The David Rutherford Award
The Nashville Bar Foundation (NBF) is currently requesting nominations for the 2024 David Rutherford Award. This award will be given to a Fellow of the NBF who exemplifies the memory and ideals of David Rutherford, which include professionalism, charitable contributions in the legal field and in the community as a whole, and the spirit of collegiality among the bench and bar.
Nomination Form
2023 David Rutherford Award recipient
Posthumously awarded to Judge Philip E. Smith
2007 | Presented to David Rutherford’s family in his Honor
2008 | Justice Frank Drowota
2009 | not presented
2010 | Hon. Robert Echols
2011 | Charles H. Warfield
2012 | Margaret L. Behm
2014 | Jack Norman, Jr.
2015 | Aubrey Harwell, Jr.
2016 | Ashley T. Wiltshire, Jr.
2017 | Hal Hardin
2018 | Hon. Aleta Trauger
2019 | John C. McLemore
2020 | Edward M. Yarbrough
2022 | Presented to the family of Justice Connie Clark in her honor
2023 | Presented to the family of Judge Philip E. Smith in his honor
WHEREAS, the Nashville Bar Foundation was started under the leadership of David Rutherford, President of the Nashville Bar Association; and
WHEREAS, David Rutherford exemplified the highest standards of professionalism and collegiality; and
WHEREAS, the trustees of the Nashville Bar Foundation deem it to be in the best interests of the organization to authorize an award to honor the memory and ideals of David Rutherford;
NOW, THEREFORE, it is RESOLVED as follows:
- The Nashville Bar Foundation establishes an award to be designated the David Rutherford Award, to be given to a Fellow of the Foundation not more frequently than annually.
- The Award is to be made to a Fellow who exemplifies the memory and ideals of David Rutherford, which include professionalism, charitable contributions in the legal field and in the community as a whole, and the spirit of collegiality among bench and bar.
- The Award is to be made by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Trustees. The Board may from time to time establish such procedures for nominations and selection of recipients, as it deems appropriate from time to time.
- The Award shall be given at the Annual Fellows Dinner.