MEMORIAL RESOLUTION 2021

2021 MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS

Memorial of

PHILLIP ‘PHIL” MCCOY DURRENCE, JR.

As Prepared and Presented by Craig R. Allen


My ex-law partner, Phillip “Phil” McCoy Durrence, Jr. passed away on August 28, 2020 after a short illness. He did so in peace as he was surrounded by friends and family.


Phil was born on October 18, 1955 in Glennville, Georgia near Savannah. He was a graduate of the University of the South at Sewanee and taught English at McCallie before attending law school at Mercer. After law school Phil moved to Chattanooga where he and I practiced together in a small firm for over 15 years. Phil was a smart and innovative attorney who excelled in the defense workers’ compensation cases. When I left my prior firm, he remained with a few others until he went out on his own several ago. From that point forward he was a solo practitioner handling whatever came in the door. 


Phil was a big man with an even bigger personality. He was generous and fun loving, quick with a joke and even quicker to needle someone whenever he could. As a former football player, he enjoyed all sports, particularly coaching his sons’ little league teams. He adored his sons Jasen and Kevin and modified his work schedule to spend as much time with them as possible. By all accounts he was great father.


In recent years Phil had a side job working at various concert venues across the Southeast. He was huge music lover and marveled at the fact that he would get paid for listening to live music while simply watching out for rowdy concert goers. 


Phil passed away on August 28, 2020. He is survived by his two sons, Jasen and Kevin Durrence, a grandson Kellan Durrence, his mother, sister and multiple nieces and nephews. He is missed by all. 


I am proud to have called Phil a good friend and colleague. We spent many an hour together both inside and out of the office. We went on numerous golf trips with clients and friends where his total ineptitude with the game was great enjoyment to all who watched him swing and putt with despair. We all miss his laughter. 


THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, in a special memorial session on this 16th day of April, 2021, that Phillip McCoy Durrence, Jr.’s good deeds and kindness be memorialized through the resolution, and be adopted by this association as words of respect, praise and memory. 


BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be filed in the archives of the Chattanooga Bar Association and be enrolled in the Memorial Resolution book of the Circuit and Chancery Courts of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and that a copy be presented to his family as a token of the esteem and honor in which he has been held, as an expression of our very deep sympathy and our mutual loss. 


CHATTANOOGA BAR ASSOCIATION

Signed

Jeffrey W. Maddux, President



Memorial of 

Samuel Tipton Jones II

As Prepared and Presented by Linda J. Norwood


Sam was born to Jackson and Sally Jones in Pennsylvania on August 5, 1947.  He graduated from The University of North Carolina and The University of Tennessee College of Law.  He was admitted to practice in the state of Tennessee on September 11, 1976.  His specialty was medical malpractice and in 2000 he received the Chattanooga Bar Association’s President’s Award.  Sam served on the Board of Professional Responsibility.  Kay Bush, Sam’s legal assistant for over twenty years, described him as a true “Counselor at law” because of his consideration and honesty with his clients.  Sam, however, was so much more than the practice of law.


Sam was a man who loved his church, First Cumberland Presbyterian Church.  He lived his faith.  Often, he and his beloved wife, Dottie, would visit the shut-ins or would have a couple, with no family, to their home for a holiday meal. 


Family was Sam’s priority.  Dottie was the love of his life.  Sam loved her children and family as his own.  He drove to Sweetwater at least once a week in order to coordinate care for his aging parents.  He made sure they had caregivers, medical attention, and groceries for the week.  Sam also made sure they knew how much he loved and respected them. 


I met Sam through an elderly woman about whom he had become concerned.  Sam even encouraged the elderly woman to exercise at the YMCA, a place he often exercised.  If you knew Sam, he made your life better.  He called me “kiddo” a name that still brings a smile to my face.  When the elderly woman passed away, Sam took the time to write the Chancellor to praise my work. 


Sam was generous with his words and deeds.  He was thoughtful, kind, honest, considerate, and humble.  Sam took the time to make other peoples’ lives better.  Sam knew that the importance of one’s life lies not in what he does but who he is. 


THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, in a special memorial session on this 16th day of April, 2021, that Samuel Tipton Jones, II’s good deeds and kindness be memorialized through the resolution, and be adopted by this association as words of respect, praise and memory. 


BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be filed in the archives of the Chattanooga Bar Association and be enrolled in the Memorial Resolution book of the Circuit and Chancery Courts of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and that a copy be presented to his family as a token of the esteem and honor in which he has been held, as an expression of our very deep sympathy and our mutual loss. 


CHATTANOOGA BAR ASSOCIATION

Signed

Jeffrey W. Maddux, President



           

MEMORIAL OF

GEORGE EDWARD KOONTZ

AS PREPARED AND PRESENTED BY JAMES R. MCKOON


George Edward Koontz was born on October 17, 1953, in Knoxville, Tennessee. George’s family moved to Atlanta, where he grew up before moving to Chattanooga, Tennessee. George passed away on February 17, 2020 at the age of 66 years old.


George attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. While an undergraduate, he was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, serving as house manager, treasurer and vice president.  He graduated in 1971 with honors, obtaining a BA Degree in Political Science.


George had always wanted to be an attorney, and following graduation, he attended the University of Tennessee College of Law. The study of law came naturally to George, and he excelled at it. As a law student, he was elected to the Dean’s Advisory Committee and won the American Jurisprudence Award for the highest grade in his class for Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law I, and Constitutional Law II.  George graduated 11th in his law school class.


In 1984, George co-founded the law firm of Kennedy, Fulton & Koontz, which ultimately grew to 10 lawyers and subsequently was known as the Kennedy, Koontz and Klinger law firm. In his early years of practice, George did not have an area of emphasis. He handled commercial transactions, estate planning and litigation. In his later years, he developed substantially a commercial litigation and medical collection practice, representing 15 different hospitals. He also continued to handle estate and commercial transactions for long time friends and clients. As attorneys, we all strive to be respected by our clients; George was beloved.


On March 3, 1984, George married the love of his life, Carolyn Randle, and for 37 years, they enjoyed a loving and supportive relationship. Home was George’s refuge from the stress and worries of the practice of law, and Carolyn was his perfect partner in which to share their quiet times. The beach was their “Happy Place,” and each year, Carolyn and George scheduled wonderful trips to Jamaica, the Florida coast and other beaches, where they could enjoy relaxation and each other’s company.

Family was everything to George. He raised Carolyn’s son, Dylan Paris, as his own, and no father and son could have been closer. One of George’s proudest moments was standing next to Dylan as his best man when he married his love, Lacey. Then when his granddaughter Bella was born, his whole world changed.  He so loved watching her grow, playing with her, watching her compete in karate tournaments and playing basketball and tee ball. Their Saturday morning breakfast runs to Einstein’s Bagels were one of his favorite times and yes, Bella did get anything she wanted.


Starting in 1993, George founded the Chattanooga Cyclones, an amateur travel baseball team, where he and Dylan spent time while Dylan was a player. Subsequently, George continued the Cyclones, due to their success, to teams in multiple age groups playing baseball throughout the southeast for over 30 years. George helped over 320 Tennessee and Georgia baseball players obtain college scholarships and even professional baseball opportunities. George loved working with and helping young people reach their dreams. He was also a founding and majority owner of Real Sports Academy in Ooltewah, Tennessee, which spent time in the off-season training both amateur baseball and softball players to improve their game. George was also a founding member of Grace Works Church in Chattanooga.


George is survived by his wife of 37 years, Carolyn, his son, Dylan Paris and his wife, Lacey, his granddaughter, Bella Paris, all of Ooltewah; his mother Mary Koontz, of Richmond, Kentucky; his sister-in-law, Pam Miller of Franklin, Tennessee; his nephew, Will (Jessica) Miller, and his great nephew and niece, Dillanger and Khalynn, all of Fairview, Tennessee; and his aunt Lorraine George and uncle Ralph Ericson.  George was preceded in death by his father, George M. Koontz.


THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, in a special memorial session on the 16th day of April, 2021, that George Edwards Koontz’s good deeds and kindness be memorialized through this Resolution, and be adopted by this Association as words of respect, praise and memory.


BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this Resolution be filed in the archives of the Chattanooga Bar Association and be enrolled in the Memorial Resolution Book of the Circuit and Chancery Courts of Hamilton County, Tennessee, and that a copy be presented to his family as a token of the esteem and honor in which he has been held, as an expression of our very deep sympathy and mutual loss.


CHATTANOOGA BAR ASSOCIATION

signed

Jeffrey W. Maddux, President


Memorial of 

Gregg Michael “Mike” Luhowiak 

As Prepared and Presented by Cassie C. Rieder


Gregg Michael “Mike” Luhowiak passed away on March 5, 2020, at the age of 73. For most of us, one of the last “normal” things we did was attend his funeral. While I miss Mike every day, I am so glad he passed away before the world shut down. I am thankful family and friends got to celebrate his life, as well as mourn his loss. I am relieved he did not have to sit in a hospital bed without visitors for months on end. He would have been miserable.


Mike grew up in Knoxville and attended the University of Tennessee for both college and law school. He was a lifelong UT football fan through the ups and the downs. 


Mike had a big, outgoing personality and an infectious laugh that could be heard throughout the building. Not many people could outshine him, but he managed to find someone who did, which was his wife, Vicki, to whom he was married for 50 years. 


Mike and Vicki had two children, Rush and Lindsay, whom he cared about deeply. He also had three grandchildren, Liam, Ruthie Rose and Leo, and he was more than willing to show you the most recent video or picture of his grandchildren at all times. 


