General Practice Hall of Fame Inducts Six

Article Date: Thursday, June 24, 2010

Hall of Fame inductees, front from left, David Cockman, Orville D. Coward Sr. and Eugene Thompson III. Back: Jim Morgan, P.C. Barwick Jr. and Harold Pollock.

Six deserving lawyers were inducted into the North Carolina Bar Association's General Practice Hall of Fame at the 112th NCBA Annual Meeting in Wilmington on Thursday evening, June 24.

Attorneys comprising the 2010 induction class are P.C. Barwick Jr. of Kinston, David Reece Cockman of Raleigh, Orville D. Coward Sr. of Sylva, James F. "Jim" Morgan of High Point, Harold Lee Pollock of Burgaw and Eugene C. Thompson III of Warsaw.

The Hall of Fame, sponsored by the NCBA's GP, Small Firm and Solo Section, was established in 1989. This year's induction class brings membership in the Hall of Fame to 125 attorneys.

The ceremony included welcoming remarks from Mal King, section chair, and the invocation by NCBA Past-President Charles Becton. Hank Van Hoy, who chaired the Hall of Fame Committee this year, introduced the inductees and their presenters.
 
P.C. Barwick, Jr.

From left: John Wester, P.C. Barwick and Collins Barwick

P.C Barwick, Jr. of Kinston has practiced law continuously for 46 years after opening his law office in Kinston in 1964. He is currently a practicing attorney with Rose, Rand, Wallace Attorneys, P.A.

Barwick received his B.A. and J.D. degrees from Wake Forest University after entering school at the age of 16. He is a member of the undergraduate class of 1958 and the law school class of 1960. While at Wake Forest, Barwick was a member of the Honor Council and Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. In law school Barwick was a member of Phi Delta Phi fraternity.

In addition to his current case load, Barwick has been extremely active in the community. He was a charter member and president of the Eastern North Carolina Inn of Court and a charter member and legal counsel for the Homebuilders' Association of Kinston/Lenoir County. He has also served as legal counsel for the Kinston Board of Realtors, the Atlantic and North Carolina Railroad, the East Carolina Council of Boy Scouts of America (B.S.A.) and Arendell Parrott Academy.
 
Outside of his legal activities, Barwick has served as chairman of the board of directors of Lenoir Memorial Hospital, is active in the Boy Scouts of America and was himself an Eagle Scout in 1954. Barwick is Vestry and Senior Warden for St. Mary's Episcopal Church and chancellor of the Diocese of East Carolina.

For his work in Kinston and Lenoir County, Barwick is a two-time recipient of the Distinguished Service Award, in 1969 and 1974. He was named Lenoir County Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year in 1985.

Barwick served his country in the U.S. Army and the North Carolina Army National Guard and was discharged as a captain in the U.S. Army Reserves.

Barwick is married to Nancy Coston Barwick and the couple has two sons and three grandsons. The eldest son, P. Collins Barwick, III, is an attorney with Cranfill, Sumner & Hartzog of Raleigh and is married to Laurie Lomax Barwick. They have three sons, Plato Collins "Lins" Barwick, IV, Smith Williams Barwick and John-Henry Lomax Barwick.

The inductee was presented by his son, P. Collins Barwick, III.
 
David Reece Cockman

From left: John Wester, David Cockman, Chad Cochran and James Vann

David Reece Cockman of Raleigh has embraced the notion of being a general practitioner throughout his ongoing law career dating back to 1957. He currently serves of counsel with Vann & Sheridan. With a career spanning nearly seven decades, Cockman has dealt with diverse cases that include family law, real estate, probate, contracts, criminal and civil litigation.

He has served as a mentor for many lawyers in regards to civil procedure, contract construction, professionalism and negotiations.

Cockman has regularly delivered legal services on a pro bono basis, often while representing women during abusive divorces or other clients with estate planning, real estate transactions and criminal charges. In addition he often served as a trustee for children and those mentally and/or physically challenged.

Cockman served in the United States Army and graduated in 1957 from the University of North Carolina School of Law, after which he made partner within three years. He has served as counsel and board member for the American Red Cross in the community and held offices in the Brotherhood of the Elk on both the state and national level. He has also been active with his church and community, including in handling the legal matters of New Hope Baptist Church for decades.

Cockman now resides in Morehead City and works twice a week in Raleigh at Vann & Sheridan. Cockman and his wife Charlotte (now deceased) have one son, Reece, and two grandsons, David and Colton.

The inductee was presented by James R. Vann and Chad J. Cochran.

Orville D. Coward, Sr.

From left: John Wester, Orville Coward Jr. and Orville Coward Sr.

Orville D. Coward, Sr. of Sylva began practicing law in western North Carolina in 1951. He founded his firm in Sylva in the 1950s and was joined by his brother Kent, in 1956, at the firm that is now Coward, Hicks & Siler, P.A.

Coward served in the Navy during World War II and graduated from the University of North Carolina and the UNC School of Law in 1951 before returning to Sylva to build his practice.

Considered a "lawyer of the people" by his peers, Coward has handled legal matters over the years that involved criminal cases, murder cases, closings, bankruptcies, corporate work, civil litigation, workers compensation, social security, family law, condemnation cases and personal injury cases.

Coward has been involved with the University of North Carolina system over his career, serving on the Western Carolina University Board of Trustees and the UNC Board of Governors for numerous terms.

