Introducing the 2021 Hall of Fame Induction Class
The 123rd Annual Meeting of the North Carolina Bar Association was held on Thursday and Friday, June 17-18, in a virtual format. On June 17, President Mark Holt and President-elect Jon Heyl recognized four new members of the Legal Practice Hall of Fame who will be officially inducted at the fall meeting of the Senior Lawyers Division.
The inductees are:
- David R. Hillier, Asheville
- Fred H. Moody Jr., Bryson City
- Donald R. Vaughan, Greensboro
- Langdon M. Cooper, Gastonia
This is the third induction class for the renamed General Practice Hall of Fame, which was established in 1989 by the General Practice Section and will now total 173 members. The Senior Lawyers Division has solicited nominations and selected the inductees since 2019.
The Legal Practice Hall of Fame recognizes outstanding lawyers whose careers have served as models for other lawyers. Legal Practice Hall of Fame lawyers have exhibited throughout their practice the highest standards of ethics and professional competency and have rendered a high level of service to the bar and to their communities.
The recognition of each inductee begins with biographical information that was provided during the virtual awards ceremony and additional background material, followed by responses from each inductee to questions specifically geared toward new members of the Legal Practice Hall of Fame
Let’s meet the Legal Practice Hall of Fame induction class of 2021:
David R. Hillier of Gum of Hillier & McCroskey in Asheville. Hillier practiced as a board-certified bankruptcy specialist and served as a Chapter 7 trustee for 30 years. He has also served as president of the 28th Judicial District Bar, chaired the Asheville City School Board and volunteered as a member of the Asheville Regional Airport Authority. Hillier was instrumental in forming Mountain House, a day-training center for mentally ill individuals. For two decades, he served as a tutor at Jones Elementary School and as a cross country and youth sports coach. Hillier is also a recipient of the NCBA’s Centennial Award and was named to Lawyers Weekly/Elon University’s Leaders in the Law in 2013. He is a graduate of the University of the South and Duke University School of Law. Following 47 years of practice, Hillier announced his retirement on April 1, 2021.
What does it mean to you to be inducted into the Legal Practice Hall of Fame?
It is a great honor, particularly in the context that it is a selection by your peers in recognition of a lengthy legal career and extensive community involvement. To me, you can hardly be a lawyer without having community involvement – it is part of the definition of being a lawyer as far as I am concerned. I think serving on the various boards here in Asheville enhanced my legal career, and my legal career influenced whatever contribution I made to the community. It is a nice honor to receive at the end of my legal career.
What has it meant to you to be a lawyer?
My father was a lawyer in a large firm in Chicago. Like many teenagers, I resisted anything that had to do with my father. After I graduated from college and got to thinking about it, I decided to go ahead to law school and was lucky enough to be accepted into Duke. I realized as I went through law school and started my legal career that what I really wanted to do was help people. I knew that all along, but it became more and more clear as time went on.
I worked in the law department for a corporation for three and a half years, and then at a large firm in Asheville for one year, and finally ended up with my partner Howard Gum in our two-person firm. That’s where I belonged all along – the fact that I could take whatever walked in the door and help people was satisfying to me. I gradually evolved into a bankruptcy lawyer, although I did not plan it that way. I just got so much satisfaction out of realizing that, 99 percent of the time, I could get clients to a better place. That was a real satisfaction in my legal career, and also tied back in to being involved in the community, which as a lawyer was a real important part of my career.
How has membership in the North Carolina Bar Association enhanced your career?
I was honored to be selected as president of the 28th Judicial District Bar in 2000-2001. I really enjoyed the opportunity of leadership during the year I was president, and even though it was like herding cats at times, it meant a lot to me to experience the camaraderie of the other lawyers here in Buncombe County. The North Carolina Bar Association seminars I attended throughout my career were very helpful, not just for the educational part of it, but also rubbing elbows with the other lawyers in the community and across the state. Lawyers are a community.
Fred H. Moody Jr. of McKeever and Edwards in Bryson City. Moody is known as an outstanding trial attorney in both civil and criminal matters. He served as counselor for the North Carolina State Bar for 11 years, after which he was vice president and then president of the State Bar in 1996. Moody has also served as attorney for the Swain County School Board and for the Town of Bryson City, and he is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. Moody served on the State Judicial Council for seven years and on the North Carolina Judicial Standards Commission for five years. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and UNC School of Law.
What does it mean to you to be inducted into the Legal Practice Hall of Fame?
Being inducted into the Legal Practice Hall of Fame is a great honor for me. It means that my colleagues and the people I work with hold me in highest regard based upon years of relationships. I am much humbled by this honor.
What has it meant to you to be a lawyer?
Being a lawyer for the last forty-nine years has provided me with the opportunity to help all sorts of people with all sorts of problems and issues. From the local minister to the bank executive to the town drunk, I have been able to work with folks toward a resolution of their issues. Being a lawyer has also brought me in contact with other wonderful lawyers who, like me, are trying to resolve the issues of their clients in a beneficial way.
How has membership in the North Carolina Bar Association enhanced your career?