Despite being a litigator and trial attorney for the majority of his career, Mike was one of the most liked and well-respected attorneys in town, which was evident by the turnout at his funeral. Almost every lawyer in town was there…a lot of billable hours were lost that day. 


Throughout his legal career, Mike won several awards that were given to him by his peers: the Harry Weill Zealous Practice of Law Award, the Brock-Cooper American Inns of Court Civility Award, and the Chattanooga Bar Association John M. Higgason Courage Award.


Mike was diagnosed with cancer in 2006. The prognosis was grim, and the doctor told him that he needed to get his affairs in order because it would likely be his last Christmas. Instead of letting that get him down, Mike fought hard to live, and rather than celebrate only one more Christmas, he celebrated 14 more.


Around the time of his cancer diagnosis, Mike began transitioning out of litigation and more into estate administration. He became the Public Administrator for Hamilton County, a court-appointed position, which he held until his death. 


Mike was one of those people who actually liked being a lawyer. He and Vicki credited work with keeping him alive those last 14 years. Work gave him a purpose and a reason to get up every morning. He loved to talk about a case or a specific issue and never seemed too busy to stop, listen and offer advice. One of my favorite things was to listen to his “war stories” from his past cases and trials.


I am forever grateful that I chose Mike to be my mentor when I was an associate. But one of the main things Mike taught me had nothing to do with the law. He made sure that I understood family came first. He never once complained when a deadline was missed due to kids being sick. He encouraged me to take vacations, and he tried hard not to email me during those time. If he did, most of the time the email started something like “don’t respond to this until you get back.” He was never too busy to discuss what was going on in my life outside of work. As far as putting family before work, he led by example. 


It’s now been a little over a year since he passed away, and what a year it has been. Even though I miss him, and I know many others do as well, I know that he’s had more fun up there than we have had down here. 


Thank you, Mike, for being my mentor and my friend. You are truly missed.


THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, in a special memorial session on this 16th day of April, 2021, that Gregg Michael Luhowiak’s good deeds and kindness be memorialized through the resolution, and be adopted by this association as words of respect, praise and memory. 


BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be filed in the archives of the Chattanooga Bar Association and be enrolled in the Memorial Resolution book of the Circuit and Chancery Courts of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and that a copy be presented to his family as a token of the esteem and honor in which he has been held, as an expression of our very deep sympathy and our mutual loss. 


CHATTANOOGA BAR ASSOCIATION

Signed

Jeffrey W. Maddux, President



Memorial of

DAVID WILSON NORTON

As Prepared and Presented by R. Dee Hobbs


David Wilson Norton passed from us on May 21, 2020, at the age of 73. David was a native of Red Bank and a 1964 graduate of Red Bank High School. He worked his way through the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in earning his undergraduate education and then the University of Memphis where he was awarded his Doctor of Jurisprudence.


After a stint in private practice, David began in a long tenure in 1983 as an assistant Hamilton County Attorney. His longtime “boss,” Rheubin Taylor, recounts David’s professional demeanor, his strong work ethic, his diligence, and his capability while serving our County. 


Active in this community, he was also a commissioner of the Hixson Utility District, the chairman of the Utility Management Review Board for the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, and a board member for League Central Credit Union.


In 1984, he was selected as the City Judge of Soddy Daisy and served on that bench for 27 years, being elected to three terms. Judge Norton displayed intelligence, legal ability, and compassion during his time as Soddy Daisy judge. He was admired and appreciated by Soddy Daisy officials as well as members of the public who appeared before him. David skillfully practiced judicial temperament along with humor and common sense. More than once he offered younger people the chance to better themselves, actively seeking assistance from recruiters to provide a path to the military for young defendants who were brought before him due to their poor choices. Those that elected to follow this judge’s wise counsel benefitted from his insight.


David’s characteristics were put on display for all of Hamilton County when he was appointed as a General Sessions Judge by the Hamilton County Commission on March 1, 2012, replacing the recently deceased Robert L. Moon. Judge Norton served the community well during his time on the Sessions bench. David again earned the respect of officials and citizens who appeared before him and was admired by his judicial colleagues as well. A poll of attorneys taken during this time reflected high marks for his abilities and efforts. Those who worked alongside him, court officers and clerk personnel, openly stood in support of him. 

Unfortunately, it was during this same period that Judge Norton was stricken with an inherited neurological illness. During his election campaign which followed in the summer of 2012, David’s tenacity, honor, and sense of community service compelled him to remain in the race despite the obvious obstacles that he faced. 


While his impressive accomplishments as an attorney and judge are evident, David’s character, honor, honesty, and personality left an even greater impression on those of us who worked and lived with him over the years.


Judge Norton’s sense of humor, for instance, deserves special mention. My personal relationship with David was marked most especially by that humor. David’s efforts at poking fun was often made at the expense of two individuals: Jerry Turner, who also left us way too early, and Neill Southerland, David’s longtime colleague in the County Attorney’s Office.


