Blending
humor, storytelling and a deep sense of appreciation, the Legacy
Recognition Ceremony hosted by the Warren County Bar Association Friday
evening was a rousing success.
The five living members of the Bar who were admitted to practice nearly 50 years ago were honored in a catered affair at Shaker Run G.C. As was attested by all those in attendance, the honorees have had a deep impact on Warren County in general and the bar association in particular.
The honorees were retired Mason Municipal Court Judge David K. Batsche, Lebanon attorney Jackson Hedges, retired Franklin Municipal Court Judge James D. Ruppert, Springboro resident and Mason magistrate Eddie Lawson, and retired Warren County Juvenile and Probate Judge Mark Clark.
All five shared stories of their reasons for becoming a lawyer, and the satisfaction they feel from addressing legal needs for such a long time. “It means a lot to me to be recognized for being in service for as long as I have,” said Mr. Hedges.
“I consider this one of the greatest honors I have ever been given,” said Judge Batsche (bottom right).
...
The five living members of the Bar who were admitted to practice nearly 50 years ago were honored in a catered affair at Shaker Run G.C. As was attested by all those in attendance, the honorees have had a deep impact on Warren County in general and the bar association in particular.
The honorees were retired Mason Municipal Court Judge David K. Batsche, Lebanon attorney Jackson Hedges, retired Franklin Municipal Court Judge James D. Ruppert, Springboro resident and Mason magistrate Eddie Lawson, and retired Warren County Juvenile and Probate Judge Mark Clark.
All five shared stories of their reasons for becoming a lawyer, and the satisfaction they feel from addressing legal needs for such a long time. “It means a lot to me to be recognized for being in service for as long as I have,” said Mr. Hedges.
“I consider this one of the greatest honors I have ever been given,” said Judge Batsche (bottom right).
...
WAYNESVILLE ATTORNEY MIKE FOLEY, whose formal role for the evening was as a presenter for Mr. Hedges (top), had stories about each of the honorees – most of which were heartfelt tributes, but others were hilarious anecdotes worthy of a comedy sideshow.
Franklin attorney David Chicarelli, who presented Judge Ruppert, displayed a similar sense of humor. “I just turned 65 a little while ago and was feeling pretty bad about it,” he said. “Until tonight. Then I looked at all these old guys.”
Current Juvenile/Probate Judge Joseph Kirby presented Judge Clark (bottom middle) by indicating all the ways the current operation of the court is directly influenced by what Judge Clark instilled many years ago. “He has to be one of the nicest guys alive, and one of the fairest judges there has ever been,” he said.
Judge Clark said he very much appreciated all of the comments that were made about him.
...
JUDGE KIRBY ALSO COMMENTED how he has known Mr. Lawson (bottom left) his whole life. “Until I was 10 years old he had me convinced he was Batman. When I found out he wasn’t, I needed therapy,” he joked.
Retired juvenile court magistrate Erik Peters presented Judge Batsche, offering a moving depiction of how the two of them have been lifetime friends from the time Mason was a very small town until a time now when it has the largest public high school in all of Ohio.
Judge Ruppert, who graduated from West Point in 1960 and became county prosecutor in 1968 before becoming one of the county’s finest trial attorneys, encouraged all lawyers to appreciate the legal system and the way it allows them to advocate for all people’s interests.
Earlier in the day, the bar association hosted a golf outing that was well attended. A team led by Mason attorney finished first while a team led by Tyler Webb, another Mason attorney, finished second.
The event will be renewed in 2016 when five new honorees will be presented