received an honorary doctor of laws May 13 during the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's spring commencement. Riley is a partner in the law firm of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough. Riley was U.S. secretary of education from 1993 to 2001 and the 111th governor of South Carolina from 1979 to 1987. Riley is a distinguished professor of education at the University of South Carolina and advisory chair of the Richard W. Riley Institute of Government, Politics and Public Leadership at Furman University. The College of Education at Winthrop University bears his name.
1969
Ralph Phillips Jr. sadly announces the dissolution of his partnership due to the death of his partner Michael N. Duncan (USC Law 1976). The firm will operate under the name Ralph Phillips Jr., LLC, d/b/a Duncan & Phillips Law Firm with offices located at 220 N. Church St., Spartanburg 29304. (864) 582-4560.
1970
Mendel Jackson Davis of Mt. Pleasant, SC, an attorney, former Congressman of the First Congressional District of South Carolina, died May 13, 2007. Mr. Davis was a former chairman of the Charleston County Democratic Party. He served as an assistant to Congressman L. Mendel Rivers for 10 years. After the death of Congressman Rivers, Mendel Davis was elected to Congress and represented the First Congressional District of South Carolina from 1971-1981. After leaving Congress, he continued to serve the citizens of this state as a practicing attorney in Charleston County. While he was a member of the U.S. Congress, Mendel Davis worked to increase the minimum wage and helped to create comprehensive health care from Jasper County to McClellanville. As a ranking member of the Armed Services Committee, he did many things to support the military presence in Charleston and throughout the world. He sponsored a bill that brought the Yorktown to Patriots Point. Mr. Davis was a part of the House Leadership Commitee that brought about the resignation of President Richard Nixon.
1973
Peter A. Curcio, a wealth management/estate planning and tax attorney, has joined the Charleston office of Turner, Padget, Graham & Laney, PA as special counsel.
1974
Willard Montgomery "Monty" Hines, Jr. of Richland, Washington, died at his home.
1975
Judge Rolly Warren Jacobs died Sunday, May 13, 2007. Judge Jacobs was a South Carolina Family Court Judge, a U.S. Army Captain having served in Vietnam and a member of the Lyttleton Street United Methodist Church. He proudly served as assistant City Judge for municipal court and Master in Equity.
1976
Franklin Elmore, co-founder of the firm Elmore & Wall, PA, was selected for inclusion in the 2007 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.
Attorney L. Franklin "Frank" Elmore was named to a three-year term on the governing committee of the American Bar Association's Forum Committee on the Construction Industry. Elmore practices in the Greenville office of Elmore & Wall, P.A. The appointment was made at the committee's annual meeting in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
1977
William C. Hubbard, a partner in Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough's Columbia office, has been selected to receive the American Inns of Court’s 2007 Professionalism Award for the Fourth Circuit. He is the first South Carolinian to receive the award since its inception in the Fourth Circuit in 1998
D. Michael Kelly was elected as secretary/treasurer of the foundation for the South Carolina Bar. Owner of the Mike Kelly Law Group, LLC, his practice emphasizes workers' compensation, disability, health and personal injury litigation.
1979
Brigadier General James C. Walker has been named MilSec to Staff Judge Advocate to the Commandant for USMC.
Marty Mack is Deputy Secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs in the administration of New York Governor Spitzer.
Don Beatty has been elected new state Supreme Court justice in the South Carolina Supreme Court.
Anne S. Ellefson was selected as president of the 20056-2006 South Carolina Bar. Ellefson is a shareholder with Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, P.A.
1981
G. Marcus Knight will lead Nexsen Pruet’s new innovation team with offices located at 1441 Main St., Ste. 1500, Columbia 29201. (803) 771-8900.
1984
David Dukes was Elected President of Lawyers for Civil Justice at its annual meeting in Washington, DC in May. Lawyers for Civil Justice is a national coalition of defense trial lawyer organizations and corporations that seeks to restore and maintain balance in the civil justice system. Lawyers for Civil Justice has been actively involved in working for class action reform and reform of rules relating to the use of electronic information in litigation. David Dukes is managing partner of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough.
Lorelle D. Proctor has been named Deputy Director of the Charleston County Public Defender's Office.
1985
Duncan McIntosh has been named vice president and general counsel of the law for Blue Cross Blue shield of South Carolina.