Being one of Jerry’s partners, I was well aware of how much he dreaded and obsessed over litigation matters. David took full advantage of Jerry’s plight. Jerry served as special counsel for the County Board of Zoning Appeals, and in this capacity he worked with David on a case involving numerous depositions and court appearances. Without fail, David would call Jerry at the last minute before each such event and claim that he would be seriously late or could not attend at all. Jerry never seemed to catch on and panicked every time. As David would relate to me after one of these events, “I could hear him sweating through the phone.” If Jerry had not already been bald headed, one would have concluded that David was a major contributor to Jerry’s largely hairless pate.


Neill, meanwhile, was also a frequent target of Judge Norton’s humor. He would walk by Neill’s office and ask her a question regarding whatever subject constituted her issue of the week. After getting her wound up, he would drift away, grinning like the proverbial Cheshire cat, leaving her talking to herself. 


As Neill herself confesses, years ago she was assigned the task of writing a strategic plan for the possible onslaught of the “bird flu.” Neill acknowledges that “As usual only Dr. [Valerie] Boaz and I were in the least bit concerned about it.” She taped photographs on the office bathroom door of two or three birds that transmitted the flu so that the rest of us could take heed of this danger. One such creature was a “single breasted” something or other. David added a picture of Neill to this collection and labeled that depiction as a “double breasted sand thrasher.” Neill’s picture remained in view for years. 


At least one other member of the community was also exposed to David’s quick wit. One day a man acting strangely was referred to the County Attorney’s office by another branch of County government. His strange appearance and mutterings quickly concerned office staff, and David was asked to run interference. Arriving in the front lobby where this individual was moving about, David was asked for his name and immediately identified himself as “Luke.” David proceeded to offer vague instructions for assistance, which prompted the man to ask for “Luke’s” last name. Without hesitation, David replied “Warmwater.” Thus satisfied, the stranger walked out the door without incident, never to be heard from again, but the legend of “Luke Warmwater” has long since been remembered. 

Along with his humor, David was gifted with a compassion for people. His practices of writing personal notes and his exceptional efforts at sending Christmas cards were deeply appreciated by the recipients of his concerns and affections. It is reported that he would send Christmas cards from the Monday after Thanksgiving up until Christmas as he thought of someone he perceived needed to be contacted. At last count, the list was close to 400. Many have commented since his passing regarding how much his cards have been missed.


My colleague Sharon Milling recounts that Judge Norton was the first to encourage her to go to law school despite concerns she expressed about her age. Sharon commented that she would be 50 years old upon graduation. David’s response was so familiar to those that knew him: “You were planning on being 50 anyway, weren’t you?” 


David inquired often about family members of those in the office. Although Neill Southerland was the target of so much of his humor, his compassion was revealed in obvious concern and worry for her. 


Like the rest of us, Judge Norton had his ways. He came to the office long before normal people should rise. He had an apparent affection for frozen dinners at lunch. Such delicacies usually included some species of spaghetti, and he always added ketchup to them. After receiving as a joke a pair of extra-large bottles of ketchup, the truly appreciative Judge Norton used these condiments down to the last drop. 


With respect to games of all varieties, David was a rules stickler without peer. No matter the contest – Rook, billiards, darts, Rummy – the judge insisted that the rules be followed completely. 


David strongly loved his blended family. And his motorcycle. He made his wife Cathy laugh every day, even when the years became difficult for him physically. His affection was evident, and it never wavered.


These remembrances only begin to describe how his friends, colleagues, and community were impacted by the life of David Wilson Norton. As was said of him during his 2012 election campaign, “There will be no monuments built for him, but he has loved our community with all of his heart.”


Judge Norton was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Ralph Elmer Norton, Sr. and Mary Louise Wilson Norton, as well as a sister, Linda Norton Harvey. He is survived by his wife, Cathy, a brother, five children, and ten grandchildren.


THEREFORE, be it resolved, in a special Memorial Session on this 16th Day of April, 2021, that David Wilson Norton’s good deeds and kindness be memorialized through this Resolution, and be adopted by this Association as words of respect, praise and memory.


BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be filed in the archives of the Chattanooga Bar Association and be enrolled in the Memorial Resolution Book of the Circuit and Chancery Courts of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and that a copy be presented to his family as a token of the esteem and honor in which he has been held, as an expression of our very deep sympathy and our mutual loss.

 

 

Memorial of 

Arvin Harold Reingold

As Prepared and Presented by Kevin B. Wilson



Arvin loved and respected the legal profession. As his son Arthur said at his funeral “When we went to his office, it was like most people (who golf) going to the golf course. The legal profession was not only his chosen career, but it was his passion. He was hopelessly good hearted.” 


