E X E C U T I V E D I R E C T O R’ S M E S S A G E John F. Kynes- Hillsborough County Bar Association
Continued from page 8
Facing threats and intense pressure from local officials and residents who wanted to avoid any negative press about Dozier, Kimmerle in 2012 led a group of researchers who systematically mapped out a cemetery and identified 55 grave sites on the school grounds, though there were only official records for 24 burials.
For her extraordinary work in the investigation to discover the truth about what happened at Dozier, the HCBA named Kimmerle the 2017 Liberty Bell Award winner, which was announced at the annual Law Day Mem- bership Luncheon this past May at the Hilton Downtown.
The Liberty Bell Award has been presented annually by the HCBA since 1964 and is intended to honor a citizen who does not practice law but who has worked tirelessly to preserve and strengthen our system of justice.
“ Dr. Kimmerle is a local treasure,” said Mark Buell of Buell & Elligett, who introduced her at the luncheon and was part of a group that nominated her for the award.
Buell told the crowd Kimmerle’ s work“ has promoted greater respect for the law and a deeper sense of individual responsibility... that citizens recognize the duty of their state to come clean about actual facts from an embarrassing period during our state’ s history.”
In accepting the award, Kimmerle said she was“ humbled, honored, and grateful.”
Kimmerle said her work in the investigation was“ challenging, heartbreaking, but, at the same time, incredibly rewarding.”
She concluded by quoting the celebrated American lawyer, Clarence Darrow:“ As long as the world shall last, there will be wrongs, and if no man objected and no man rebelled, those wrongs would last forever.”
* * * The Law Day Luncheon also provided an
opportunity to highlight the outstanding work of
the HCBA’ s Law Week Committee, which was co-chaired by Amy Nath, Maja Lacevic, and Alexandra Palermo.
The national Law Day theme the ABA selected this year was:“ The Fourteenth Amendment: Transforming American Democracy.”
And Dane Heptner, incoming co-chair of the committee, reported that 120 HCBA volunteer lawyers helped lead mock trials, courthouse tours, and classroom discussions this past March.
More than 3,900 local students were involved in Law Week activities this year, including the art contest, Heptner added.( See photos from the Law Day luncheon on page 36.)
* * * Meantime, the lunch eon
also marked the unofficial end to the 2016-17 Bar year.
And under the out standing leadership of President Kevin McLaughlin and the HCBA Board, there’ s no doubt it has been an exciting and eventful year.
From the successful launch of the Read to Dream Initiative involving volunteer
����������������������������������������� lawyers reading in local schools; all the membership luncheons; the annual Bench Bar Conference; the Holiday Open House; all the HCBA’ s diversity events; the HCBA Pig Roast and 5K Pro Bono River Run; and the Bar Foundation’ s Law & Liberty Dinner, there was something for everyone.
And that does not even include all the other outstanding CLE programs, as well as all the successful events put on by the HCBA’ s superb Young Lawyers Division, which was ably led by Web Melton.
Looking ahead, I’ m confident incoming President Gordon Hill will continue the good work that has helped make the HCBA the wonderful organization it is today as he leads the HCBA in 2017-18. Here’ s hoping everyone has a great rest of the summer. See you around the Chet.
Make sure your member profile is up-to-date! Log onto hillsbar. com.
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