Dean's Letter SEPTEMBER 1997 DEAR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS, selected "leadership" as the theme for the feature story in this year's Ken­ tucky Lawyer after the Kentucky Bar Association's annual convention in Louisville last June. I am not sure ifl can define leadership, but 1 think J know leadership when I see it being exercised. Moreover, during my tenure as Dean of the College of Law I have come to admire many UK Law graduates who are exemplary leaders. In my opinion, their actions and ach ievements define leadership. My inspiration for this theme began to develop as I attended several special events during the convention. I always seemed to be applauding the outstanding accomplishments of UK Law alumni. Several were recognized at the annual membership luncheon and it was wonderful to see these men and women congratulated for their leadership serving the legal profession and our system of justice. Five distinguished UK lawyers who were leaders throughout their ca reers were inducted into our Alumni Hall of Fame during the Co ll ege of Law's annual dinner. The following even ing, at the KBA's annual banquet, Norman Harned '65 stepped down as President of the KBA, and Robert Elliott '74 was sworn in by Chief Justice Robert Stephens '51 as the KBA's new leader. Bobby inspired every­ one with his acceptance speech, "Lawyers Are People Too," and showed that he will be a strong advo­ cate for the legal profession. I also attended the Young Lawyers Luncheon and came away convinced that UK's leadership will continue for many, many years. The President of our Law Alumni Association last year, Ron Walker '87, was named "Young Lawyer of the Year," and Mary Jane Wilhoit Phelps '89 took over from Palmer Vance '90 as President of the Young Lawyers Section. I am confident that this tradition of leadership by UK Law graduates will endure because our students are men and women of character. During the 1996/ 97 academ ic year UK's 420 students engaged in over 15,000 hours of public service activities. They ass isted the Salvation Army, God's Pantry, the Hope Center, the Fayette County Pro Bono Project, "KIDS VOTE" and many other organizations. These law students will become outstanding members of the legal profession! With 420 students, a facu lty of 28, and slightly more than 5000 living alumni, the UK Co ll ege of Law is a relatively small law school by national standards. These modest numbers belie the tremendous impact our law school has had on the Commonwealth, the region and the nation since it was established in 1908. Please share my great pride in the careers of the many leaders who have been educated at the UK Coll ege of Law, and my great optimism for the future of this law school and our profession. Sincerely, David E. Shipley Dean UK About This Issue The Kentucky Lawyer is published annually by the University of Kentucky College of Law for alumni, students, friend and faculty. Dean Da,id E. Shipley FEATURES __________________ Co-Editor Mary Serini Buckles Director of Development 2 First in Leadership Co-Editor 5 Student Leaders Susan Bybee Steele Associate Dean of Career Seroices 30 Alumni Profile - A Wildcat in Addis Ababa Our thanks to photographer, Tim Collin , Shooters Photography, Gene King, Ralph Development INSERT-ESQ. Holman and the University of Kentucky 1edical Center Photography Department for their photographic contributions. Design & Production DEPARTMENTS Hammond Design Associates, Inc. and University of Kentucky Publishing Services 7 Admissions 34 Library Article Copyright (c) University of Kentucky All rights resen•ed. 8 Hall of Fame 36 Commencement Class Action Faculty Section Special Thanks 14 38 Our special thanks to Cinergy 24 Alumni Photo Section - 42 Elder Law Clinic Corporation of Cincinnati, OH and its Reunions, Events, Etc. President and Chief Executive Officer, 44 What's ewFor James E. Rogers '73, for their financial 31 Career Services The Kentucky Lawyer support of this publication. 33 CLE, Mark Your Calendar Mission: The University of Kentucky College of Law is a publicly supported law school dedicated lo preparing men and women Telephone and E-mail Numbers at the College of Law to become outstanding attorneys who Dean's Office ..................... .606 / 257-1678 Career Services ............. ...... .606 / 257-8959 can provide leadership for their [email protected] [email protected] communities, the Commonwealth of Student Records ....... ..... 