Arvin Reingold was born on July 22, 1930 in the Bronx, New York. As a teenager his family moved to Chattanooga where he lived until 2016, when he moved to Atlanta to be closer to family. Arvin was the youngest of three children to Fannie and Joe Reingold. Arvin graduated from the University of Chattanooga and from the University of Tennessee College of Law. Besides practicing law, Arvin served in the Tennessee State Legislature as a Representative and also served as the Municipal Court Judge for East Ridge for many years. Arvin was a Veteran, serving in the Army during the Korean War. He was an avid tennis player and a season ticket holder for volunteer football for decades. 


Arvin never met a stranger and it would take hours to walk with him a few blocks as he would talk to so many people. He enjoyed being involved in every was possible with his family’s happiness and growth. His grandchildren and great grandchildren brought him much joy and he was sad when they left after a visit. Family was his heart and soul and he was the family patriarch. Everyone in his immediate and extended family turned to him for advise or for his empathy. 


Arvin is survived by his wife of 69 years, Lillian; his two children Arthur (Susan) Reingold and Gayle (Toby) Steinberg; six grandchildren: Lauren Steinberg, Eric (Jessica) Steinberg, Melissa (Adam) Ginsberg, Chat (Eva) Sunstein, Joey Reingold, and Ellie Reingold. He also left 4 great-grandchildren: Blake Ginsberg, Cole Ginsberg, Isabella Steinberg, and Lilah Sunstein; and many nieces and nephews. 


Richard Schulman, who practiced with Arvin for many years, described him as a standup comic, quick on his feet and theatric. He was good with juries. One time he put his wife Lil in the courtroom during a trial because she closely resembled his client, the defendant. When a witness was asked to identify the defendant in court and identified Lil as the defendant, the case was dismissed. One of Arvin’s cases he was proud of was his successful trademark defense of Chattanooga’s Pizza Caesar Restaurant versus the large Little Caesars Pizza chain. He loved beating the big guys!! 


Arvin cared greatly for the little guy, the underdog, and was very soft hearted to those in court who had trouble paying their fines and costs. I would sit for Arvin often in East Ridge Court because he had so many conflicts as he knew everybody and couldn’t hear their cases in his court. I will never forget the stacks of review cases of people who had not paid their fines and costs going back a decade. He was so kind hearted that when they didn’t show up for court he would set their bonds at $250.00 and everyone could come up with $25.00 to pay a bondsman but they never came up with the money to pay the court! 


Richard related a story that one time Arvin was out of town and called Richard to file a lawsuit for him as the Statute of Limitations was going to run the next day. Richard looked in the file and found nothing but the bare details of the accident, including defendant’s information and the location and date of the accident! It was the shortest complaint he ever filed! As you judges know, Arvin was the master of getting continuances. Arvin was truly a legend in the law. And we will never forget him. 


Therefore, be it resolved, in a special memorial session of the Chattanooga Bar Association on this 16th day of April, 2021, that Arvin Reingold’s good deeds and kindness be memorialized through this resolution, and be adopted by this association as words of respect, praise and memory. 


Be it further resolved, that a copy of this resolution be filed in the archives of the Chattanooga Bar Association and be enrolled in the Memorial Resolution book of the Circuit and Chancery Courts of Hamilton County, Tennessee, and that a copy be presented to his family as a token of the esteem and honor in which he has been held, as an expression of our very deep sympathy and our mutual loss. 

CHATTANOOGA BAR ASSOCIATION

Signed

Jeffrey W. Maddux, President

Memorial Resolution of

John Tate Rice

as prepared by H. Richard Marcus and Mark Ramsey and presented by Sam Elliott


John T. Rice was born in Charleston, West Virginia on March 26, 1948 and passed on November 9, 2020 at the age of 72.  He was a 1970 graduate of Marshall University and received his law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1974.


While in undergraduate school, John was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon social fraternity; a member and served as President of The Robe, a senior men’s leadership society; and was a student senator in Marshall’s Student Government Association. 


While in law school, John was a member and served as President of Delta Theta Phi legal fraternity and was Treasurer of the Student Bar Association.


Upon graduation from the University of Tennessee College of Law, John moved to Chattanooga where he became employed by Selma Cash Paty. John was subsequently employed with Luther, Anderson, Ruth and Cleary where he became a partner in 1978.  John later started his own firm with Elaine Winer and Steve Kreitzer in 1992.  In 1997, the firm changed to Rice and Winer.  He began practicing as a sole practitioner in 2000. John had the faithful assistance of his legal assistant, Regina Collis, for more than 40 years.


John had a distinguished career as a working member of the Chattanooga Bar Association.  He served on the Board from 1985 to 1987 and again in 2007.  He became the Secretary/Treasurer in 2008, the President-Elect in 2009, and served as President in 2010.  He was honored as a fellow of the Chattanooga Bar Foundation in 2011.


John served his country for six years in the United States Army Reserves in the JAG Unit in Chattanooga working with numerous other Chattanooga lawyers.  He used to share war stories with other former reservists since he was a highly skilled and trained stenographer with the use of a mask recording device.


