Recent News

June 12, 2009

At the Annual Meeting 2009

At the 2009 Annual Meeting, we will honor three of our members who have contributed extraordinarily to the Columbus Bar and to the community.

John C. Hartranft Sr. is this year’s recipient of the Bar Service Medal presented to a member who has a long history of distinguished service to the Bar. John has been a part of the Columbus Bar for more years than he would like to admit. After graduating from Harvard and law school at the University of Michigan, John started his legal career and affiliation with the Columbus Bar almost simultaneously. When called upon, John has done whatever we ask – chair a task force faced with difficult issues such as racial profiling and sexual orientation, lead the unauthorized practice of law and audit committees, start new initiatives, hold all Board of Governor offices – board member to past president, and now lead the senior lawyers group. And for the Bar Foundation, John participated on not one but two long-range planning committees and as an advisor to their Lawyer to Lawyer Fund. It is with great affection that we salute John, our own “Man for All Seasons."

The Professionalism Award is given to Phil Moots in recognition of exceptional dedication to the standards of the profession and for demonstrated integrity and humanitarian concern. Phil graduated from Ohio State and Harvard Law School, after which he began his long and distinguished service to the community, both teaching and practicing employment law. A long-time member of the Columbus Bar and the Bar Foundation, Phil served as chair and member of our insurance subsidiary, CBS Agency, Inc., for ten years. A Best Lawyer in America and an Ohio Super Lawyer in Labor & Employment Law, Phil spends many additional hours in service as president of the Legal Aid Society and as chair and member of numerous other boards. In his spare time he writes extensively about employment, higher education and religious institution legal issues; and he makes frequent presentations on legal and policy issues to national and regional gatherings of college and university trustees, administrators, faculty and attorneys. We offer congratulations to Phil, a most deserving recipient.

Each year an out-going committee chairperson is recognized for exceptional leadership. This year's recipient, Jamie Zitesman, not only exhibited leadership for the real property committee, but showed extraordinary commitment to the Columbus Bar as a whole. Jamie participated in focus groups, developed CLE programs, wrote articles, recruited new members and generally did anything we asked of him. He is most deserving of the 2009 Presidents Award and we look forward to his continued Bar service.