606/ 257-8318 [email protected] Kentucky, and the nation. The school Admissions ....................... .606 / 257-6770 Development ... ....... .. .. ....... .606 / 257-3208 is also commilled lo f1roviding leadership [email protected] m [email protected] lo the University, the community, [email protected] Law Library ....................... .606 / 257-8686 the Commonwealth, and the nation Alumni Relations ................... .606 / 257-3 103 [email protected] through the research, scholarship, and [email protected] Faculty Members ................... .606 / 257-1678 CLE ............................. .606 / 257-2921 and ask for specific faculty member ervice of its faculty and staff [email protected] Statement of Non-discrimination All applicants meeting the appropriate Many faculty also use E-mail. To reach a faculty member, type the first initial of their first name and their complete last requirements and technirnl standards shall be name [email protected] (iejulie Dunn = [email protected]) considmd equally for admission to any academic /1.-ogram ,rgmrtlPSS of race, co/01; 1rligion, College of Law on the Web sex, mmitnl status, sexual orientation, Make sure to visit the K College of Law's Home Page on the World Wide Web at: http:/ / www.uky.edu/ Law national origin, age, beliefs,or disability. Firs t in leadership The Kentucky Bar Association's President, Bobby Elliott '74, further defines leadership. He grew up with the impression that being a lawyer and a leader were syn­ onymous and that he still feels this way. Based upon the Distinguished Careers achievements of the men and women who have graduated from the UK College of Law since it was established in are the mark of Leadership 1908, the people who edit Webster's could add "lawyer" to the definitions of leadership and leader along with the fol­ lowing parenthetical; especially lawyers educated at the University of Kentucky College of Law. The UK College of Law is a relatively small law school by national standards with just over 420 students and slightly more than 5000 living alumni. Roughly a third of the lawyers in Kentucky are graduates. Nevertheless, UK Law alumni have had an impact on the Commonwealth, the region and the nation far greater than one would expect from a school with those modest numbers. UK edu­ cated lawyers are found in leadership positions in politics eadership is a hot topic, and the public sector, business, education, civic and chari­ table organizations, and churches and synagogues. and not just for manage­ The KBA is led by UK Law graduates. Twelve of the last thirteen Presidents are alumni including the first ment consultants and MBA programs. Leader­ woman to serve in this office, Marcia Milby Ridings ' 76. The President-elect and the Vice President are UK ship is defined in the Webster's II dictionary as Lawyers as are the KBA's Executive Director and six of the fourteen men and women on the Board of Gover­ the capacity or ability to lead. There are multi­ nors. Alumni include the President and the President­ elect of the Kentucky Bar Foundation, the Chair of the ple definitions for "leader" and "lead" includ­ Kentucky IOLTA Fund, and the Chair and Past-Chair of the Young Lawyers Section. ing one that leads or guides, one in charge of At the College's fall orientation for first-year law stu­ dents Dean David Shipley talked about Bobby Elliott as others, a person who has influence, to show the an example of a lawyer/ leader. Bobby is the grandson of two lawyers, the son-in-law of a lawyer as well as the son of way, to be first, and to tend toward a given goal a lawyer. He grew up witnessing the leadership roles held by each of those persons in their profession, schools, or result. Last spring there was a special semi­ churches and communities. He credits his many accom­ plishments to this background, his beloved Centre Col­ nar on higher education issues at the Universi­ lege, and the K College of Law: ty of Pennsylvania s Wharton School where an "I was abl,e to /,earn from professors who were not only excell.ent teachers, but excell.ent rol,e models as entire day was devoted to presentations on lead­ well. One did not have to look far to find individuals who were contributors and l,eaders in ership. The characteristics of being a leader will their professional and personal lives. I could walk down a hall into the offices of persons like WL. be discussed at length at the American Bar Asso­ Matthews, Bob Lawson, Bill Fortune and others. We learned that earnin1; a law degree not only ciation s next workshop for law school deans. afforded us an opportunity for success, but also placed upon us a responsibility to ourselves, our profession and most importantly to others who would rely upon us. " The list of political leaders who received their legal edu­ cations at UK is also impressive. For example, it includes five II THE u I VE RSITY OF KE TUCKY CO LLE GE OF LA W Leading The Way former Governors of the The Honorable Joseph Commonwealth M. Hood '73, .S. District Edward T. "Ned" Court Judge for the Eastern Breathitt '50, Julian M.