The North Carolina Bar Association has meant much to me during my time practicing law. It brought great continuing legal education programs to the hinterlands of North Carolina such as the area where I practice law. It leveled the playing field between large law firms and smaller firms or single practitioners with the addition of Fastcase to its membership benefits. It improved the quality of legal services throughout the state through the work of its sections. It provided a place for lawyers from all over the state to share their concerns and their accomplishments in the practice of law and to speak with a unified voice on matters of importance to the profession.
Donald R. Vaughan of Don R. Vaughan and Associates in Greensboro, where he has practiced his entire career. Vaughan is also an adjunct professor of law at Wake Forest University School of Law. Vaughan served two terms in the North Carolina Senate, one as Deputy Leader, and four years on the North Carolina Courts Commission. He served seven terms on the Greensboro City Council, two of which as mayor pro tem, and also serves as a member of the State Banking Commission. Vaughan has received the NCBA Citizen Lawyer Award and is also a recipient of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the state’s highest honor for civilian service. He also serves on the Board of Family Services of North Carolina, and is a tireless advocate for animal rights, having successfully sponsored one of the nation’s strongest laws on animal abuse. Vaughan graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1974, earned a master’s degree from American University, and his law degree from Wake Forest University Law School, where he was a member of the Wake Forest Law Review. Don served as Legislative Clerk to United States Senator Robert Morgan in Washington, and in the Office of the Governor Hunt’s Economic Advisor prior to returning to the full-time practice of law in Greensboro in 1982.
What does it mean to you to be inducted into the Legal Practice Hall of Fame?
It has been a rewarding experience to spend the last forty years as an attorney with a general practice in my hometown of Greensboro. I am honored to have also served as a state Senator, City Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem representing the citizens of Greensboro. In many ways, being inducted into the North Carolina Bar Association Hall of Fame is a capstone to my career as an attorney.
I am very appreciative to attorney Joe Williams of Greensboro, who nominated me for this award, and also to attorneys A. Grant Whitney of Parker Poe in Charlotte, B. Davis Horne of Smith Anderson in Raleigh and Paul Coates of Greensboro, who supported my nomination. They are great professionals.
I worked closely with the North Carolina Bar Association in the North Carolina Senate. I was on the Senate Judiciary Committee and was fortunate to handle many bills important to our profession. The Bar Association staff worked hand in hand with me on this legislation making better laws in the state, which would impact the practice of law.
These bills included:
- Chairman of the rewrite of Alcohol Beverage Control Laws in N.C., the first in 75 years
- Revision of Expungement and Motion for Appropriate Relief law
- New Adoption laws
- New Recycling law in North Carolina
Following in the footsteps of the late Sen. Kay Hagan in the North Carolina Senate Chamber, I was also honored to serve with such great lawyers as Senators Tony Rand, Richard Stevens, Josh Stein, Floyd McKissick, Doug Berger and Dan Blue. To serve beside these leaders was a great privilege and, though some have passed away, I remember with fondness the days of making a difference in the state legislature and especially of our friendships.
What has it meant to you to be a lawyer?
As a lawyer, I work every day to help people navigate the legal system. With a practice located in downtown Greensboro near center city, I am able to help people from all walks of life and handle a wide variety of legal matters. I never lose sight of what it means to help people who are scared, in trouble and in need of guidance to move forward into a productive life. Being a lawyer means being able to make a difference in a life and to help others.
My daughter Catherine, who is a student at UNC-Chapel Hill, recently told me that she aspired to follow in my footsteps and become a lawyer and practice with me. I can think of nothing better.
Now in my eighth year as Adjunct Professor of State and Local Government at Wake Forest University School of Law, I am heartened by the enthusiasm and intelligence of the young people who are preparing to become leaders in the field of law.
One of my finest days of teaching at Wake Forest was day one of my first class when I arrived at my classroom. On my right, teaching in the next classroom, was one of my favorite law school professors, Charlie Rose; and on the left, was another one of my favorites Professor “Mad Dog” Walker, as he was affectionately called. It was indeed an honor to teach on the same hall as these giants.
How has membership in the North Carolina Bar Association enhanced your career?
One of the highest privileges in my life was to be admitted to the North Carolina Bar. The Bar Association affords its members many resources and opportunities to become better at the craft of practicing law. I have enjoyed many opportunities in my career through my membership with the Bar Association. I have been honored twice by Lawyer’s Weekly in receiving the “Leaders in the Law” award for my contributions to the legal profession.
None of this would have been possible without the valuable resources and professional tools available through the Bar Association. In addition, I have served on the legislative committee of the North Carolina Bar Association for many years. I am also active in the Greensboro Bar Association.
I do hope to spend a little more time in the years to come with my daughter Catherine, and of course, Lady Remington, my retired Grand National Champion hunting retriever. Lady Remington and I just might have a few more hunts ahead of us.
Langdon M. Cooper of Mullen, Holland and Cooper in Gastonia. Cooper focused his practice on banking, bankruptcy litigation and reorganization and creditor’s rights.
