Judge J.C. “Jake” Stone Distinguished Service Award Winners
1987
MICHAEL R. WALSH
2001
G. CHARLES WOHLUST
1988
HERBERT L. ALLEN
2002
RICHARD A. LEIGH
1989
RALPH V. “TERRY” HADLEY, III
2003
CHRIS BALLENTINE
1990
SALLY D. M. KEST
2004
JAMES MAGEE
1991
SALVATORE “FRANK” SCARITO
2005
MATTHEW G. BRENNER
1992
CHARLES R. “CHUCK” STEPTER, JR.
2006
SUSAN V. STUCKER
1993
ALEXANDER C. MACKINNON
2007
JOHN R. HAMILTON
1994
DOROTHEA WATSON
2008
ROBERT THREADGILL
1995
JOHN MARSHALL KEST
2009
ROBERT L. DIETZ
1996
BRUCE B. BLACKWELL
2010
NEAL J. BLAHER
1997
NORBERTO S. KATZ
2011
EDMUND T. BAXA, JR.
1998
LAWRENCE J. PHALIN
2012
JOSEPH L. AMOS, JR.
1999
PHILIP HUGH TREES
2013
FRANK C. WESIGHAN
2000
JEFFRY BRANHAM
2014
EDWARD R. ALEXANDER, JR.
Judge J.C. “Jake” Stone Distinguished Service Award
THE HONORABLE JOHN C. “JAKE” STONE, JR.
John C. Stone, Jr., called Judge Jake Stone, was admitted to The Florida Bar November 1967 and elected as Orange County Judge
in 1979.
Legal Aid began recognizing attorneys for their pro bono work in the late 70’s. Many attorneys who received individual recognition
continued to commit substantial time on pro bono cases and advocacy on pro bono issues. The Legal Aid Board wanted to create an
award for the exceptional and continued work and leadership of attorneys during their career. They created a Distinguished Service
Award for which an attorney must have received an individual award of merit and have continued the commitment to pro bono.
The first award was presented to Mike Walsh in 1987. The award was later named in honor of Judge John C. Stone, Jr. Judge Stone
was admitted to The Florida Bar in 1967 and elected to the county bench in 1979. He was active in community and civic affairs. He
died suddenly in February 1987. In 1989 the first Judge J.C. “Jake” Stone Distinguished Service Award was presented.
Judge J.C. “Jake” Stone Distinguished Service Award Winner
1987
MICHAEL R. WALSH
Michael R. Walsh, P.A.
Michael R. Walsh was admitted to The Florida Bar in November of 1963.
Judge J.C. “Jake” Stone Distinguished Service Award Winner
1988
HERBERT L. ALLEN
Allen, Dyer, Doppelt, Milbrath & Gilchrist, P.A.
Herbert L. Allen was admitted to The Florida Bar in June 1969.
Judge J.C. “Jake” Stone Distinguished Service Award Winner
1989
RALPH V. “TERRY” HADLEY, III
Swann & Hadley, PA
Ralph V. Hadley, III, was admitted to The Florida Bar in June 1968.
Judge J.C. “Jake” Stone Distinguished Service Award Winner
1990
THE HONORABLE SALLY D. M. KEST
CIRCUIT JUDGE
Judge Sally D. M. Kest was admitted to The Florida Bar in May 1973.
Judge J.C. “Jake” Stone Distinguished Service Award Winner
1991
SALVATORE ROBERT SCARITO
RETIRED
Salvatore R. Scarito was admitted to The Florida Bar in September 1957. He retired to North Carolina.
Judge J.C. “Jake” Stone Distinguished Service Award Winner
1992
CHARLES R. “CHUCK” STEPTER, JR.
Fishback Dominick
Charles R. Stepter, Jr., was admitted to The Florida Bar in October 1973.
Judge J.C. “Jake” Stone Distinguished Service Award Winner
1993
ALEXANDER C. MACKINNON
Smith Mackinnon, P.A.
Alexander C. Mackinnon was admitted to The Florida Bar in November of 1967.
Judge J.C. “Jake” Stone Distinguished Service Award Winner
1994
DOROTHEA WATSON
RETIRED
Dorothea Watson was admitted to The Florida Bar in September 1942. She has retired and left the state.
Judge J.C. “Jake” Stone Distinguished Service Award Winner
1995
THE HONORABLE JOHN MARSHALL KEST
CIRCUIT JUDGE
Judge Kest was admitted to The Florida Bar in May 1973.
