THE PRESIDENTS' AWARD ROBERT B. ACOMB, JR. 2002 Recipient of the Presidents' Award Description BIOGRAPHICAL The New Orleans Bar Association Presidents' Award recognizes attorneyswho, in addition to their professional excellence and integrity, have dedicated themselves to community service in the exercise of the highest ideals Robert B. Acomb, Jr. was bornin New Orleans and attended New of citizenship. The award is the highest level of recognition from the Orleans Catholic schools. After graduating from Jesuit High School, he Association and is named the "Presidents' Award" out of respect to the high received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1951 and his ideals of community service and leadership displayed by all of the Presidents Juris Doctor in 1953 fromTulane University. While in law school, he was of the New Orleans Bar Association. elected to the Board of Editors of the Tulane Law Review, the Order of the Coif, and the Omicron Delta Kappa National Honor Society. Criteria for Eligibility A lifelongresident ofNew Orleans, he and his wife,Greta LeBlanc The award is presented annually to a member of the Association whose Acomb, are the parents of fivechildren, all of whom have pursued careers activities in community service outside of the legal profession, over a in the legal profession. Since graduating from law school in 1953, Mr. significantnumber of years, demonstrate an active commitment to community Acomb has practiced with Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrere& service, high moral and spiritual standards, and concern for the social and Denegre. He headed the firm's Maritime Section and served on the firm's cultural well-being of all of the citizens of New Orleans. Lawyers holding or Executive Committee formany years. He is currently a senior partner with seeking elective office and previous recipients are ineligible for the award. Jones, Walker. 2002 Selection Committee CIVIC AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES The President of the New Orleans Bar Association, with the advice Mr. Acomb has not only been recognized as a leader in the New and consent of the New Orleans Bar Association's Board of Directors, appoints Orleans legal community formany years, but has actively participated in the Selection Committee which consists of fiverecognized community leaders who are not engaged in the practice or teaching of law. The 2002 Selection many civic and community endeavors, including those,...associated with Committee members were Gary Froeba, Yvette Jones, Father Anthony Tulane University and the Catholic Church. McGinn, Nom1an Robinson and Dion R. Valentino. The President of the New Orleans Bar Association serves on the committee ex-officioand without a vote. For more than 40 years, Mr. Acomb has been a generous supporter of Tulane and has held many leadership positions at Tulane. Since 1969, Previous Recipients of the Presidents' Award Mr. Acomb has been an adjunct Professor of Law at Tulane Law School and has taught various courses in maritime law in both the undergraduate 1991 Morse W. Dennery 1997 Donald W. Doyle and graduate law programs. He continues to teach a course entitled 1992 Walter M. Barnett 1998 David Conroy "Maritime Personal Injury and Death." He has also authored numerous 1993 Harry B. Kelleher 1999 George Denegre legal publications and is regarded as one of the foremostauthorities in the 1994 Moise S. Steeg, Jr. 2000 Herschel L. Abbott, Jr. field of maritime law. Since 1978, he has served as a member of the 1995 Arthur J. Waechter, Jr. 2001 Gene W. Lafitte 1996 Jack C. Benjamin 5 4 Tulane Law School's Deans Council and served as its Chairman from 1985 Board of Administrators from 1996 through 2000 and is a past President of to 1996. the Tulane Alumni Association and has served on the Alumni Association's Executive Committee. He has also served on the Tulane President's Mr. Acomb is a founding member of the Admiralty Law Institute Council, the National Annual Fund Committee, the Law School Fellow which was created in 1965 by Tulane Law School Dean Cecil Morgan. Committee, the Alumni Council, the Parents Council, the Campaign The Admiralty Law Institute is internationally recognized as one of the Executive Committee, and the Tulane Association of Business Alumni. In principal sources of scholarly work in the field of maritime law and has 1992, he was named "Volunteer of the Year" by the Tulane Alumni enhanced Tulane's international reputation in the field of maritime law. Association. The Admiralty Law Institute offersa prestigious maritime law conference held biennially at Tulane's campus with speakers and participants from fn addition to his service to Tulane, Mr. Acomb has been a around the world. generous financialsupporter of the University. He was a major supporter of the Tulane Law School Building Fund and also served as its Chainnan. Dean Morgan appointed the original Planning Committee of He has been a Tulane Law Fellow since 1962. The Admiralty Law