Recently, I had the honor and privilege of attending the Bar’s memorial service for Robert “Bob” C. Hord, Jr. (September 26, 1940 – May 30, 2020).  Bob was one of the pillars of the well-known firm of Johnston, Allison & Hord, PA. Incredible, loving eulogies were given by several his partners including Morry Johnston, Pat Kelly and Marty White. They each told stories of his mentorship, devotion to his family, military service, community service and professionalism. It was a tribute for which we would all be envious.

If we are honest enough to admit it, when we attend these types of services, it is only human nature to wonder what if the service was for me? Who would attend? What would be said? What indelible thought did I plant in someone’s memory that was significant enough to be recanted? What accomplishments would be extolled?

In other words, what will I have accomplished in the dash between the date of my arrival into this world and the date of my departure? Doctors have an oath that says, “Do no harm.” I think the oath for attorneys could be a modified version of a famous saying from theologian John Wesley, “Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can, to all the people you can, in every place you can, at all the times you can, with all the zeal you can, as long as ever you can.” 

If you have never attended a Mecklenburg County Bar Memorial Service – you should. George Miller, George Hanna and Judge Robert Conrad are among three of the devoted members of our Memorials Committee that carry on a tradition that has existed in our Bar for more than 50 years. Based on research by George Hanna, we believe we are the only bar in the country that pauses to recognize the professional contributions of our brothers and sisters who have passed. A formal court session is convened for this purpose. A written resolution is prepared for each remembered person and it, along with the minutes from the proceeding, are filed and preserved in the Clerk of Court’s Office. I am always astounded at what I learn at these memorials.

Being an attorney should mean more than billable hours and adversarial rantings. Recently I met a family who immigrated from Russia. On a trip home from the beach, a horrific accident took the life of the husband, severely injured the wife and left five young children, injured without their father. There was minimum insurance coverage for the tortfeasor. The legal proceedings arising from the accident required five attorneys to represent each of the interests of the five minor children. After first explaining that there would be no money to pay them, I reached out to five attorneys, Amanda Mingo, Woody Connette, Jason James, Jon Carroll and Daniel Grist, and asked them if they would represent the children. I needed to look no further, as all five, immediately and without hesitation, volunteered their legal services. These are the acts of lawyers who understand what it means to be a lawyer.

The MCB offers countless opportunities for us to plug in and make a difference in our community. I hope each of you will find a way to make such a difference.

“So when your eulogy is being read, with your life’s actions to rehash, would you be proud of the things they say about how you lived your dash?” – The Dash, by Linda Ellis

P.S. - If you have not watched “Worth” on Netflix, stop binging other shows and watch it. It is the story of Kenneth Feinberg, who mediated the Victim Compensation Fund for the claims arising out of the September 11 tragedy. By the way, Fienberg did it on a pro bono basis.