Judge J.C. “Jake” Stone Distinguished Service Award Winner
1996
BRUCE B. BLACKWELL
King Blackwell Downs & Zehnder, P.A.
Bruce B. Blackwell was admitted to The Florida Bar in May 1975.
Judge J.C. “Jake” Stone Distinguished Service Award Winner
1997
NORBERTO S. KATZ
JUDICAL HEARING OFFICER
Norberto S. Katz was admitted to The Florida Bar in June 1984.
Judge J.C. “Jake” Stone Distinguished Service Award Winner
1998
LAWRENCE J. PHALIN
Mateer & Harbert, P.A.
Lawrence J. Phalin was admitted to The Florida Bar in November 1970.
Judge J.C. “Jake” Stone Distinguished Service Award Winner
1999
PHILIP HUGH TREES
DECEASED
Philip Hugh Trees was admitted to The Florida Bar in June 1978. He died in 1999 at 46 years old.
Judge J.C. “Jake” Stone Distinguished Service Award Winner
2000
JEFFRY J. BRANHAM
Dean, Ringers, Morgan & Lawton, P.A.
Jeffry J. Branham was admitted to The Florida Bar in October 1982.
Judge J.C. “Jake” Stone Distinguished Service Award Winner
2001
G. CHARLES WOHLUST
Law Offices of Charles Wohlust, P.L.C.
G. Charles Wohlust was admitted to The Florida Bar in November 1969.
Judge J.C. “Jake” Stone Distinguished Service Award Winner
2002
RICHARD A. LEIGH
Swann & Hadley, P.A.
Richard A. Leigh was admitted to The Florida Bar in November 1969.
Judge J.C. “Jake” Stone Distinguished Service Award Winner
2003
CHRIS M. BALLENTINE
Fisher, Rushmer, Werrenrath, Dickson, Talley & Dunlap, P.A.
Chris M. Ballentine was admitted to The Florida Bar in October 1984.
Judge J.C. “Jake” Stone Distinguished Service Award Winner
2004
JAMES M. MAGEE
Neduchal & Magee, P.A.
James M. Magee was admitted to The Florida Bar in December 1973.
Judge J.C. “Jake” Stone Distinguished Service Award Winner
2005
MATTHEW G. BRENNER
Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor & Reed, P.A.
Matthew G. Brenner was admitted to The Florida Bar in November 1985.
Judge J.C. “Jake” Stone Distinguished Service Award Winner
2006
SUSAN V. STUCKER
HD Supply Legal Department
Susan V. Stucker was admitted to The Florida Bar in October 1985.
Judge J.C. “Jake” Stone Distinguished Service Award Winner
2007
JOHN R. HAMILTON
Foley & Lardner
John R. Hamilton was admitted to The Florida Bar in September 1988.
Judge J.C. “Jake” Stone Distinguished Service Award Winner
2008
ROBERT H. THREADGILL
RETIRED
Robert H. Threadgill was admitted to The Florida Bar in April 1953.
He retired from Attorney Title Insurance Fund Co. in 1987.
Judge J.C. “Jake” Stone Distinguished Service Award Winner
2009
ROBERT L. DIETZ
Zimmerman, Kiser & Sutcliffe, P.A.
Robert L. Dietz was admitted to The Florida Bar in May 1984.
Judge J.C. “Jake” Stone Distinguished Service Award Winner
2010
NEAL J. BLAHER
Law Office of Neal J. Blaher
Neal J. Blaher was admitted to The Florida Bar in May 1987.
Judge J.C. “Jake” Stone Distinguished Service Award Winner
2011
EDMUND T. BAXA, JR.
Foley & Lardner, LLP
Edmund T. Baxa, Jr., was admitted to The Florida Bar in December 1980.
Judge J.C. “Jake” Stone Distinguished Service Award Winner
2012
JOSEPH L. AMOS, JR.
Fisher, Rushmer, Werrenrath, Dickson, Talley & Dunlap, P.A.
Joseph L. Amos, Jr. was admitted to The Florida Bar in September 1990.
Judge J.C. “Jake” Stone Distinguished Service Award Winner
2013
FRANK C. WESIGHAN
Dean, Ringers, Morgan & Lawton, P.A.
Frank C. Wesighan was admitted to The Florida Bar in June 1983.
Judge J.C. “Jake” Stone Distinguished Service Award Winner
2014
EDWARD R ALEXANDER, JR.
Entrepreneurship Law Firm, PL
Edward R. Alexander, Jr. was admitted to The Florida Bar in November 1983.