John was a confirmed bachelor until he met the love of his life and married Mary Elizabeth DeShazo in May 1985. They were happily married until her untimely death in 2018. They had three girls, Elizabeth Bowling Rice, Hannah Tate Rice and Miriam Robertson Rice.  John had one grandson, Hank Marx.


John loved to play golf, drink Jemison Irish whiskey, cook, smoke cigars and watch the Tennessee Vols.  He was Rick Marcus’ favorite roommate on numerous golf trips because he cooked, cleaned, brought wine and always supplied Tide to wash clothes.  He was not great however at playing golf, though on occasions, he could surprise others and himself by making a long putt or chipping in from out of jail.  He was also weak at keeping score, maybe because he would be having fun drinking. He turned in a wrong score card for his team in the CBA golf tourney one year resulting in a loss instead of a win.  He added the score incorrectly and then signed the card. Something in golf that you cannot do.  He argued as a lawyer to the Pro collecting and checking cards.  Finally, the Pro said, “Sorry ‘bout your luck.”  John remained a good golfing partner.


As a lawyer, John was a tenacious litigator, whether representing a plaintiff or defendant.  He could argue with the best lawyers and rarely gave in until a judge told him that was enough.  He represented his clients vigorously in victory or defeat. 


John was a true friend to many but especially to Rick Marcus, Gary Cooper, Mark Ramsey and myself.  A friend who would stop anything he was doing, no matter how important, if you called him for help.  He will be remembered fondly with a smile, much laughter and many tears to all who knew him but especially to the four of us.


THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED in a special Memorial Session on this 16th day of April, 2021, that John Tate Rice’s good deeds and kindness be memorialized through this resolution and be adopted by this association as words of respect, praise and memory.


BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be filed in the archives of the Chattanooga Bar Association; and be enrolled in the Memorial Resolution Book of the Circuit and Chancery Courts of Chattanooga, Tennessee; and that a copy be presented to his family as a token of esteem and honor in which he has been held, as an expression of our very deep sympathy and mutual loss.

CHATTANOOGA BAR ASSOCIATION

signed

Jeffrey W. Maxxux, President


Memorial of 

David Haines Rotroff

As Prepared by Michael S. Pritchard


David Haines Rotroff was born on February 19, 1943 in Washington, D.C. He was the son of the late David H. and Genevieve Rotroff. 


David was a graduate of the Baylor School in Chattanooga and, I believe, Vanderbilt University and the University of Tennessee Law School. 


After graduating from law school, David joined the Hamilton County District Attorney’s Office as a prosecutor. 


I first met David in 1974, shortly after I started practicing, when I came up to the courthouse to watch the trial of the Chattanooga Gun Club murder case, which David and Stan Lanzo were prosecuting. This team of prosecutors were very good and became known as the “Italian Stallion” and the “Mad Raving Russian”. You can guess by their names which was which. As I recall, the prosecutors were successful. David later entered the private practice of law and was very successful. 


David was married to Debbie DeArmond Rotroff for 40 years. They have a daughter, Angela Prosser and her husband, Charles, of Mexico Beach, Florida and two grandchildren, Madeline and Holden Prosser. 


David enjoyed sailing and I believe had a place in Stuart, Florida where he kept his sailboat. David enjoyed snorkeling and free diving, in particular, when he could catch lobster to serve to everyone for dinner. David also enjoyed riding his motorcycle and driving his tractor. 


A number of years ago, David and I had a case in General Sessions Court, where things are a bit less formal. My client had a junkyard somewhat north of Chattanooga. The court had been closing such establishments, but my client’s had been “grandfathered-in”. My client was allowed to continue his business until he retired with the condition that he clean up the location by removing and disposing of all of the junk. My client had permitted a person to bring a wheeled crane, that had been purchased at a TVA auction, to his junkyard property and leave it. I believe the person had previously had a potential buyer for the crane, but that apparently did not work out. The crane had been on my client’s property literally for several years and my client was in the process of retiring. 


My client located the owner of the crane to advise him that the crane would have to be removed and gave him a final date several weeks away after which the crane would have to be cut up and disposed of. 


The final date came and went, and the crane was still on the property. The crew that was cleaning up the property asked my client, “What do we do with the crane? It is the last thing here.” My client advised them to cut it up and dispose of it. Needless to say, a few days later, the owner of the crane came to my client and wanted money for the crane. He later filed suit in General Sessions Court. 


David was representing the person who failed to remove the crane and I represented to junkyard owner. As we were concluding the case, after the facts had been testified to by the parties, David was arguing to the judge that there was a “Novation”. I responded, looking directly at David as we were standing in front of the judge and stated, “Mr. Rotroff, Novation has eight letters in it and your legal arguments usually are composed of four-letter words.” David smiled, but the judge actually laughed. David appealed the court’s decision but later dismissed the appeal. This was a fun case for both of us. 