1987
William J. Buchanan, PA announces the opening of its second office location at 144 Leisure Lane, Ste. 200, Columbia 29210. (803) 256-1400.
W. Lawrence Brown announces its relocation of The Law Office of W. Lawrence Brown, LLC to 4594 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Beech Island 29842. (803) 593-6447.
Cal Watson will serve as the foundation's president-elect for the South Carolina Bar. A partner with Sowell Gray Stepp and Laffitte, LLC, Watson concentrates his practice in commercial litigationand professional negligence.
1988
Mark M. Stubley, a Greenville attorney, has received the Urban League of the Upstate’s 2007 Volunteer of the Year Award. The award, which recognizes an individual’s contributions to the Urban League and the people it serves, was presented to Mr. Stubley at the 2007 Equal Opportunity Day Dinner on April 26. Over the years, Mr. Stubley has been very involved with the Urban League and currently serves as their general counsel. He has also served on their Regional Board of Directors for the past four years. Stubley is a partner with Ogletree Deakins Nash and Stewart, PC.
1989
"Babs" Warner was recognized for Law Related Education (LRE) Lawyer of the Year by the SC Bar’s House of Delegates. The honor is for her contributions to public service, legal services, law related education and the legal profession:
J. Pamela Price announces the opening of The Price Law Firm located at 5000 Thurmond Mall Blvd., Ste. 402, Columbia 29201. (803) 530-7188.
1991
Michele Elayne Bateman passed away on April 30, 2007.
1992
Robert M. Deeb Jr. has joined The McNair Firm as a shareholder in its Hilton Head Island office. His areas of practice are commercial and residential real estate law.
Dixon F. Pearce II announces the opening of Pearce Law Firm, LLC located at 1971 Riviera Dr., Ste. B-2, Mt. Pleasant 29464. (843) 972-0860.
1993
Monica K. Gilroy and partner Jennifer L. Dickenson opened the doors of a new residential and commercial real estate and litigation law firm, Dickenson Gilroy LLC. The focus of her litigation practice includes all aspects of real estate litigation, including foreclosure and title disputes, broker and agent liability defense, mortgage fraud-related litigation and civil and commercial contract disputes. The firm has nine offices located throughout metro Atlanta.
William H. Burriss announces that his firm's name has changed to Burriss Law Firm, PC and has relocated to 907 Elmwood Ave., Columbia 29201. (803) 779-5842.
1995
Wesley M. Graybill has been named accepted into the 2007 class of Leadership South Carolina.
Robert Lawrence Reibold married Marie Boland Shealy (USC Law 2005) on April 14, 2007 in Columbia, SC.
1996
Toyya Gray announces the opening of the Law Offices of Toyya Brawley Gray, LLC located at 1313 Elmwood Ave., Columbia 29201. (803) 771-1550.
1998
Daniel A. Saxon has become a shareholder at Novit & Scarminach, PA., Hilton Head.
1990
Tracy O'Kelly Klatt has returned to the S.C. Department of Social Services (SCDSS) as Attorney for Beaufort and Jasper Counties and Lead SCDSS Attorney for the 14th Judicial Circuit with offices located at 1905 Duke St., Beaufort 29902. (843) 470-4677
1997
Stephen Shaw has become Patent Counsel for QUALCOMM, Inc. located at 5775 Morehouse Dr., San Diego 92121. (858) 587-1121.
Andrew "Drew" Gorgey has been named First Assistant County Attorney of the El Paso County Attorney's Office with offices located 27 E. Vermijo Ave., 3rd Floor, Colorado Springs, CO 80903. (719) 520-7013.
1998
Wesley Few Ellis has become a shareholder of the firm Lawhorne & Sims, PA located at 1501 Main St., 5th Floor, Columbia 29201. (803) 254-4190.
1999
W. Jonathan Harling has become an associate with the Columbia firm Lewis & Babcock, LLP located at 1513 Hampton St., Columbia 29201. (803) 771-8000.1999
Katie Cauthen announces the opening of the Cauthen Law Firm, LLC. Correspondence may be sent via mail to P.O. Box 611, Blythewood 29016. (803) 754-5124.
Phillip Ferderigos has become a partner with the Charleston, SC firm Barnwell Whaley Patterson & Helms.
