The Chattanooga Bar Association will begin publishing two new columns in the Hamilton County Herald starting this month. Each piece will appear monthly, and cover a different aspect of the Bar.
A new column by Bar President Tim Mickel, attorney at Evans Harrison Hackett, will profile some of the Association’s notable past members and historical milestones of judges and lawyers. His column will be titled “Mirable dictu,” a Latin phrase Virgil used when telling a story about a hero that means “wonderful to relate.”
“I was trying to think of the right sentiment for the column, and as classics major, and I remembered ‘mirabile dictu,’” Mickel says. “Whenever Virgil would tell a story about a great hero, he’d interject that phrase so you knew he was excited.”
Mickel says the purpose behind his column will be to honor the members of the Bar throughout its rich history. “[Executive Director] Lynda [Minks Hood] put the bug in my ear to make the column historical, and I thought, ‘What could I do to make it interesting to me and to others?’ And there are all of these colorful characters.”
The first installment of “Mirabile Dictu,” which covers the life, career, and legacy of Judge Charles Fleming Keith, is on page three of this issue of the Herald.
In contrast to Mickel’s exploration of the history of the Bar, Hood will be penning a new column on current events. Topics might include new member benefits and other topics of interest. Hood’s first installment will be published in an upcoming edition of the Herald.
Over his 16-year career as an attorney, Mickel has represented a diverse spectrum of individual and corporate clients in contract and commercial litigation, construction law, insurance law, health care litigation, products liability and tort litigation, employment law, and other areas. He’s represented a number of national and regional banks and financial institutions in complex special assets work, commercial litigation, and lender liability matters. Mickel has also represented national insurers in both Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and contractual coverage disputes involving group disability and credit life and disability insurance policies. His experience also includes representing manufacturing clients in claims involving toxic torts and alleged exposure to asbestos and other toxic substances. Mickel has represented these same types of clients at both the trial and appellate levels.
While a significant portion of his practice has been devoted to litigation, Mickel’s experience and talent are much broader. He has a vast background in representing product manufacturers, including the negotiation of purchase and sale and other related agreements for manufacturers. He has also advised clients with respect to consumer and commercial warranty issues. Mickel also has counseled clients in respect to construction contracts and other agreements related to site development and improvement.
Hood is in her twentieth year as executive director of the Bar. She received her education from Girls Preparatory School and the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. She earned her certified General and Advanced Mediation Training Certificate in 1998.
Hood’s current professional memberships include Rotary Club of Chattanooga and Chattanooga Women’s Leadership Institute, National Association of Bar Executives, among other state and national organizations.
Hood served on the 2012-2013 Search Committee for the athletic director at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC). She also served on a sub-committee for the search for a UTC Chancellor in 2012.
Hood served as the 2011-2012 chair of the Chancellor’s Roundtable for UTC, as an Ex-Officio member of the Trustees of the UC Foundation, and on the University Planning and Resources Advisory Council. She was selected as a “50 Women You Need To Meet” in 2012.
Hood served as a member of the Board of Trustees for St. Peter’s Episcopal School from 2006 through 2010.
Hood was nominated for Leadership Chattanooga’s first annual Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010. She was also chosen to be one of six “celebrity dancers” for the 2010 Dancing With The Stars Chattanooga, which benefits Partnership for Families, Children, and Adults. She won the title of “Fan Favorite,” having raised over $8,000. In 2011, she co-chaired Dancing With The Stars Chattanooga.
Hood served as 2012 Chair for the March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction and Gala.
Hood was selected as one of ten “2011 Women of Distinction” in Chattanooga for distinguishing herself through her family, career, and community. She served as chair of the 2013 WOD luncheon and is the current chair of the 2014 Women of Distinction event. She was also named a “Circle of Red” woman of the American Heart Association in 2011.
Hood is a graduate of Leadership Chattanooga (class of 1995-96), and served on the Board of Directors for the Alumni Association of Leadership Chattanooga from 1996 to 1998 and again in 2011 and 2012.
Hood was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Chattanooga from 1994-2001. She served as Chairperson of The Diplomat Corps of the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce in 1996, and received the “Diplomat of the Year” award in 1985 and again in 1992. She is a Sustainer Member of the Junior League of Chattanooga. Hood has also served on the Board of Partnership for Families, Adults and Children; Inner-City Ministries; FACES; Ballet Tennessee; and the Sentenga Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, where she served as Chairperson of the Public Relations and Government Relations Committee. Hood also served on the Board of Directors for the River Valley Chapter of the March of Dimes from 1984 through 1992, and served as Secretary/Treasurer of this Board from 1989 to 1992. She served on the Board of Directors for the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce in 1997.
Hood served as Young Graduates Chairman on the Alumni Board of Girls Preparatory School from 2001 to 2003; as corresponding secretary of the Alumni Board for 2003-2004; and as Alumnae Weekend Festivities Chairperson for 2004-2005. She’s been the co-chair for her class reunion at GPS on four separate reunions. She’s served as a member of the Advisory Board of the Legal Studies Program at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
Hood has served on the Board of Directors and was registrar for the Signal Mountain Soccer League for 2001 and 2002. She served as secretary of the Executive Board of the St. Peter’s Parent and Teacher Association for 2002-2003, and vice president in 2003-2005. She also served on the Capital Campaign Committee for St. Peter’s Episcopal School. Hood organized and was troop co-leader of the Moccasin Bend Girl Scout Council Daisy Troop (2001-2002) and Brownie Troop No. 966 (2002-2003) at St. Peter’s Episcopal School. She served as the Vice-Chair of the American Heart Association Heart Walk for 2003 and in 2004 served as Chairperson of the 2004 Chattanooga Heart Walk. Hood served as the Survivor Chairperson for the Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure for 2003.
Hood received the President’s Award in 1999, 2003, 2005 and 2009 for her contributions to the legal community for the Chattanooga Bar Association.
She taught Sunday school to the preschool and kindergarten children at Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church from 1998 to 2004.
Hood is married to Michael Hood, with whom she has a daughter, Lauren, a senior at Girls Preparatory School (GPS). They live in Chattanooga and attend the Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church.
Sources: Evans Harrison Hackett website (www.ehhlaw.com); Hood