Honoraria

Patt Rexroad, assistant to the ISBA director of administrative services in Springfield, received the Liberty Bell Award from the DuPage County Bar Association during its Law Day luncheon on May 1 in Glen Ellyn.

An ISBA staff member since 1983, Rexroad has been involved in implementation of judicial advisory polls and downstate judicial evaluations, and has been liaison to the Illinois Bar Foundation and Lawyers' Assistance Program.

The bar association honored her “for providing extraordinary and too-often unsung service to the legal profession throughout the state,” adding that she “treats every task with the same professional spirit.”

Nominators included ISBA President Irene F. Bahr, James L. Reichardt, Vincent F. Cornelius, John B. Kincaid, Angela Imbierowicz, and Judges Brian R. McKillip and Patrick J. Leston.

This marks the second time the DuPage County Bar has honored an ISBA staff member. Bar News editor Stephen Anderson received a Liberty Bell Award in 1993.

Chief Judge John Baricevic of the 20th Circuit received an Award of Merit on March 5 from the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis.

He was honored for civic contributions over a career that has included three years on the bench, 14 years as chair of the St. Clair County Board and 10 years as state's attorney.

While chairing the East-West Gateway Coordinating Council, Baricevic helped promote regionalism and devoted time and energy to ensuring that the interests and welfare of Metro-East residents were provided for in planning decisions.

He was involved in expansion of Metro-Link, development of the Mid-America Airport, maintaining Scott Air Force Base, and securing funding for a new bridge over the Mississippi River.

He has been active in Civic Progress, the Leadership Council of Southwestern Illinois, the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association, and the Greater St. Louis Economic Development Council.

“Such community service benefits not only the public but also the bench and bar,” said ISBA Second Vice President Jack Carey of Belleville.

Appointed recently to the Urban League board, Carey attended the annual meeting at which Baricevic, a 1978 graduate of the Southern Illinois University School of Law, was honored in St. Louis.

Richard T. Greenberg, managing partner in McGuireWoods, Chicago, received the Founders Award from the Fairygodmother Foundation during its fifth annual Stars and Wishes Gala on May 12 in Chicago.

He was cited for significant contributions of time and expertise to the national Chicago-based organization that grants the final wishes of adults who face terminal illnesses.

The foundation's pro bono outside general counsel for several years, Greenberg has donated legal services to resolve a variety of legal matters.

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Vanguard Awards were presented during an April 26 luncheon in Chicago to six individuals for making the law and legal profession more accessible and reflective of the community at large. The sponsoring organizations and their honorees are:

Asian American Bar – Christina M. Tchen of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.

Chicago Bar – Appellate Justice Joy V. Cunningham, a past president of the association.

Cook County Bar – Cook County Judge Carl Anthony Walker.

Hispanic Lawyers – Cook County as--sistant state's attorney Mercedes Luque-Rosales.

Lesbian and Gay Bar – Cook County assistant public defender Dorene A. Kuffer.

Puerto Rican Bar – Cook County Judge David Delgado.

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The Fenwick Bar Association presented its 11th Accipiter Award to Illinois Lt. Gov. Patrick J. Quinn during a luncheon May 4 in Chicago.

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Randolph N. Stone, clinical professor at the University of Chicago Law School and former Cook County public defender, received the inaugural First Defender Award from First Defense Legal Aid on May during a Chicago reception.

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Former Illinois attorney general Jim Ryan was honored as a Champion of Children on April 24 in Wheaton during a breakfast meeting of benefactors of the DuPage County Children's Center.

Ryan, who as state's attorney founded the center in 1987, was called “a true visionary” in protection of children by State's Attorney Joseph E. Birkett in his presentation of the award.