HCBA Lawyer Magazine Vol. 30, No. 4 | Page 13

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 J o h n F. K y n e s - H i l l s b o r o u g h C o u n t y B a r A s s o c i a t i o n Continuedfrompage10 community over the years,” HCBA president Grace Yang told me. “I believe Amy’s many contributions make her very deserving to receive this prestigious award,” Yang added. Longtime partners Tom Elligett and Mark Buell nominated her for the award, and Elligett made the announcement at the membership luncheon. Elligett noted Farrior has been a Florida Bar Certified Appellate Lawyer since 2001 and is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell. And he highlighted Farrior’s many years of Bar service and the many leadership positions she has held. These positions include serving as HCBA president in 2010-11, serving as chair of the HCBA’s Appellate Practice Section, and serving as president of the Ferguson-White Inn of Court. Farrior also served as president of the Hillsborough County Bar Foundation in 2018-19. And she currently serves as a representative from the Thirteenth Circuit on the Florida Bar Board of Governors. Raised in Texas, Farrior got her bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia and her law degree from the University of Michigan. In his remarks, Elligett talked about Farrior’s influence on the local Bar community and her positive attitude and contagious spirit. “Amy’s dedication to the Bar is unparalleled,” Elligett said. I can personally attest that in my decade-long tenure as executive director at the HCBA, Farrior has been a constant volunteer presence at the Ferguson Law Center, always offering an encouraging word to HCBA staff members, and providing wisdom and guidance on the sometimes thorny issues that develop. Steve Yerrid, a past recipient of the outstanding lawyer award, also provided a letter of support in Farrior’s nomination package. MAR - APR 2020 | HCBA LAWYER “Amy truly exemplifies the traits of an outstanding lawyer in our community,” he wrote. * * * Also at the membership luncheon, YLD President Jeff Wilcox presented the YLD’s outstanding jurist and lawyer awards (more details and photos on page 8). The 2019 award winners: Robert W. Patton Outstanding Jurist Award: Hon. Caroline Tesche Arkin of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Judge Arkin has been a longtime volunteer and driving force in numerous Bench and Bar activities, such as the HCBA’s annual Bench Bar Conference and local mock trial and moot court competitions. And she continues to be a strong and respected mentor to many law students and young lawyers. Outstanding Young Lawyer Award: Donald Greiwe of de la Parte & Gilbert Greiwe has served as co-chair of the YLD’s Professionalism and Ethics Committee for several years, where he has overseen the committee’s popular annual State Court Trial Seminar. And this year he is helping to coordinate the local YLD seminar involving the Florida Bar’s Technology Road Show. Outstanding Government/Nonprofit Lawyer Award: Nicole Del Rio of Bay Area Legal Services Del Rio has distinguished herself representing numerous victims of domestic violence in family court and managing the Social Security Navigator Program at BALS. Also, at the national level, Del Rio chairs the ABA’s YLD Access to Legal Services Committee and the Diversity and Inclusion Team. Locally, she co-chairs the YLD’s Community Services Committee. Congratulations to all the 2019 YLD outstanding jurist and lawyer award winners. You make us proud. See you around the Chet. n 11