James C. Cox III has been named a shareholder of the firm Grier Law Firm, LLC with offices located at 2999 Sunset Blvd., Ste. 200, W. Columbia 29169. (803) 731-0030.
2000
John Martin was honored With Mullins Business Development Award by Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP for his marketing efforts. The Mullins Award is named for Edward W. Mullins Jr., a senior partner with Nelson Mullins who joined the firm in 1959.
2001
Melody J.E. Breeden has become a shareholder in the firm of Rice MacDonald & Winters PA located at 950 48th Ave. N., Ste. 200, Myrtle Beach 29577. (843) 449-4493. The firm's new name is Rice, MacDonald, Winters & Breeden, PA.
Matthew E. Yelverton has joined Thurmond Kirchner & Timbes, PA located at 15 Middle Atlantic Wharf, Ste. 101, Charleston 29401. (843) 937-8000.
Kenneth Michael Barfield has been names Special Counsel to the Charleston, SC firm Barnwell Whaley Patterson & Helms.
Kathleen Martin has joined the Protection & Advocacy for People with Disabilities, Inc. Community Integration, Equal Access and Conditions in Facilities team as a staff attorney. They are located at 3710 Landmark Dr., Ste. 208, Columbia 29204. (803) 782-0639.
Michael Petit has relocated to the Charleston office of Willson Jones Carter & Baxley, PA , at 421 Wando Park Blvd., Ste. 100, Mt. Pleasant 29464, (843) 284-1080.
Christy C. Jones has become a shareholder of The Sherpy Law Firm, PA located at 129-B E. Main St., Lexington 29072. (803) 356-3327. The firm's new name is Sherpy & Jones, PA.
2002
Scott F. Talley announced the opening of Pye & Talley located at 959 John B. White Sr. Blvd., Spartanburg 29306. (864) 583-5658.
2003
Wesley Jackson Shull and Mary Porter Hudson were united in marriage on Saturday, May 5, 2007. Wesley practices law at Fant & Gilbert Law Firm, P.A.
C. John Wentzell Jr. has become an associate of the firm Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, PC (Ogletree Deakins) located at 300 N. Main St., Greenville 29601. (864) 271-1300.
Damien A. Sobieraj announces the opening of Cooper River Legal Services, LLC located at 1002 Anna Knapp Blvd., Mt. Pleasant 29464. (843) 881-2244.
2004
Ben Baroody has become an associate of the firm Bellamy, Rutenberg, Copeland, Epps, Gravely & Bowers, PA located at 1000 29th Ave. N., Myrtle Beach 29578. (843) 448-2400.
Shawn Reeves has become an associate of Harvey and Battey, PA located at 1001 Craven St., Beaufort 29901. (843) 524-3109.
2005
Nicholas Cedric Steinhaus married Beverly Ann Poplin on April 14, 2007 in Columbia SC.
Marie Boland Shealy married Robert Lawrence Reibold (USC Law JD 1995) on April 14, 2007 in Columbia, SC.
Thornwell Simons has joined the Protection & Advocacy for People with Disabilities, Inc. Community Integration, Equal Access and Conditions in Facilities team as a staff attorney. They are located at 3710 Landmark Dr., Ste. 208, Columbia 29204. (803) 782-0639.
2006
Candace Shelise Gore and James Bradley Hindersman were married May 12, 2007 at Wachesaw Plantation in Murrells Inlet. She is an attorney with McKay, Cauthen, Settana & Stubley, P.A. He is a real estate attorney in Columbia.
Jerrilea Smith has joined the Protection & Advocacy for People with Disabilities, Inc. Community Integration, Equal Access and Conditions in Facilities team as a staff attorney. They are located at 3710 Landmark Dr., Ste. 208, Columbia 29204. (803) 782-0639.
W. Ford Graham has been named General Counsel of Tomlin & Company, Inc. with offices located at 4500 Ft. Jackson Blvd., Columbia 29209. (803) 540-3400.
Wesley Bryant has become County Attorney of The Georgetown County Attorney's Office with offices located at 129 Screven St., Georgetown 29442. (843) 545-3194.
2007
Shaun Welborn Cranford of Myrtle Beach and Allison Rebecca Bagnal of Spartanburg were married May 19, 2007 at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Spartanburg. He will be employed by the Honorable James Williams.
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