maritime attorneys who were selected because of their preeminence and Institute has also generously shared its success with the Tulane Law School actual position in the field, and not because of their popularity. Benjamin and has made several major financialcontributions to advance the maritime Yancey, a prominent New Orleans maritime attorney who was the first law program at Tulane, including funding for a wing of the Law School recipient of the New Orleans Bar Association's Distinguished Maritime building, the establishment of the Admiralty Law Institute Professorshipin Lawyer Award, was selected to chair the Institute and working with Dean Maritime Law, and generous gifts to the Tulane Law Review and the Morgan, the hvo appointed the initial Planning Committee, which included Tulane Maritime Law Journal. Mr. Acomb. Since 1990, Mr. Acomb has served as Chairman of the Admiralty Law Institute. In 2000, Mr. Acornbwas presented with an award fromthe Tulane Law School forhis 30 years of continuous service as an adjunctprofessor. London solicitor Patrick Griggs, who serves as President ofComite The Law School used the sailing term "center of effort" in expressing its Maritime International and Secretary Treasurer of the British Maritime appreciation and recognition to Mr. Acornbfor his years of service: Law Association, has worked with Mr. Acornbover the years. He recalls that Mr. Acomb has been a leader in planning several London conferences The center of effort on a sail is the point hosted by Tulane and the British Maritime Law Association: "Without his at which all the forces come together to. calm guidance and thoughtful programming suggestions, these events move the boat forward. For Tulane Law would not have been the success which they undoubtedly were. The School, Robert B. Acomb, Jr. has been Admiralty Law Institute and Tulane Law School will recognize that Bob and continues to be a center of effort- his has made an outstanding contribution to advancing the national and legal expertise in admiralty law, the international standing of these two organizations." generous gift of his time, his special talents as a teacher and Chairman of the Mr. Acomb is also a founder, faculty advisor and Chairman of the Planning Committee of the Admiralty Board of Advisory Editors for the Tulane Maritime Law Journal, Law Institute and his continuing loyalty an international law review publication, and a founder and past Chairman to Tulane Law School have helped our of the Tulane Associates. From 1989 to 1990, he served as Chainnan of admiralty program become and remain the Tulane University Alumni Fund. Mr. Acomb served on the Tulane the premier program in the world. 7 6 Tulane Law School Dean Lawrence Ponoroffcomments that "It is details make a difference- a phone call, difficult to imagine anyone more deserving of the prestigious Presidents' a quiet word here and there. When he Award than Bob Acomb." Dean Ponorofffurther describes Mr. Acomb's sees a need for support, he doesn't hesitate to give it. As Tulane Law School activities: Dean Lawrence Ponoroff will tell you, Bob has made significantcontributions of Through his leadership in the profession time, energy, and resources to the School and the community, Bob Acomb has set over the years. But in addition to Bob's an inspirational example of leadership strong support of the Law School, he has and service that others can only hope to served in a variety of leadership roles emulate. A successful and respected throughout the University. Bob currently practitioner fornearly 50 years, a tireless serves on the Liberal Arts and Sciences community activist and volunteer, an Dean's Advisory Council and has served individual of enormous courage and on numerous other committees and rectitude, and a devoted husband and councils, including the President's father, Bob has made an indelible mark in Council and the Parents Council. He has New Orleans and beyond, and has also worked tirelessly on behalf of the enriched the lives of all who have had the Tulane Alumni Association. His efforts privilege of knowing him. Bob has also resulted in the Alumni Association been a steadfast and loyal supporter of obtaining a seat on the Tulane Board of Tulane University, which has been the Administrators, and he served from 1996 beneficiary as well of his extraordinary to 2000 as the Alumni Representative. talents and commitment to service. A Bob has long held active c1v1c past member of the University Board of commitments in other areas as well. His Administrators and the current chair of loyalty to New Orleans and to Tulane the Law School Dean's Advisory Board University is unquestioned, and his and the Admiralty Law Institute Planning willingness to give so unsparingly af Committee, among the many other himself to the community is truly positions in which he has served, we are cornn1endable. proud to number him among our most distinguished alumni and I, in particular, Eamon Kelly, President Emeritus of Tulane, describes Mr.