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Celebrating 50 Years of CBA Membership
By Bonnie McGrath
Editorial Board Member
The roomwas filled with CBAmembers
who saw a need to belong. And put their
free time, money and a 50-year commit-
ment behind that need.
“Role models,” CBA president Patricia
Holmes called them in her introductory
remarks, thanking them for their time and
commitment during a brief toast. “You’ve
been there for us.” But she also asked them
for more: to get even more involved with
the CBA going forward.
Keynote speaker Charles W. Murdock
lamented how several conditions had
changed in the legal community in the last
50 years. And that while the present may
be “dubious,” the past was “pretty good”
for the honorees. Murdock lamented that
At the annual CBA 50 Year Member Luncheon on October 27 are: (Top Row L to R):Terry Murphy, CBA Exec Director, Lawrence Jay
Weiner, Jerome E. Cihak, John H. Bitner, Richard A. Miller, Richard L. Williams III, James P. Tatooles, Hon Leon Wool, Patricia Brown
Holmes, CBA President, Larry L. Fleischer, Warren F. Grienenberger, Paul B. Uhlenhop, Robert M. Leone, Alfred F. Hofeld, Ralph
Lustgarten, Steven Elrod, CBA Treasurer, Daniel Kotin, CBA 1st Vice President Seated L to R: Hon Alexander P. White, Hon Shelvin
Singer, Hon Joel M. Flaum, Robert V. Johnson, Denis J. Owens, Charles W. Murdock, George N. Avgeris, Robert M. Karton, Malcolm S.
Kamin, Melvin I. Katten, Donald Martin, Stanley P. Sklar, Bernard Hammer, Robert Arthur Romanoff, Thomas J. Boodell Jr , William P.
O’Keefe, H. Reed Harris
T
he theme of “commitment” was
rife throughout a recent luncheon
in Corboy Hall that celebrated 67
members of the CBA who have kept up
their membership for the past 50 years. A
milestone in the Chicago legal community,
to be sure!
But while the 50-year members were
rightly honored for their commitment to
dues-paying at the CBA, it was also clear
that commitment was a large part of the
life of each and every one of the members
so honored.
Whether it was 50 years–more or
less–with the same spouse, the same firm,
the same area of practice or the judiciary,
involvement with pro bono work or other
volunteer activities like the annual Bar
Show “Christmas Spirits” (lawyer perform-
ers from the show entertained for a few
minutes during the festivities), commit-
ment was the name of the game. Depend-
ability, genuine interest and the desire to
be–and stay–involved came through loud
and clear.
A pronounced commitment to profes-
sional responsibility, in general, and par-
ticular legal issues, specifically, made the
celebrants stand out. They also stood out
for their commitment to outside hobbies,
interests and sports–ranging from historic
preservation to bungee jumping.
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NOVEMBER 2015