David practiced law in Chattanooga for 50 years. He was professional and I always enjoyed cases with him. At the time of his death, David was living in Little Switzerland, North Carolina. David left us on October 17, 2020 at the age of 77. David will be missed by all who knew him. 


THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, in a special memorial session on this 16th day of April, 2021, that David Haines Rotroff’s  good deeds and kindness be memorialized through the resolution, and be adopted by this association as words of respect, praise and memory. 


BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be filed in the archives of the Chattanooga Bar Association and be enrolled in the Memorial Resolution book of the Circuit and Chancery Courts of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and that a copy be presented to his family as a token of the esteem and honor in which he has been held, as an expression of our very deep sympathy and our mutual loss. 

           

CHATTANOOGA BAR ASSOCIATION

Signed

Jeffrey W. Maddux, President

           

Memorial of 

David Haines Rotroff

As Prepared and Presented by the Chattanooga Bar Association


David Haines Rotroff, 77, of Old Laurel Way in Little Switzerland, N.C., died Saturday, October 17, 2020 at his home. Born on February 19, 1943 in Washington, D.C.; he was the son of the late David H. and Genevieve Rotroff. 


David practiced law in Chattanooga, TN for 50 years. For many years he was an assistant district attorney. He was a graduate of Baylor School and a graduate of the University of Tennessee School of Law. In his spare time he enjoyed riding his motorcycle and his tractor, sailing, catching lobsters, and his horses. He was also an Atlanta Braves fan. 


Left to cherish his memories are his wife of 40 years, Debbie DeArmond Rotroff of Little Switzerland; his daughter; Angela Prosser and husband, Charles of Mexico Beach, Fla.; and his grandchildren; Madeline and Holden Prosser. 


THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, in a special memorial session on this 16th day of April, 2021, that David Haines Rotroff’s  good deeds and kindness be memorialized through the resolution, and be adopted by this association as words of respect, praise and memory. 


BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be filed in the archives of the Chattanooga Bar Association and be enrolled in the Memorial Resolution book of the Circuit and Chancery Courts of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and that a copy be presented to his family as a token of the esteem and honor in which he has been held, as an expression of our very deep sympathy and our mutual loss. 

           

CHATTANOOGA BAR ASSOCIATION

Signed

Jeffrey W. Maddux, President


Memorial of
Alan Ruderman
AS PREPARED AND PRESENTED BY Steve Stark


Alan Ruderman, 85, Died on December 16, 2020 at Memorial Hospital.  He is survived by his loving wife Harriet; three sons: Greg Ruderman of Herndon, VA, Gary Ruderman, of Pompano Beach, FL, and Joe Ruderman of Hixson, TN; and six grandchildren. 
 
He was preceded in death by his parents Israel and Rebecca Ruderman; and his brother, Dr. Robert Ruderman of Cleveland, Ohio.
 

Alan grew up in Brooklyn, New York. He loved the Brooklyn Dodgers and Jackie Robinson, even appearing as an extra in the movie “41” as a reporter.  He vehemently hated Walter O’Malley for moving the team to Los Angeles. 

He attended CCNY “City College” where he majored in mechanical engineering.  Following college, he worked as a civilian engineer for the air force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton Ohio where he made a living destroying turbine engines for the air force.


Following a call to law school, Alan attended and graduated from the Brooklyn Law School and then became a patent examiner at the US patent office, in Washington, D.C..  He then entered corporate law practice working at the Singer Corporation in New York.
 
Spencer Wright, the owner of Cobble Tufting Machine Company (a former subsidiary of Singer Corporation), convinced Alan to open his own law firm in 1977 in Chattanooga.    In 1998, he joined the firm of Miller & Martin, PLLC where he practiced patent law until he retired in 2003.


in addition to the practice of law, Alan served the Chattanooga community.  he served many years on the Board of the Epilepsy Foundation of Chattanooga and the Board of Channel 45 TV.  After retirement, he served as a docent at the Hunter Art Museum and as a guide at the Chattanooga Aquarium.   


While other patent attorneys have practiced in Chattanooga since 1977, few have been as memorable as Alan Ruderman.   

 
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, in a special memorial session on this 16th day of April, 2021, that Alan Ruderman’s good deeds and kindness be memorialized through the resolution, and be adopted by this association as words of respect, praise and memory. 


BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be filed in the archives of the Chattanooga Bar Association and be enrolled in the Memorial Resolution book of the Circuit and Chancery Courts of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and that a copy be presented to his family as a token of the esteem and honor in which he has been held, as an expression of our very deep sympathy and our mutual loss. 


CHATTANOOGA BAR ASSOCIATION
signed 

Jeffrey W. Maddux, President 



Memorial of 

Carter Henson Schoolfield

Prepared and Presented by Jerry H. Summers


Carter H. Schoolfield was born on June 16, 1936 and died on September 23, 2020 at his home on Signal Mountain, Tennessee.


