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UB law alumni to honor six at annual dinner
By ILENE FLEISCHMANN
Reporter Contributor
Five graduates of the UB Law School will receive Distinguished Alumni Awards for their contributions to the legal profession and community at the 41st annual UB Law Alumni Association meeting and dinner, to be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the Hyatt Regency Buffalo.
The alumni association also will recognize a non-alumnus, New York State Assembly Majority Leader Paul A. Tokasz (D-Cheektowaga), who will receive a special award for "outstanding service to the university and community."
"Paul Tokasz is an outstanding legislator," said Dean Nils Olsen. "His leadership is instrumental in contributing to the continued success of the University at Buffalo. Western New Yorkers owe him a large debt of gratitude."
Prior to being appointed as majority leader, Tokasz served as chair of the Assembly Committee on Tourism, Arts and Sports Development, where he advocated for both arts and tourism interests. He initiated several statewide policies to help realize the connection between arts, tourism and economic development. He also is known for his support of important environmental issues.
In addition to Tokasz, awards will be presented to:
The Hon. Hugh B. Scott '74, U.S. magistrate judge, who will be honored for his "conscientious and diligent performance in the judiciary." Scott was the first African American to become assistant attorney general in charge in Western New York, the first to become assistant United States attorney, first assistant corporation counsel, and the first assistant county attorney. At age 32, Scott was elected to the Buffalo City Court. He was re-elected to another 10-year term before leaving the position to become the first African American to sit on the federal bench in the Western District of New York.
Lawrence H. Wagner '49, who recently retired as a partner of the Buffalo-based law firm of Jaeckle, Fleischmann & Mugel, LLP, will be honored for his "leadership by example as a private practitioner." Known in Buffalo as "the dean of civil trial lawyers," Wagner's career has been devoted to civil litigation in a variety of areas, including appeals, product liability law, insurance coverage and legal malpractice law.
Michael Wolford '68 will be honored for his "many contributions to the betterment of our community." Managing partner of the Rochester law firm, Wolford & Leclair LLP, he has involved his eight-attorney firm in a good deal of pro bono work; working with the American Board of Trial Advocates—of which he was president—to set up a mentoring program for young trial attorneys, and working to revitalize the Rochester chapter of the UB Law Alumni Association.
Hon. Barbra A. Kavanaugh '83 will be honored for her "commitment to public service." Kavanaugh recently left her position as assistant attorney general in charge of the Buffalo regional office to run for comptroller for the City of Buffalo. Prior to the assistant attorney general appointment, she served as a Buffalo Common Council member-at-large. Before making the run for office, she worked as an attorney for 12 years, concentrating on housing, bankruptcy and public benefits law in a legal services practice.
David F. Smith '78, president of National Fuel Gas Distribution Corp., will be honored for his "exemplary performance in business." Smith joined National Fuel Gas Distribution Corp. in 1978 after working for the company during law school. He became president in 1999 after serving as president of National Fuel Resources Division and then as senior vice president of National Fuel Gas Distribution Corp. National Fuel Gas Distribution is the utility subsidiary of National Fuel Gas Co. that provides natural gas service to some 732,000 customers throughout Western New York and northwestern Pennsylvania.