Coward is a lifelong member of the First Baptist Church of Sylva and has served as deacon for numerous terms.

Law is a family affair for Orville Coward, Sr., as his son, Orville Coward, Jr., practices in the firm's Franklin office. In addition, Coward's nephews, Bill Coward and Jay Coward, and his daughter-in-law, Kim Coward, all practice in the family firm.

The inductee was presented by his son, Orville D. Coward, Jr.

James F. "Jim" Morgan

From left: John Wester, Jim Morgan and Hank Van Hoy

James F. "Jim" Morgan has been practicing law since 1969 and has been an active part of the High Point community since his graduation from Cumberland School of Law in 1969. Morgan is managing partner and attorney at law in the firm of Morgan, Herring, Morgan, Green & Rosenblutt, L.L.P.

Morgan served three terms in the North Carolina House of Representatives representing Guilford County and also served as president of both the High Point Bar Association and the Guilford County Bar Association. In addition, Morgan has served as chairman or president of numerous other legal organizations, including the N.C. Commission on Legal Aid, High Point Legal Services, N.C. Legislature Juvenile Law Study Commission and the N.C. Council of Bar Presidents.

Morgan has been honored by the North Carolina Bar Association for his service to the legal profession with the I. Beverly Lake Public Service Award, and by the Cumberland School of Law as the recipient of its National Alumni of the Year Award. He has most recently been honored with the North Carolina Bar Distinguished Service Award and Exemplary Service to the Legal Profession.

In addition to his legal work, Morgan has also served as the president or chairman of over 60 statewide and regional organizations from the medical sector, business owners, economic development, chamber of commerce, education, health services, religious organizations, the United Way and many more.
He has been heavily involved with the Christ United Methodist Church since the late 1960s by serving in various capacities including chairman of the board of trustees.

Morgan is married to Ann Tinsley Morgan and the couple have two children, "Lea" Evans Morgan Pflaging and James F. "Jef" Morgan, II, and six grandchildren. Their daughter Lea is an attorney in Charlotte and is married to Sean Pflaging. They have a daughter, Mary Elizabeth, and two sons, Clay Morgan and Christopher James. Jef works for Furniture Today in High Point and is married to Christi. The couple has two daughters, Emily Hampton and Anna Kathryn, and a son, James F. Morgan, III.

The inductee was presented by Hank Van Hoy, a member of the Hall of Fame and past president of the NCBA.

Harold Lee Pollock

From left: John Wester, Harold Pollock and Robert Kilroy

Harold Lee Pollock of Burgaw is known to his colleagues as a "lawyers' lawyer in terms of practical ability and relentless desire to assist novice lawyers." Since he was first licensed to practice law in North Carolina in 1978, Pollock has maintained a law practice that has truly been a family affair. He has practiced since 2005 as Pollock & Pollock with his son, Rhett Kennedy Pollock. His wife of 38 years, Vickie "Sadie" Pollock, has been his office manager for over 20 years.

Prior to practicing law at Trawick & Pollock from 1978-89 and as a solo practitioner from 1989-2005, Pollock served for six years in the U.S. Army, earning an Army Commendation Medal in 1975. He graduated from the Wake Forest School of Law in 1978.

Pollock has had a large criminal defense practice and handles a large share of the traffic and criminal cases in Pender County. In addition, he has practiced in the area of real estate for 32 years, balancing a hectic schedule of court appearances, title searches and real estate closings. As a true general practitioner in a small town, he also handles medical malpractice, personal injury, wills and civil actions. He has also served the community by being on the court appointed attorney list for over twenty-two years.

Pollock has spent over 32 years as the attorney for the Pender County Child Support Establishment and Enforcement Agency. He has been instrumental in helping the Pender County Child Support program frequently rank in the top-three in the statewide Child Support Enforcement program.

Pollock has held the offices of president of the Pender County Bar and president of the Fifth Judicial District Bar. He also served from 1995-2007 on the Fifth Judicial District Grievance Committee.
 
In addition to their son Rhett, the Pollocks have a daughter, Griffin Pollock Sutton, who is currently a PhD graduate student at UNLV for clinical psychology with a specialization in neuropsychology.

The inductee was presented by Robert W. Kilroy.

Eugene C. Thompson, III

From left: John Wester, Eugene Thompson and Freddy Hall

Eugene C. Thompson, III of Warsaw has practiced law since 1966 and has earned his reputation in his firm of Thompson & Thompson, P.C. in the areas of medical malpractice, criminal law, civil litigation, real estate, wills and trusts and estates.

After graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1959, Thompson spent four years in the United States Marine Corps, reaching the rank of captain. Since graduating from the Wake Forest School of Law in 1966, Thompson has dedicated his time to the community and legal profession in Duplin County.

From 1969-2004, Thompson served as vice president of the Duplin County Bar before taking over as president in 2004 until the present. He has also served as secretary treasurer and president of the Fourth Judicial District Bar. Thompson has served his community as legal counsel for the Town of Warsaw for 30 years and as counsel for James Sprunt Community College for over 30 years. He has also served as president of the Duplin County Veterans Museum for 10 years.

Known for his desire to counsel and advise others, Thompson has been recognized by "Who's Who in American Law" and his firm has been recognized by the Bar Register of Pre-eminent Lawyers.

Thompson has also spent time as a Sunday School teacher and Midget League football coach.
The inductee was presented by Fredric C. Hall.