He is the son of Julia McReynolds Schoolfield of Pikeville, Tennessee, and Scott Raulston Schoolfield of Chattanooga.


His mother was a descendant of one of the early settlers of Bledsoe County in Pikeville, Tennessee in a family which included lawyers, judges, and a congressman as one of the most respected families in the Sequatchie Valley.


His father, Judge S. Raulston Schoolfield was one of the most talented trial lawyers in the Chattanooga area and also was one of the most controversial and colorful members of the Bar and Judiciary.


Carter and his father were never members of the Chattanooga Bar Association and it would be a misrepresentation to ignore the conflicts that arose during both of their careers as attorneys and Raulston’s career as a judge in Criminal Court and General Sessions Court.


The history of those conflicts are duly written and recorded in the annuals of Hamilton County and need not be further discussed in this Memorial Resolution except to state that Carter fully loved and respected his father throughout his life.


Carter was a graduate of Chattanooga City High School, the University of Chattanooga and the Cumberland School of Law in Lebanon, Tennessee.


He married Jo Anne Simpson Schoolfield in December 1958 and they would come to Chattanooga in December 1959 where Carter started a law practice with his father and future Chattanooga City Court judge, John Boone Taylor, who had previously served as Carter’s father’s court officer in criminal court.

           

Carter inherited a large quantity of cases because of the reputation and loyalty of Schoolfield clients of his dad, his grandfather, William A. Schoolfield and his uncle Henson W. Schoolfield who were successful, talented, and respected trial lawyers who were known as fiery protectors of their clients in all legal matters.

           

Carter followed in that tradition and quickly earned an equally excellent reputation for trying and winning difficult cases in the courtroom before jurors.

           

Seeking justice for his clients and not the pursuit of money or collection of attorney’s fees was his goal and in that way he was extremely successful.

           

When he left the practice of law, he also was part owner of Nichols Marine with John Nichols which provided boats, equipment, and services to many boaters and fishermen.

           

He was also an avid outdoorsman as a hunter and fisherman.

           

When he died at the age of eighty-four, he was survived by his wife of 62 years, two sons, Carter Henson Schoolfield, Jr. and William Scott Schoolfield and his brother, Colonel Scott McReynolds Schoolfield.

           

Carter led a turbulent life as a lawyer and son of a controversial father.

He was my colleague and friend.  There is one final tribute that I can make to those of you who did not know him and have missed the opportunity to watch him weave his magic with a trial jury.  I asked him to come back into the practice of law and help me jointly try more cases which we had successfully done on several prior occasions,

           

Carter Schoolfield was a true warrior in support of his clients in a bygone era.


THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, in a special memorial session on this 16th day of April, 2021, that Carter Schoolfield’s good deeds and kindness be memorialized through the resolution, and be adopted by this association as words of respect, praise and memory. 


BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be filed in the archives of the Chattanooga Bar Association and be enrolled in the Memorial Resolution book of the Circuit and Chancery Courts of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and that a copy be presented to his family as a token of the esteem and honor in which he has been held, as an expression of our very deep sympathy and our mutual loss. 

           

CHATTANOOGA BAR ASSOCIATION

Signed

Jeffrey W. Maddux, President

Memorial of 

Theresa Ann Swafford

As Prepared and Presented by the Chattanooga Bar Association


Theresa Ann Swafford, 72, answered her call to stay with the Lord in heaven. 


She was the daughter of Carl A. Swafford and Theresa K. Swafford of Chattanooga, and the Sister of Carl A. Swafford, Jr., MD. Of Murfreesboro, TN. She waws a graduate of the Bright School (1960), and Vanderbilt University.


She is survived by her brother, a niece, Julia Ann Swafford, and a nephew, Carl A. Swafford, III. 


Ann was proud of her heritage and celebrated her Billingsley, Roberson, and Worthington ancestors as a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (Chief John Ross Chapter), and celebrated Guillaume Fouquet as a member in three societies: Huguenot Society of the Founders of Manakin in the Colony of Virginia (John Sevier Chapter), the National Huguenot Society of Tennessee, and the Colonial Dames of the XVII Century (Prudhomme Fort Chapter). She held various offices at the chapter level in all four societies. 


THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, in a special memorial session on this 16th day of April, 2021, that Theresa Ann Swafford’s good deeds and kindness be memorialized through the resolution, and be adopted by this association as words of respect, praise and memory. 


BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be filed in the archives of the Chattanooga Bar Association and be enrolled in the Memorial Resolution book of the Circuit and Chancery Courts of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and that a copy be presented to his family as a token of the esteem and honor in which he has been held, as an expression of our very deep sympathy and our mutual loss. 

           

CHATTANOOGA BAR ASSOCIATION

Signed

Jeffrey W. Maddux, President

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