Charles Becton's Acceptance Speech
Article Date: Saturday, June 23, 2007
Written By: Russell Rawlings
THIRTY-TWO STEPS! I COUNTED THEM, AND I WISH EVERYBODY COULD HAVE WALKED THOSE THIRTY-TWO STEPS IN MY SHOES. IT IS BOTH THE MOST GLORIOUS AND MOST HUMBLING OF EXPERIENCES TO BE ESCORTED TO THIS ROOM, TO THIS STAGE, TO THIS PODIUM BY THE PAST PRESIDENTS OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BAR ASSOCIATION.
EACH OF THEM HAS MADE THAT WALK, AND THEY KNOW HOW AWE-INSPIRING IT IS–HOW MUCH LIKE WALKING ON AIR IT IS. THEY WERE WITH ME BECAUSE OF TRADITION, BUT I NEEDED THEIR STEADYING PRESENCE. AND, I’LL NEED THEM IN THE FUTURE. I HAVE THEIR PHONE NUMBERS, AND I’LL BE CALLING THEM DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS WHEN I NEED THEIR WISDOM, THEIR EXPERIENCE. I INTEND FULLY TO CASH IN ON THEIR COLLECTIVE GENIUS AND THEIR LOVE FOR THE CONTINUING GROWTH OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BAR ASSOCIATION.
THIRTY-TWO STEPS, BUT I TOOK THEM FOR US, NOT ME. AND I’LL BE CALLING ON THE STAFF AND YOU AS MEMBERS TO CASH IN ON YOUR COLLECTIVE GENUIS.
I AM GRATEFUL TO JIM FULLER AND ASA BELL FOR THEIR WILLINGNESS TO SECOND MY NOMINATION. THEY ARE MASTER MAKEUP AND MAKE-OVER ARTISTS WHO REMOVED ALL MY WARTS AND SMOOTHED OVER ALL THE ROUGH EDGES. THEY ARE NOT JUST FRIENDS, THEY ARE HEROES OF MINE. I KNOW (AND I HEARD THIS JUST LAST WEEK REGARDING ANOTHER FRIEND OF MINE) THAT IF I WERE IN A FOXHOLE WITH THEM AND GOT SHOT IN THE BACK, THE BULLET WENT THROUGH THEM FIRST.
THANKS TO MY LONG TIME FRIEND ALLYSON DUNCAN AND MY NEW FRIEND MIKE COLOMBO FOR BRINGING ME THE TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY. A SPECIAL THANKS GOES TO MIKE COLOMBO FOR HIS GRACIOUS INTRODUCTION.
ALTHOUGH I HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS MARVELOUS HONOR FOR WEEKS, IT IS STILL AN UNNERVING THOUGHT. AND SO, BEFORE ANY MORE LOOSE ENDS SHOW, LET ME TELL YOU WITH ALL THE SINCERITY A HEART CAN MUSTER “I AM SO HONORED.” I AM HONORED BEYOND YOUR IMAGININGS. NO HONOR IS GREATER THAN AN HONOR BESTOWED BY PEERS AND RECEIVED WITH LOVE AND GRATITUDE.
THAT’S WHY BEING NAMED AS PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THIS GREAT ORGANIZATION–AS AN EXPRESSION OF YOUR APPRECIATION–IS SO WARMLY RECEIVED. I RECEIVE IT WITH PRIDE.
I AM INDEED PROUD, BUT I AM EVEN MORE HUMBLED BY AN INTERNAL SENSE OF GRATITUDE TO THE MANY WHOSE HELP, SACRIFICE, AND ENCOURAGEMENT ALLOWED ME TO DO A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS AND PLACED ME IN A POSITION SO THAT I COULD EVEN BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS HONOR. A SPECIAL THANKS GOES TO THE SMARTEST AND MOST BEAUTIFUL BECTON–MY WIFE BRENDA. AND, OF COURSE, A SPECIAL THANKS GOES TO THE PEOPLE WHO DIDN’T EVEN BLINK WHEN I TOLD THEM I HAD BEEN OFFERED ANOTHER FULL TIME JOB–MY PARTNERS AT BECTON, SLIFKIN & BELL: ANNE SLIFKIN, JUDITH VINCENT-POPE, AND ASA BELL.
LIKE MANY OF YOU, I HAVE A RESOLUTE AND UNYIELDING COMMITMENT TO MAKE THE WORDS ETCHED IN STONE ON THE U.S. SUPREME COURT BUILDING–“EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER LAW”–A REALITY. LAW HAS BEEN THE VEHICLE THROUGH WHICH I HAVE SOUGHT TO SERVE THE PUBLIC . . . . I AM THRILLED THAT I WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THE PUBLIC AND SERVE YOU. I AM THRILLED THAT I WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP JANET WARD BLACK WORK HER MAGIC WITH HER LEGAL AID INITIATIVE. PROVIDING CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES TO THE POOR IS WHAT EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER LAW IS ALL ABOUT.
I SHARE THIS CLOSING THOUGHT FROM RICHARD HODGETTS WITH YOU:
EVERY MORNING IN AFRICA A GAZELLE WAKES UP.
IT KNOWS IT MUST OUTRUN THE FASTEST LION OR IT WILL BE KILLED.
EVERY MORNING IN AFRICA A LION WAKES UP.
IT KNOWS IT MUST OUTRUN THE SLOWEST GAZELLE OR IT WILL STARVE.
IT DOESN’T MATTER WHETHER YOU ARE A LION OR A GAZELLE–
WHEN THE SUN COMES UP, YOU’D BETTER BE RUNNING.
AND WHEN THE SUN COMES UP TOMORROW, AND EACH DAY THAT I AM PRESIDENT-ELECT, AND THEREAFTER, I’LL BE WAKING UP BEFORE SUNRISE, AND I’LL BE RUNNING HARD AND FAST WITH YOU SO WE CAN STARVE THE LIONS OF INJUSTICE, THE LIONS OF INTOLERANCE, THE LIONS OF INEQUALITY.