Vanderbilt University Law School

Class of 1970

(Notes posted in the order they were received, with the newest posts on top.)

William L. Rikard Jr. was named to Business North Carolina magazine’s “Legal Elite” for 2008 in litigation. William is a partner in the Charlotte, NC office of Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein.

Larry Ramsey passed away after a brief battle with leukemia. Larry, a Dickson County, Tenn., real estate attorney and community activist, began his practice with the White & Regen law firm in Dickson. In 1974, he opened his own office where his practice eventually focused on real estate-related litigation and real estate transactions. He later spun off a titale and closing business (Dickson Title, LLC) from his law practice, which eventually became known as Ramsey Thornton & Barrett. But Larry wasn't known only for his real estate expertise. He also was a benefactor for several county endeavors. In 1999, Larry and Dana, his wife, were instrumental in launching the Community Foundation of Dickson County, an endowment that provides annual quality-of-life grants for community projects. Larry is survived by Dana and daughter Adrienne Bracker.

Rita Sanders Geier's landmark case against the State of Tennessee regarding equity in higher education was dismissed after it was determined that the state has met its obligations to desergregate higher education. Click here to read the article on the matter.

Allen S. Blair has been appointed by the Tennessee Supreme Court to the Court's Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee. The ADR Committee assists the State Supreme Court in the administration of the mediation program in all of Tennessee's state courts. Blair is a partner with Harris Shelton Hanover Walsh and concentrates his practice in the areas of mediation and arbitration as a neutral, labor law, employee benefits law, municipal law and bankruptcy. Mr. Blair is certified as a mediator in the state and federal courts and currently teaches Alternative Dispute Resolution and Negotiation at the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. He is a mediator and arbitrator on the Commercial Panel and the Employment Panel of the American Arbitration Association.

Ed Nichols and his wife, Janice, have endowed the Nichols-Chancellor's Medal, which will be presented to First Lady Laura Bush to accept on behalf of disaster relief workers worldwide during Vanderbilt's graduation ceremonies May 11. Its cash prize of $100,000 will go to the Nichols Humanitarian Fund, which provides travel and housing for volunteer disaster workers.

Robert P. Thomas has been appointed by Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen to serve on the Tennessee Board of Regents, the governing body for six state-run universities, 13 junior colleges and 25 technical colleges with a total of 180,000 students. Bob has been a a partner in the Nashville law firm of Boult Cummings Conners & Berry since 1974.

Do you have news you would like to share or just want to let everyone know what you are up to these days? Submit your class note online, e-mail Grace Renshaw or call 615-322-2606.

Please check the "Alumni MIA" list to see if you can help us find any of your "lost" classmates!