Vanderbilt University Law School

Class of 1987

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

R.B. Quinn is co-author of Cheater BBQ – Barbecue Any Time, Anywhere, in Any Weather (New York: Broadway Books, 2008). The book follows the journey of R.B. and his fellow Nashvillian, Mindy Merrell, with everyone from weekend outdoor pit barbecue fans and competition judges to crusaders for barbecue freedom and diversity in the everyday indoor weeknight kitchen. R.B. still loves making southern-style barbecue the old-fashioned way – parked outdoors next to a slow, smoky hardwood fire, with lots of cold beer and plenty of time. But, when that kind of fun isn’t possible or practical, Cheater BBQ helps everyone make excellent homemade barbecue using the same traditional techniques—dry rub, low slow heat, a good sauce and some time. The only difference is that now the barbecue pit is an oven or slow cooker and the all-natural smoke comes from a bottle. The results are succulent smoky pulled pork, ribs, brisket and chicken, and a good night’s sleep, a day at work or anything else regular life requires. Cheater BBQ is ideal for entertaining, tailgating, spending weekends on the water or in the cabin, and perfect for cooking in small urban kitchens. Beyond the smoked meat essentials, Cheater BBQ offers scads of barbecue-style appetizers, sides and desserts, and good advice to help anyone become a kitchen pit master without swinging an axe or lighting a match. For more information, visit www.cheaterbbq.com.
Posted on web 9-12-08

David Gelfand has recently been appointed to the Disciplinary Committee of the New York State Supreme Court, First Department (covering Manhattan and Bronx counties). He is the Practice Group Leader of Milbank's Litigation Department. As a law student at Vanderbilt, he served as editor of the Vanderbilt Journal of Transactional Law.

Jay Hardcastle has been named managing director of Boult Cummings Conners & Berry. In addition to serving in the firm's healthcare law group, Jay, who joined the firm 21 years ago, has been a member of Boult's board of governors nearly eight years. He is a past chairman of the Tennessee Bar Association's Health Law Section and of the Nashville Bar Association's Health Law Committee. Jay is also a member of the boards of directors of the Nashville Symphony, Friends of Radnor Lake and the Conservancy for Centennial Park and the Parthenon.

Frances Jones was named as general counsel, corporate secretary and chief corporate governance officer of BB&T Corporation (NYSE: BBT). Jones, 45, joined BB&T as associate general counsel in 2001 when it acquired the former MidAmerica Bancorp of Louisville, Ky. The Louisville native will be relocating to Winston-Salem, N.C., and report to Risk Management and Administration Manager Rob Greene. "Frances brings approximately 20 years of bank counsel and private legal experience with her to the role of general counsel at BB&T," Greene said. "She is highly regarded by peers and banking professionals for her legal expertise in the financial services arena. She's the right person to build on the excellent progress that Pat achieved in her time here." Jones has served as BB&T's legal gatekeeper for its Human Systems employee benefits and executive compensation area and for BB&T Insurance. She also has served as coordinator of BB&T's Preferred Efficient Partner Network of outside law firms. "I'm delighted that we were able to execute on our Legal Department succession plan and effect a smooth transition," Jones said. Jones is a member of the American Bar Association, Kentucky Bar Association and Louisville Bar Association. As BB&T's general counsel, she will manage a team of 51 attorneys and legal professionals. Her management team will consist of deputy general counsels Bob Johnson, Kristine Wellman and Mark Lewis, all based in Winston- Salem. With $130.8 billion in assets, Winston-Salem, N.C.-based BB&T Corporation is the nation's 14th largest financial holding company. It operates more than 1,500 financial centers in 11 states and Washington, D.C.

Judge Kimberly Winkenhofer Shumate was recently awarded the Destiny Award from the Kentucky Child NOW! state program for her work in juvenile justice, specifically with Teen Court and the BRIDGES juvenile deliquency prevention council. Judge Shumate has been on the district court bench for 10 years in Hardin County, Kentucky.

Cherie Fuzzell was elected to the Board of Directors of Sonic Innovations, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNCI), a leading producer of advanced digital hearing aids and automated auditory testing equipment, on December 11, 2006. Cherie is General Counsel of Nanoventions, Inc. Prior to joining Nanoventions, Cherie was Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel for NOVA Information Systems, Inc. She brings extensive mergers and acquisition experience, having been Vice President of Mergers and Acquisitions for Magellan Health Services and a member of the international law firm of Jones Day.

Rodd S. Lawrence was selected Chairman of the Board for the Delaware County Port Authority in Delaware, Ohio. Among other projects, the Port Authority subsequently negotiated a $190 million bond financing with CitiGroup, Inc. relating to a new data processing center to be located just north of Columbus. Lawrence is founding partner of Lawrence Law Office with mulitple offices in central Ohio. Lawrence's practice focuses on business transaction, commercial litigation and real estate development. He and his wife, Linda, also a lawyer, have four children.

John Butcher has been appointed by the United States Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit as Federal Public Defender for the Districts of Northern and Eastern Oklahoma. John will be in charge of the indigent defense in the federal courts for those two districts. Despite the move, John will also keep his position as the 10th Circuit representative to the Practitioners' Advisory Group to the United States Sentencing Commission.

John and his wife, Yvonne, also recently welcomed the birth of their new son, William Breschar Butcher, on September 27, 2006. William joins his big brother Van, who is almost 7.

Mark Ovington has joined the Kansas City office of of Stinson Morrison Hecker. Mark's practice focuses on transactional work with an emphasis on secured lending.

John Beiter, who practices entertainment law in the Nashville office of Los Angeles-based Loeb & Loeb, was recently featured in a profile in the business section of the Tennessean. John came to Nashville in the late 1970s, after graduating from Indiana University, with hopes of becoming a songwriter. "I literally woke up one day thinking that the songwriting contracts really are more interesting to me than sitting down with a guitar in an empty room trying to come up with yet another rhyme," he told the Tennessean.

Jill Schultz was installed as the 111th president of the Monroe County (New York) Bar Association on June 8, 2006. Jill was sworn in by U.S. District Court Judge Michael Telesca at a ceremony held at the Hyatt Regency in Rochester, New York. As president, she will focus on strategic planning, continue the ongoing collaboration with the specialty bar associations and expand the Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers program. Jill ended her speech with a tribute to Judge Telesca and announced that the Four Corners Building in Rochester will now be known as "The Honorable Michael A. Telesca Center for Justice."

James Klingler has rejoined A.G. Edwards in its Gallatin Asset Management Inc. subsidiary as vice president and manager of business development. In his new role, Klingler will introduce Gallatin Asset Management products and services to endowments, foundations and pension plans. A.G. Edwards created Gallatin Asset Management in the fall of 2005 and began marketing its existing in-house investment management capabilities to third parties, including mutual funds and insurance companies, in a subadvisory capacity. Klingler, 44, left the St. Louis-based firm in 1997 to work at Eclipse Capital Management Inc. as a senior vice president, corporate secretary and general counsel. During his previous tenure at A.G. Edwards from 1991 to 1997, Klingler worked as an associate vice president and compliance counsel and was primarily responsible for the legal and regulatory oversight for the firm's investment management and advisory services as well as several other departments within the company's sales and marketing division. St. Louis-based A.G. Edwards & Sons Inc. is the brokerage arm of A.G. Edwards Inc. (NYSE: AGE), a financial services holding company.

Larry De Respino was named general counsel of AMERCO in October 2005. AMERCO is a publicly-traded company best known for its subsidiary, U-Haul (NDSQ: UHAL).

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.

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