Three long-time members of the legal profession were honored March 9 in Omaha at the 31st annual Fellows Dinner of the Nebraska State Bar Foundation.
Administrative Judge Ron Lahners received the Bar Foundation’s Distinguished Service Award in recognition of his outstanding service to the legal profession. Others honored were Omaha attorney Gary Gotsdiner, who received the Bar Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and retired District Court Judge Mary Gilbride of Wahoo, who received the Legal Pioneer Award.
Also at the event, 30 Nebraska lawyers and judges were inducted as Bar Foundation Fellows, joining 761 colleagues who have been nominated for this honor over the past five decades. Lawyers are invited to become Fellows based on their integrity and character, their distinction in the profession or in the community, their contributions to the profession or the community, and their contributions to the Bar Foundation.
Steve Guenzel of Lincoln, president of the Bar Foundation, was master of ceremonies for the event at the Holland Center. The Bar Foundation’s Law-Related Education theme for 2018-2019 is “Championing Civility.”
“At a time of great political and public discord, the Nebraska State Bar Foundation offers resources and programs to help educators and others teach and model ways to explore and discuss controversial topics in a rational and respectful manner,” Guenzel said. The Bar Foundation offers Law-Related Education programs for Nebraska teachers and students and manages the Roman L. Hruska Institute for the Administration of Justice, the Standing Bear Scholarship Fund and the Dan Jewell Trial Institute, Guenzel added.
Headquartered in Lincoln, the Bar Foundation is dedicated to serving the citizens of Nebraska and the legal profession through the administration and funding of innovative programs directed at the improvement of the administration of justice and the fulfillment of the American vision of equal justice for all.
The Bar Foundation’s new Class of Fellows is listed below:
Jeffrey Blumel, Omaha
Max Burbach, Omaha
Ronald Comes, Omaha
Patrick Cooper, Omaha
M. Douglas Deitchler, Lincoln
Robert Gonderinger, Omaha
Michael Huffer, Omaha
Jeffrey Jarecki, Albion
Bradley Kalkwarf, Wilber
Jennifer Kulwicki, Lincoln
Hon. John Marsh, Kearney
Michael Matukewicz, Omaha
Richard Moberly, Lincoln
Edward Morse, Omaha
Denise Myers, Cairo
Hon. Michael Nelson, Omaha
Justice Jonathan Papik, Lincoln
Hon. Holly J. Parsley, Lincoln
Hon. Michael Piccolo, North Platte
Todd Richardson, Omaha
Hon. Rick Schreiner, Beatrice
Lawrence Sheehan, Omaha
Hon. Julie Smith, Tecumseh
Hon. Michael Smith, Plattsmouth
Cathy Trent-Vilim, Omaha
Janine Ucchino, Omaha
Kelly Werts, Humboldt
Hon. Paul Wess, Alliance
Hon. Horacio Wheelock, Omaha
Melanie Whittamore-Mantzios, Lincoln