ABOUT THE AWARD

Each year,  Lakeland Bar Association presents  a member of the 10th Judicial Circuit with the Jerry A DeVane Award at its Law Day Luncheon. This year, Lakeland Bar Association recognized its 25th recipient of the Jerry A. DeVane Award.    The award reads “Lakeland Bar Association  presents this award in recognition of  his or her  extraordinary scholarship, professionalism and collegiality in the practice of law.

Jerry was the consummate gentleman and the best of scholars.  The phrase “a gentleman and a scholar ”has been trivialized into little more than a toast for the fellow who bought the last round.  However, in the case of Jerry DeVane, “a gentleman and scholar” perfectly describes this good man and exemplary lawyer.

Jerry was a passionate student and advocate of the law.  His appellate work and trial advocacy were well known to all local lawyers who practice real estate and probate law.  Many lawyers, myself included, called Jerry for his insight when a thorny question of law or procedure needed two minds to be mastered. 

Jerry A. DeVane Award Recipients

Buddy Clarke                            1995-1996

Oliver L. Green, Jr.                   1996-1997                                       

Victor Troiano                           1997-1998                                     

Charlie & Gerry Carlton             1998-1999

Robert G. Stokes                       1999-2000

Ron Toward                               2000-2001

NO Award                                  2001-2002

Dan Brawley                             2002-2003

Samuel Crosby                          2003-2004

Bill DuFoe                                 2004-2005

Wm. "Mac" Midyette                 2005-2006

Larry Shearer                            2006-2007

Greg Ruster                               2007-2008

Cecelia Martin Moore                2008-2009

C. Richard Nail                          2009-2010

J. Marion Moorman                   2010-2011

Timothy McCausland                2011-2012

Kent Lilly                                    2012-2013

Phil Allen                                   2013-2014

Jack Brandon                            2014-2015

Deborah Goins                           2015-2016

Sandra Sheets                           2016-2017 

Jean Henne                                2017-2018

Steve Senn  2018-2019 

2019-2020 No award given due to COVID

Jay Geary                                   2020-2021

Scott Langston                          2021-2022

Jonn Hoppe                               2022-2023

Hon. Mary Catherine Green     2023-2024