Members of the Chattanooga Bar Association assembled at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church April 16 for the association’s annual memorial celebration, during which they remembered their “brothers and sisters of the bar and bench who have died,” presiding judge Kyle Hedrick explained.
“This is a most worthy exercise,” Hedrick continued. “It’s when we gather not to mourn their loss but to celebrate their lives and remember their legacy, particularly within the legal community.”
Family members and friends joined the socially distanced gathering, which was also broadcast virtually.
During the ceremony, members of the bar presented resolutions for each of the deceased to a group of Hamilton County judges.
The CBA members who died in 2020 and the friends and colleagues who memorialized them included:
George Edward Koontz
Died Feb. 17, 2020
“As attorneys, we strive to be respected by our clients. George was beloved.” – James McKoon
Gregg Michael Luhowiak
Died March 5, 2020
“I’m grateful I chose Mike to be my mentor when I became an associate, although the main thing he taught me had nothing to do with the law. He taught me family comes first and led by example.” – Cassie Rieder
Sam Jones II
Died May 15, 2020
“Sam was thoughtful, kind, honest, considerate and humble. He took the time to make other people’s lives better and knew the value of his life lies not in what he did but who he was.” – Linda Norwood
The Hon. David Wilson Norton
Died May 22, 2020
“As was said of David during his 2012 election campaign, no monuments will be built for him, but he has loved his community with all his heart.” – R. Dee Hobbs
Phil McCoy Durrence, Jr.
Died Aug. 28, 2020
“Phil was generous, fun-loving and quick with a joke. He was also a good man, a good father, a good friend and a smart and innovative lawyer.” – Craig Allen
Carter Schoolfield
Died Sept. 24, 2020
“Before the rules of procedure, Carter was tremendous trial lawyer. He led a turbulent life as an attorney and a son of a controversial father, but he was a true warrior in support of his clients in a bygone era.” – Jerry Summers
David Haines Rotroff
Died Oct. 17, 2020
Resolution presented by Jeffrey Maddux on behalf of the CBA
Arvin Reingold
Died Oct. 18, 2020
“Arvin was truly a legend in the law, and we will never forget him.” – Judge Kevin Wilson
Theresa Ann Swafford
Died Nov. 7, 2020
Resolution presented by Jeffrey Maddux on behalf of the CBA
John Tate Rice
Died Nov. 9, 2020
“John was a tenacious litigator. Whether he was representing a plaintiff or a defendant, he could argue with the best lawyers and rarely gave in until the judge told him that was enough. He represented his clients vigorously in both victory and defeat.” – Sam Elliott, reading the resolution prepared by Richard Marcus
Alan Ruderman
Died Dec. 16, 2020
Resolution prepared and presented by Stephen Stark