“Award/Recognition” Class Notes

Peter Curry (Grad ’74)
Peter Curry (Grad ’74) was selected to the 2017 New York Metro Super Lawyers list in the category of real estate. Mr. Curry is a lawyer with the firm Farrell Fritz.
Thomas Ammons (Col ’66, Law ’69 CM)


Thomas M. Ammons, III (Col ’66, Law ’69 L/M) has been recognized for his contribution to animal welfare as a volunteer and as a district court judge by the Norfolk, Virginia, SPCA, who has named an award for him. The Thomas M. Ammons III Award for Animal Welfare will be given annually in the fall and will alternate each year between regional/state and state/national recipients to recognize individuals who made a difference in animal protection and welfare.
As a judge, Mr. Ammons made national headlines when he sentenced a man to jail for killing a kitten in 1989. At that time, it was unheard of and considered extremely harsh for the cruelty of killing an animal. Judge Ammons is a former board member of the Virginia Beach SPCA, regularly volunteered to help at the shelter, traveled out of state to rescue animals following Hurricane Katrina and became government certified in large animal rescue.
Randy Underwood (Law ’79)

Randy Underwood (Law ’79) was recognized in the 2018 edition of The Best Lawyers in America for his work in the financial services regulation law and real estate law fields. Mr. Underwood resides in Greensboro, North Carolina, and works at the law firm, Brooks Pierce.
Bob Saunders (Law ’87)

Bob Saunders (Law ’87) was recognized in the 2018 edition of The Best Lawyers in America for his work in the litigation and controversy law fields. Mr. Saunders works in North Carolina at the law firm, Brooks Pierce.
Jeff Oleynik (Law ’83 CM)

Jeff Oleynik (Law ’83 L/M) was recognized in the 2018 edition of The Best Lawyers in America for his work in the antitrust law and bankruptcy and creditor debtor rights/insolvency and reorganization law fields. Mr. Oleynik resides in Greensboro, North Carolina, and works at the law firm, Brooks Pierce.
Bill McNairy (Darden ’67)

Bill McNairy (Darden ’67) was recognized in the 2018 edition of The Best Lawyers in America for his work in the tax law and trust and estates law fields. Mr. McNairy resides in Greensboro, North Carolina, and works at the law firm, Brooks Pierce.
Patrick Johnson (Col ’91, Law ’94 CM)

Patrick Johnson (Col ’91, Law ’94) was recognized in the 2018 edition of The Best Lawyers in America for his work in corporate law and mergers and acquisitions law. Mr. Johnson resides in Raleigh, North Carolina, and works at the law firm, Brooks Pierce.
George House (Law ’72)

George House (Law ’72) was recognized in the 2018 edition of The Best Lawyers in America for his work in the environmental law field. Mr. House resides in Greensboro, NC and works at the law firm, Brooks Pierce.
Mark Davidson (Law ’83)

Mark Davidson (Law ’83) was recognized in the 2018 edition of The Best Lawyers in America for his work in the corporate law, mergers and acquisitions law and securities/capital markets law fields. Mr. Davidson resides in Greensboro, North Carolina, where he works for the firm Brooks Pierce.
Melissa Weaver (Law ’85)

Melissa Weaver (Law ’85 L/M) was recognized in the 2018 edition of The Best Lawyers in America for her work in the field of employee benefits law. Ms. Weaver lives in North Carolina and works at the leading law firm, Brooks Pierce.
Bill Cary (Col ’67, Darden ’76, Law ’76 CM)

Bill Cary (Col ’67, Darden ’76, Law ’76) was recognized in the 2018 edition of The Best Lawyers in America© for his work in the employment law field. Mr. Cary resides in Greensboro, North Carolina, where works for the law firm Brooks Pierce.

Christopher D’Angelo (Col ’75, Law ’78)
Christopher D’Angelo (Col ’75, Law ’78 L/M) was a speaker at the 2017 spring technical meeting of the International Alliance of Asbestos & Pollution Reinsurers (IntAP) in Munich in June 2017. IntAP is made up of the major players in the reinsurance world facing pollution and asbestos issues, primarily in the U.S. and Europe. His presentation and seminar included providing the U.S. experience, exposures and prognosis, giving insights to assist the companies in writing risks and handling claims. Mr. D’Angelo, who was a contributing author to the Defense Counsel Training Manual, published in 2016 by the International Association of Defense Counsel, was also the moderator and a speaker on “Data Privacy – No More Safe Harbour: Cross-Border Discovery and Compliance with Data Protection Laws” at the International Corporate Counsel College (ICCC) in October 2016. Mr. D’Angelo is on the faculty of the ICCC, of which he is a founder and a former director. The ICCC, which is held in Europe each fall, draws participants from around the world. Finally, Mr. D’Angelo was elected to a second term on the board of directors of Citizens Diplomacy International of Philadelphia, a public/private partnership with the U.S. Department of State and the City of Philadelphia. CDI’s mission is to promote mutual understanding among nations and prevent wars by bringing people face to face and creating a dialogue between Americans and guests from abroad. Mr. D’Angelo is chairman of the international practice and co-chairman of the products liability, mass claims and risk management section at Montgomery, McCracken, Walker and Rhoads in Philadelphia and New York.
John Hudgins (Col ’72 CM)
John “Skip” Hudgins (Col ’72 L/M) was listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2018 for his work in personal injury litigation for defendants and medical malpractice law for defendants.

Lee Roberts (Col ’83 CM)
Lee Roberts (Col ’83 L/M) was named a 2018 “Lawyer of the Year” by The Best Lawyers in America for his work in construction litigation in Las Vegas.
Shawn Arent (Col ’95 CM)


Shawn Arent (Col ’95 L/M) is the director of the Rutgers Center for Health & Human Performance. He recently received the 2017 Outstanding Sport Scientist of the Year Award from the National Strength & Conditioning Association and was elected president of the International Society of Sports Nutrition.

Anthony Russell (Col ’96, Law ’99 CM)
Anthony M. “Tony” Russell (Col ’96, Law ’99 L/M) was named a “Lawyer of the Year” in medical malpractice law by The Best Lawyers in America for Roanoke, Virginia. Mr. Russell is a lawyer with Gentry Locke in Roanoke.

Howard Gordon (Col ’69, Law ’72 CM)
Howard Gordon (Col ’69, Law ’72 L/M) was one of 30 people named to the 2017 class of “Leaders in the Law” by Virginia Lawyers Weekly. His practice focuses on commercial and multi-family real estate, commercial leases, ground leases, land use planning and permits. He has also been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America and Virginia Super Lawyers. He practices with Williams Mullen.

Dawes Cooke (Col ’76 CM)
M. Dawes Cooke Jr. (Col 76 L/M) has been recognized as the Charleston, South Carolina, 2018 Mediation “Lawyer of the Year” by the 2018 Best Lawyers in America list. This is the seventh “Lawyer of the Year” title for Mr. Cooke, who works for Barnwell Whaley.

Jill Tietjen (Engr ’76 CM)
Jill Tietjen (Engr 76 L/M) was recognized as a 20th anniversary Woman of Distinction by the Girl Scouts of Colorado. Ms. Tietjen was honored for her advocacy for women and girls. She is the president and CEO of Technically Speaking, Inc.

John Hewson (Col ’65 CM)
John M. Hewson III (Col ’65 L/M) a partner at business law firm HunterMaclean was recently selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2018 under the category of Corporate Law. He was also recognized by Best Lawyers as “Lawyer of the Year” for corporate law within his region. Best Lawyers, which is published annually in almost 70 countries, recognizes attorneys for significant achievements in their area of practice.
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