Difference Makers Awards Past Recipients

2023

Difference Maker Award

Barbara Glesner Fines

University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law
Kansas City, MO

Making a Difference by Breaking Barriers

Russell E. Lovell II and David S. Walker

Drake Law School
Des Moines, IA

Making a Difference through Community Service

Judge Odell G. McGhee

Des Moines, IA

Making a Difference through Pro Bono Work

Iowa-Nebraska NAACP Legal Redress Committee

Des Moines, IA

Making a Difference through Service to the Profession

Kelly J. Adams

Alpha Omega Law Office, LLC
Chadds Ford, PA

2022

Difference Maker

• Scott C. LaBarre, Denver, Colorado

Making a Difference by Breaking Barriers

• Alexandra Oprea, Harlem, New York 

Making a Difference through Community Service

• Kelly A. Waters, Berkeley Heights, New Jersey

Making a Difference through Pro Bono Work

• Ohio Justice Bus, Columbus, Ohio 

Making a Difference through Service to the Profession

• David H. Lefton, Cincinnati, Ohio 

2021

Difference Maker

• Aurora Abella Austriaco, Chicago, IL

Making a Difference by Breaking Barriers

• Haley Moss, Coral Gables, FL

Making a Difference through Community Service

• Alan O. Olson, Des Moines, IA

Making a Difference through Service to the Profession

• Bob Carlson, Butte, MT

2020

Difference Maker

• Phyllis W. Kotey, Miami, FL

Making a Difference by Breaking Barriers

• Harold F. Pryor, Jr., Fort Lauderdale, FL

Making a Difference through Community Service

• Veronica L. Robinson , Fort Lauderdale, FL

Making a Difference through Pro Bono Work

• Anthony C. Musto, Hallandale Beach, FL

Making a Difference through Service to the Profession

• Louis J. Boston, Jr., Kensington, MD

2019

Making a Difference through Community Service Award

• Laura V. Farber, Pasadena, CA

Making a Difference through Pro Bono Work Award

• Katrina J. Eagle, San Diego, CA

Making a Difference through Service to the Profession Award

• Stephen B. Rosales, Belmont, MA
  

2018

Difference Maker Awards

• J. Michelle Childs, Columbia, SC
• Jean H. Toal, Columbia, SC

Making a Difference by Breaking Barriers Award

• I.S. Leevy Johnson, Columbia, SC

Making a Difference through Community Service Award 

• Elizabeth S. Hilbun, Houston, TX

Making a Difference through Pro Bono Work Award

• Andrea E. Loney, Columbia, SC

Making a Difference through Service to the Profession Award

• David D. Farr, Houston, TX

2017

Difference Maker Award

• Dr. Artika R. Tyner, Saint Paul, MN

Making a Difference by Breaking Barriers Award

• Alphonse A. Gerhardstein, Cincinnati, OH

Making a Difference through Community Service Award

• Eileen Sullivan, Phoenix, AZ

Making a Difference through Service to the Profession Award

• LaJune Lange, Minneapolis, MN
  

2016

Difference Maker Award

• Jill P. Meyer, Cincinnati, OH

Making a Difference by Breaking Barriers Award

• Judge Nathaniel R. Jones, Cincinnati, OH

Making a Difference through Community Service Award

• Robert S. Tintner, Philadelphia, PA

Making a Difference through Pro Bono Work Award

• Angela Vigil, Miami, FL

Making a Difference through Service to the Profession Award

• William K. Weisenberg, Columbus, OH

2015

Difference Maker Awards 

• Daniel J. Hogan, Boston, MA
• Paul W. Lee, Boston, MA

Making a Difference by Breaking Barriers Award

• George W. B. Haley (posthumously), Silver Spring, MD

Making a Difference through Service to the Profession Award

• Judge Allen J. Webster, Jr. Los Angeles, CA

2014

Difference Maker Award

• Harry Gee, Jr. Houston, TX

Making a Difference by Breaking Barriers Award

• Former Chief Justice Wallace B. Jefferson, Austin, TX

Making a Difference through Community Service Award

• Lisa M. Tatum, San Antonio, TX

Making a Difference through Pro Bono Work Award

• Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES), San Antonio, TX

Making a Difference through Service to the Profession Award

