February 2010
1960s
Leslie J. Schiff ('60), Opelousas attorney, received the Louisiana State Bar Association (LSBA) Committee on the Profession’s Professionalism Award during the LSBA’s midyear meeting. Schiff, who served as LSBA president in 1989-90, received the award for his outstanding leadership, guidance and assistance in the creation and implementation of the law school professionalism orientation programs and the LSBA’s character and fitness programs and for his lifelong dedication to the bench, bar and profession. He is a frequent lecturer on ethics issues at CLE seminars and serves as a judge for LSU Law Center moot court competitions. He also is a member of the LSU Law Center’s Board of Trustees and the Chancellor’s Council.
Cyrus J. Greco ('63), Taylor Porter, has been named by Louisiana Super Lawyers magazine as a top attorney in Louisiana for 2010.
W. Shelby McKenzie ('64), Taylor Porter, has been named by Louisiana Super Lawyers magazine as a top attorney in Louisiana for 2010.
W. Luther Wilson ('68), Taylor Porter, has been named by Louisiana Super Lawyers magazine as a top attorney in Louisiana for 2010.
W. Arthur Abercrombie, Jr. ('69), Taylor Porter, has been named by Louisiana Super Lawyers magazine as a top attorney in Louisiana for 2010.
Russell J. Fontenot (‘69) retired from Federal Service in November 2005 after 21 years of active military duty plus another 16 years as an Army civil service attorney working in medical malpractice.
William G. Whatley ('69), William G. Whatley & Associates, has practiced in Marksville, LA for 40 years.
1970s
Robert E. Plummer ('72), Plummer & Means, LLC, retired from general practice ('08).
W. Glenn Burns ('73), Hailey, McNamara, Hall, Larmann & Papale, LLP, was selected for inclusion in Who's Who in American Law.
W. Thomas Angers ('76) is co-author with the late Colonel Francis C. Grevemberg of his biography, My Wars; Nazis Mobsters Gambling And Corruption with a subtitle Colonel Francis Grevemberg Remembers. The book chronicles the crusade of Grevemberg against gambling and vice in Louisiana from 1952 to 1955. The book is available through bookstores or visit beaubayoupublishing.com or telephone 337/769-1272.
Neil Buckingham ('78), is manager, state government relations for Shell Oil Company.
John F. McDermott ('78), Taylor Porter, has been named by Louisiana Super Lawyers magazine as a top attorney in Louisiana for 2010.
1980s
Vicki M. Crochet ('80), Taylor Porter, has been named by Louisiana Super Lawyers magazine as a top attorney in Louisiana for 2010.
Anne J. Crochet ('83), Taylor Porter, has been named by Louisiana Super Lawyers magazine as a top attorney in Louisiana for 2010.
Susan Halsey ('83), Jackson Walker, has been named Managing Partner of the firm's Fort Worth office. Halsey currently serves as the statewide chair for the firm’s Real Estate practice group. Her practice consists primarily of representing companies, partnerships, individuals, and financial institutions in various real estate transactions and financial matters.
Harry J. "Skip" Philips, Jr. ('83), Taylor Porter, has been named by Louisiana Super Lawyers magazine as a top attorney in Louisiana for 2010.
Gary Ethridge (‘84) is Assistant General Counsel with the Louisiana Department of Transportation & Development.
Patrick M. Wartelle ('84) has been named a member of Leake & Andersson, L.L.P. Wartelle practices in the firm’s Lafayette office.
Robert W. Becker ('85), French & Associates, P.C., Albuquerque, New Mexico, was recognized in The Best Lawyers in America 2010 in the area of employment law/civil rights.
Brett P. Furr ('86), Taylor Porter, has been named by Louisiana Super Lawyers magazine as a top attorney in Louisiana for 2010.
Colleen Noel Wertz ('87), Dearborn National (the brand for the Ancillary Benefits Division of HCSC, Hqtrs.: 300 E. Randolph St., Chicago, IL) is an Assistant Corporate Counsel. She manages the compliance division of the Law Department and handles general legal matters for the companies that operate under the Dearborn National brand.
Thomas Lenz ('88), Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo (Cerritos, CA), was recognized by Labor Relations Institute in 2009, for the fourth consecutive year, as one of the Top 100 Labor Attorneys in the United States.
1990s
Beau Sagona (’90), a member of The Derbes Law Firm in Metairie and Board Certified in Estate Planning and Administration by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization, handles administered and contested successions and the division of retirement plans in divorces.
Erick Y. "Hiko" Miyagi ('93), Taylor Porter, has been named by Louisiana Super Lawyers magazine as a top attorney in Louisiana for 2010.
Mary C. Hester ('94), Taylor Porter, has been named by Louisiana Super Lawyers magazine as a top attorney in Louisiana for 2010. Only five percent of the lawyers in the state are named by Super Lawyers. She was also elected to the Top 25 Women's List.
Toney Tomaso ('95), Heyl, Royster, Voelker & Allen, was made partner in the Urbana office. Tomaso primarily defends employers in workers’ compensation and third party claims and has also defended other types of civil litigation, including toxic tort and asbestos cases.
Bradley L. Drell (’96), a shareholder in the firm of Gold, Weems, Bruser, Sues & Rundell, a PLC, was recognized in The Best Lawyers in America 2010 in the areas of Bankruptcy and Debtor-Creditor Rights.
Elizabeth Mendell Carmody (’98), has rejoined the firm of Cook, Yancey, King & Galloway in Shreveport as an associate in the Litigation Section.
Scott Loeb (’98), Loeb & Loeb LLC, recently formed Loeb & Loeb with wife, Nicole Loeb. The firm maintains offices in Mandeville, Shreveport, and New Orleans.
2000s
Annie LeBlanc (’02), recently joined Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas as a Degree Counselor in Dedman College, advising undergraduate students.
Alice Montestruc ('05), Mental Health Advocacy Service, currently in a state agency that advocates for children in foster care as well as for mentally ill patients. It is a job that provides tremendous gratification.
William Sentell ('08), Pugh, Accardo, Haas, Radecker, Carey & Hymel, was invited to serve on the board of directors of The Phoenix of New Orleans, a local nonprofit specializing in affordable housing in Mid-City.
The LSU Law Center community mourns the passing of the following alumni whose deaths were reported since the date of our last newsletter publication.
Dameron Claiborne ('39)
Edwin A. Smith, Jr. ('52)