Since 1975, he has served on the panel of trustees of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of North Carolina. As a Chapter 7 Trustee, Cooper has uncovered millions of dollars of assets for creditors. He has testified in a number of bankruptcy fraud cases resulting in criminal convictions and has also served as pro bono counsel for debtors in their bankruptcy cases. Cooper has also served on the NCBA’s Board of Governors. He is a graduate of Duke University and the University of North Carolina School of Law.
What does it mean to you to be inducted into the Legal Practice Hall of Fame?
My induction into the North Carolina Legal Practice Hall of Fame is the most distinguished honor of my legal career. I accept this honor with great humility and infinite gratitude. I would be remiss if I failed to note that my nomination was made possible by Nancy Borders Paschall, my long-time — but much younger — law partner! I am grateful for her kind words, support and most of all, for her friendship. I also must thank each of the individuals who supported my nomination. Their support is greatly appreciated.
What has it meant to you to be a lawyer?
If I am totally honest I must confess that as a youth I didn’t have a burning desire to be an attorney. It is not as though I was a Perry Mason devotee from childhood. Truly, it was more as though practicing law was my destiny. My father was an attorney and my grandfather (my father‘s father) was an attorney as well. As I have gotten older, and had time to research my genealogy, I have been somewhat surprised to realize just how many of my forbearers studied and practiced law.
In deciding to study law I considered my love of writing, my enthusiasm for acting in high school and college plays, my willingness to take risks and my inquisitive nature as positives which would serve me well both during law school and in the practice of law. It wasn’t until I attended law school that I realized my fascination with the study of law and the all-encompassing relevance of legal issues to all facets of life.
During law school I developed the utmost respect for the rule of law and determined that I would do my best to uphold the rule of law in my practice. Some might think that was a bit of a lofty goal for a newcomer to legal practice, and I am certain I fell short many times over the years; however, I always endeavored to be fair to my clients and other attorneys, to advise my clients of the risks and rewards of litigation and to attempt to steer a client towards an amicable resolution of a conflict whenever possible, with the realization that answers are often unclear under the law — and given the vagaries of juries and yes, sometimes judges, it is often better if both parties to a conflict are not entirely satisfied with an outcome. Frequently, it is better that a client be somewhat disappointed with a settlement instead of utterly devastated by defeat.
The longer I practiced law the more I realized I enjoyed conflict resolution as opposed to strictly litigation. I determined that bankruptcy law might be a good fit in that regard and I applied and was appointed to serve as a bankruptcy trustee. My law firm was almost always appointed as counsel to the trustee in my cases, so I had the opportunity to utilize the expertise of my law partners and associates to assist with the required legal work. At one point I served as trustee for bankruptcy cases filed in the Charlotte, Shelby and Asheville divisions of the federal courts in the Western District of North Carolina; the workload would have been impossible without the able assistance of the attorneys in my firm. In short, I owe much to the firm for success in my bankruptcy practice.
I enjoyed mentoring younger attorneys; therefore, I accepted their telephone calls and email inquiries whether their question related to a particular issue in a pending case or simply a discussion of general legal principles. As a consequence I became quite involved in continuing legal education and was invited to speak at numerous seminars. I like to think I was invited to speak because of my eloquence but must admit I was also invited because of my willingness to submit a manuscript. My primary paralegal always prepared an initial draft and then sometimes I employed my red pencil to edit the draft. Yes, I received the credit, but I must thank her publicly for the invaluable input.
In short, practicing as an attorney has allowed me to be creative in fashioning solutions to thorny problems presented in my practice. My greatest enjoyment has been the mental challenges that law practice provides. Obviously, it takes a certain IQ to become an attorney, but it is vastly more important to develop your EQ (emotional intelligence) if one hopes to be a successful attorney.
As I reflect on my long career, which is winding inexorably towards its conclusion, I find that while professional accolades are welcome and appreciated, they are of less significance than the professional and personal relationships I have formed over the years. Those relationships will stay in my heart and memory long after all the cases reported in those dusty tomes have been forgotten.
How has membership in the North Carolina Bar Association enhanced your career?
Membership in the North Carolina Bar Association has enhanced my career in multiple respects. First and foremost, my membership and particularly my participation in continuing legal education allowed me to form relationships with attorneys across the state who taught me a great deal, enhancing my legal acumen and allowing me to render better services to my clients. Second, Bar membership opened the door to my realization of the unmet needs of many North Carolinians who simply cannot afford the services of an attorney. Pro bono work is hugely important and affords an attorney opportunities to give back to the community. Third, Bar membership helped me to grow my law practice inasmuch as relationships with attorneys across the state often led to referrals as well as lifelong friendships.
I was lucky enough to join a firm which included Mark Holland as a partner. Mack was a past Bar president and very active in the Bar. He generously provided me with a wealth of knowledge and advice; indeed, I considered him to have been a second father. Mack encouraged me to join the North Carolina Bar Association and I am forever indebted to him for his sage advice.
Russell Rawlings is director of external affairs and communications for the North Carolina Bar Association.