• Colonel, Retired Will A. Gunn, Fort Belvoir, VA

2013

Difference Maker Award

• John M. Rosenberg, Prestonsburg, KY

Making a Difference by Breaking Barriers Award

• Judge Bernice B. Donald, Memphis, TN

Making a Difference through Community Service Award

• Palmer Gene Vance II, Lexington, KY
  

Making a Difference through Pro Bono Work Award

• Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN), Minneapolis, MN

Making a Difference through Service to the Profession Award

• Marcia Milby Ridings, London, KY

2012

Difference Maker Award

• Justice Steven Gonzalez, Olympia, WA

Making a Difference by Breaking Barriers Award

• Justice Mary Yu, Olympia, WA

Making a Difference through Community Service Award

• Judge Karen Overstreet, Seattle, WA

Making a Difference through Pro Bono Work Award

• Tarrant County Bar Association, Fort Worth, TX

2011

Making a Difference through Service to the Profession Award

• Alice E. Richmond, Boston, MA

Making a Difference through Community Service Award

• James Bell, San Francisco, CA

Making a Difference by Breaking Barriers Award

• Alan C. Page, Minneapolis, MN

Making a Difference through Pro Bono Work Award

• James P. Hadden, Philadelphia, PA

2010

Making a Difference through Service to the Profession Award

• Richard Pena, Austin, TX

Making a Difference through Community Service Award

• Roger N. Braden, Edgewood, KY

Making a Difference by Breaking Barriers Award

• Hon. Matthew J. Perry, Jr., Columbia, SC

Making a Difference through Pro Bono Award

• Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program (a joint pro bono program of the Dallas Bar Association and Legal Aid of Northwest Texas), Dallas, TX

2009

Making a Difference through Service to the Profession Award

• Holly J. Fujie, Los Angeles, CA

Making a Difference through Community Service Award

• Dr. Edgar S. Cahn, Washington, DC

Making a Difference through Pro Bono Work Award

• Barbara J. King, Albany, NY

2008

Difference Maker Award

• Governor Bill Richardson, Santa Fe, NM

Making a Difference through Service to the Profession Award

• Briggs F. Cheney, Albuquerque, NM

Making a Difference through Community Service Award

• Margaret Holt Baird, Burlington, NC

Making a Difference by Breaking Barriers Awards

• Justice Petra Jimenez Maes, Santa Fe, NM
• Professor Nekima Levy-Pounds, Minneapolis, MN

Making a Difference through Pro Bono Work Award

• Patricia L. McCabe, Van Nuys, CA

2007

Making a Difference through Service to the Profession Award

• C. Dale McClain, Worcester, PA

Making a Difference through Community Service Award

• William T. Robinson, III, Florence, KY

Making a Difference through Breaking Barriers Award

• Judge Pamila J. Brown, Ellicott City, MD

Making a Difference through Pro Bono Work Awards

• Wendy Demchick-Alloy, Montgomery County, PA
• Mary Coyne Pugh, Montgomery County, PA
• Harvey F. Strauss, Maple Glen, PA

2006

Professional Achievement Award

• Honorable Janine P. Geske, Milwaukee, WI

Diversity Achievement Award

• Ulice Payne, Jr., Brookfield, WI

2005

Professional Achievement Award

• Michael S. Greco, Boston, MA

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Honorable William T. Hogan, Jr., Boston, MA

Diversity and Professional Achievement Award

• Honorable Sandra L. Lynch, Boston, MA

2004

Diversity Achievement Awards

• Catherine Endo Chuck, Los Angeles, CA
• Gary Farwell, Los Angeles, CA
• Diane M. Goodman, Encino, CA
• Lorraine Loder, Los Angeles, CA
• Marilyn H. Nelson, Beverly Hills, CA
• Maria Villa, Torrance, CA

Diversity & Professional Achievement Award

• Paula J. Frederick, Atlanta, GA

Lifetime Achievement Award

• General Earl E. Anderson, Vienna, VA

2002

Diversity Achievement Awards

• James M. Durant, III, Vandenberg, CA
• Laura V. Farber, Pasadena, CA
• Harry Hathaway, Los Angeles, CA
• Mary Pat Toups, Laguna Woods, CA