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Prior Honorees – 2020

Prior Legal Legends of Color Award Honorees – 2020

In addition to appreciating their distinguished careers and various accolades, we asked our 2020 honorees to describe what they felt was an essential quality of leadership so that we can all learn from their experiences as trailblazing attorneys of color. Their remarkable responses are included below.

Judge Yvonne Mims Evans

Launched her practice in 1976 at the Chambers Law Firm in Charlotte after graduating from Duke University School of Law. Her career is replete with firsts, including practicing as the first Black female partner at a Charlotte law firm and first female Chief District Court Judge in the County. She served on the Mecklenburg County Superior Court bench for 15 years before retiring in 2018. Her dedication to community, justice for all, and the fair application of the rule of law inspired innumerable attorneys.

“An essential characteristic of leadership is the ability to listen to the ideas of others.” – Judge Yvonne Mims Evans

 

 

Attorney Anthony Fox

Began practicing law in 1983 and has had more than 30 years experience representing municipalities in various capacities, including private practice at a large regional firm. He is a partner at Parker Poe and the first African American to serve on its Board of Directors. He is a champion of education and has served on the Board of Visitors for his law school, North Carolina Central University School of Law, for many years. His dedication to service, leadership and excellence in practice, provide the framework for a lasting career from which all attorneys may benefit.

“I believe that the essential characteristic of a leader is an insatiable commitment to serve and to give back to society.” – Attorney Anthony Fox

 

Attorney J. Kenneth Lee* (posthumously)

Founded the first Black owned, federally-chartered savings and loan bank in North Carolina when he was denied loans by other banks for being African American. He established a private trade school that trained African American military veterans to become electricians. When he wanted to become an attorney, he was involved in litigation that led to the integration of UNC School of Law – becoming one of its first African American graduates. After graduating from law school, he became a prominent and highly regarded civil rights attorney in Greensboro with a career that spanned over fifty years. Sadly, Lee passed away in 2018 at the age of 94 but his legacy will live on. *Photo courtesy Greensboro News & Record.

Quote from Attorney J. Kenneth Lee’s family:

“I believe my grandfather would say that the essential characteristic of a leader is courage. It takes courage to often stand alone and do what you believe is right, to sacrifice the things that may give you comfort, so that others can benefit, and courage to know that sometimes all you will have to lean on is your faith that things can and will change.”

Senator Dan T. Blue, Jr.

Earned his J.D. in 1973 from Duke University School of Law and in 1980 began his career in politics. His tenure with the General Assembly is extensive and his early representation was often on behalf of Robeson County related to community matters such as education and job development. His career bears many firsts, including service as the first Black Speaker of the House, first Black President of the National Conference of State Legislatures and first Black Chairman of the Duke Board of Trustees. His career has broken political barriers. His impact on the State of North Carolina is continual and remains instrumental in the progression of our state and its citizens.

“I believe that it is essential for a good leader to be open-minded, and to adapt to new challenges. Every leader must prepare for every possible scenario and be ready for every possible outcome. More importantly, a good leader must be willing to learn, and to listen to the ideas of others to formulate the best strategy.” – Senator Dan T. Blue, Jr.

 

Professor George R. Johnson, Jr.

Graduated from Columbia University Law School in 1976 and now boasts a distinguished career, consisting of more than 30 years of experience. He has served in leadership positions in the executive office of the U.S. President, in Congress, as a college president at LeMoyne-Owen College, in private practice, and in law school leadership. As Elon Law’s first African American Dean, he led the law school to full accreditation and served as a crucial mentor to its African American law students. Now as Dean Emeritus and Professor of Law at Elon, he continues providing legal instruction and guidance to hundreds of attorneys seeking to advance the law in North Carolina. His commitment to shaping the next great minds of our society evidences a legacy that will inevitably touch countless lives and has lasting nationwide impacts.

“The essential quality of leadership, I believe, is integrity. Leaders implicitly, often explicitly, ask their people, their colleagues to trust them: to trust that the leader is working for them, that the leader’s decisions and choices seek to advance their interests and values. A leader will not always make the right or the best decision, but when others know or believe the leader’s decisions are grounded in principle, which is to say, the leader has integrity, then even wrong or bad decisions will be understood, and trust in the leader will be maintained.” – Professor George R. Johnson, Jr.

 

Previous Legal Legends of Color Honorees

  • 2021 Honorees – Judge Elreta Melton Alexander (posthumously), Attorney Karen Bethea-Shields, Judge Wanda G. Bryant, Professor James E. Coleman, Jr., Attorney Julian Pierce (posthumously)
  • 2020 Honorees – Judge Yvonne Mims Evans, Attorney Anthony Fox, Attorney J. Kenneth Lee* (posthumously), Senator Dan T. Blue, Jr., Professor George R. Johnson, Jr.
  • 2019 Honorees – Professor Charles Daye, Former U.S. Attorney Janice McKenzie Cole, Former Legislator H. M. “Mickey” Michaux Jr., Judge Sammie Chess, Attorney Julius Chambers (posthumously)
  • 2018 Honorees – Judge Shirley Fulton, Judge Paul Jones, Attorney Glenn Adams, Attorney Victor Boone
  • 2017 Honorees – Judge Albert Diaz, Former Justice Patricia Timmons-Goodson, Professor Irving Joyner
  • 2016 Honorees – Chief Justice Cheri Lynn Beasley, Former Chief Justice Henry E. Frye, Attorney James E. “Fergie” Ferguson II