The BBA Lifetime Achievement Award Committee was created in 1972 to recognize outstanding and distinguished member(s) of the Bar.  Then-President Stan Starnes established the Committee, which recommends proposed recipient(s) to the BBA Executive Committee for approval.  The criteria for evaluating nominees, in order of priority, are:

1) Member of the Birmingham Bar Association
2) Service to the Birmingham Bar Association
3) Service to the community, state and nation
4) Professional achievement as a practicing attorney

Congratulations to the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award winner, 
Honorable Carole Smitherman!

The 2025 Nominations process for
the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award is now open.
Applications for nominees are due on Monday, October 6, 2025 by noon.
Download the application.

 Past Recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award (f/k/a Outstanding Lawyer of the Year):

1964 RODERICK BEDDOW, SR.*
1973 FRANK E. SPAIN *
1974 LEIGH M. CLARK*
1975 SHUFORD B. SMYER *
1976 DOUGLAS ARANT *
1978 FRANK BAINBRIDGE, SR.*
1979 LUCIEN D. GARDNER, JR.*
1980 FRANCIS H. HARE *
1981 BRYANT WHITMIRE, SR.*
1982 WALTER L. MIMS *
1983 JOHN W. GILLON *
1984 HERBERT W. PETERSON*
1985 ABE BERKOWTIZ *
1986 JAMES O. HALEY *
1987 ORMOND SOMERVILLE *
1988 DOUGLAS P. CORRETTI*
1989 ARTHUR D. SHORES *
1990 E. M. FRIEND, JR. *
1991 RODERICK BEDDOW, JR.*
1992 BIBB ALLEN *
1993 JOHN N. BRYAN, JR.*
1994 JEROME A. COOPER *
1995 J. MASON DAVIS
1996 FRANK DOMINICK *
1997 JAMES K. BAKER *
1998 L. DREW REDDEN *
1999 NEAL C. NEWELL *
2000 E. RAY LARGE *
2001 THOMAS N. CARRUTHERS
2002 JAMES C. BARTON, SR.*
2003 FRANK M. BAINBRIDGE*
2004 WILLIAM B. HAIRSTON, JR.*
2005 H. HOBART GROOMS, JR.*
2006 WILLIAM S. PRITCHARD, JR.*
2007 ALEX W. NEWTON*
2008 J. N. HOLT*
2009 JACK B. PORTERFIELD, JR.*
2010 JAMES L. NORTH*
2011 CHARLES DENABURG
2012 HON. J. SCOTT VOWELL
2013 WILLIAM M. (BILL) DAWSON
2014 MICHAEL D. FREEMAN*
2015 WILLIAM N. (BILL) CLARK
2016 MARTHA JANE PATTON*
2017 HON. RALPH D. COOK
2018 HON. JOHN E. OTT
2019 GERARD J. DURWARD
2020 HON. CARYL P. PRIVETT
2021 HON. HOUSTON L. BROWN
2022 LINDA A. FRIEDMAN
2023 HON. TAMARA HARRIS JOHNSON
2024 HON. CAROLE SMITHERMAN

*Deceased