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President Jeff G. Haarer presented the first annual Thomas
M. Cooley Alumni Association's Distinguished Service Award in
2000. This award is presented to Cooley alumni who excels
in supporting the mission of the Alumni Association.
Award Recipient 2009
Jeffrey L. Martlew (1976 Campbell Class)
The Honorable Jeffery L. Martlew graduated from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in the second graduating class, the 1976 James V. Campbell Class. Judge Martlew has enjoyed a distinguished career as a lawyer, judge and Cooley board and faculty member.
He began his legal career as an associate attorney and by 1979 had begun a practice in the law firm of Matson & Martlew. By 1984 he was elected Judge of the 65th District Court for Clinton County and was re-elected in 1990. In 1992, Judge Martlew was elected Judge of the 29th Circuit Court for Clinton and Gratiot counties, became its Chief Judge in 1994 and was re-elected in 1998.
Judge Martlew ably served the Cooley Board of Directors for 12 years, from 1994-2006, leaving that position to become a full-time member of the faculty, on which he currently serves as Associate Professor of Law, teaching Cooley's litigation skills program.
He has been a member of the State Bar of Michigan's Character & Fitness Committee and a member of the State Judicial Council. He has also served on the Board of Directors of the Michigan Judges Association, and the Michigan District Judges Association, chairing the latter board's Government Liaison Committee.
In conjunction with Cooley's Office of Development and Alumni Relations, Judge Martlew conceived the idea of the Jurist Society , which honors high-level philanthropic support to Cooley by alumni who have attained judicial office. Judge Martlew himself made the inaugural pledge toward the Jurist Society membership and personally solicited and obtained numerous pledges from other alumni judges.
His cheerful willingness to lead in philanthropic support for Cooley and his determined effort to obtain pledge commitments from others has set an example of success by which other Cooley alumni should be measured.
Award Recipient 2008
Aletha L. Honsowitz (1990 Witherell Class)
Aletha L. Honsowitz is a graduate of the Thomas M. Cooley Witherell Class of 1990 and has served on the Alumni Association's Executive Committee Board of Governors for many years and was Chaiperson of the Special Events Committee from 2004-2007.
Under Ms. Honsowitz's leadership, the Special Events Committee organized tours to the United States Supreme Court to participate in the first Swearing-In Ceremony for Cooley alumni. She has organized numerous alumni receptions and worked with the Fundraising Committee in organizing the annual Alumni Memorial Scholarship Golf Benefit and Wine Tasting events. Ms. Honsowitz has hosted numerous alumni events across the country and is always a willing and cheerful volunteer, serving the needs of the Alumni Association.
Ms. Honsowitz has also enjoyed a distinguished career as Law Librarian for the Thomas M. Cooley Law School. She currently serves as Head of Public Services at the Grand Rapid Campus and has steadily advanced through the ranks since 1977.
Aletha Honsowitz has taught courses in the area of law office management and legal research including computer assisted research. She continues to serve on numerous civic related volunteer boards and is accomplished in community organizations, helping women achieve their full leadership potential.
Award Recipient 2007
Henry J. Legere, Jr. (1993 Carpenter Class)
Henry J. Legere, Jr. was a Class Representative under the original Alumni Association Charter. He was selected for membership on the Executive Committee of the Alumni Association’s Board of Governors and served as its Treasurer for many years, and served on the Executive Committee until October 2006.
Legere has enjoyed a distinguished legal career working with the many law firms; as well as in his own practice, the Law Office of Henry J. Legere, Jr. He has tried more than 100 capital offenses where clients faced life terms if convicted and has had no clients convicted of life offenses. Award Recipient 2006
Darryl Parsell (1979 Wiest Class)
Darryl Parsell, Cooley Director of Alumni, graduated from the Wiest Class of Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1979 and after a distinguished career as a public prosecutor was selected to serve as the Director of Alumni Relations at the Law School in 1993. Under his leadership, the Thomas M. Cooley Alumni Association has progressed from a loosely organized group to a fully functioning alumni association.
Award Recipient 2005
Charles R. Toy (1981 Kavanagh Class)
Charles R. Toy is a summa cum laude graduate of the Thomas M. Cooley Law School. He was a Class Representative under the original Alumni Association Charter. He was selected for membership on the Executive Committee of the Alumni Association’s Board of Governors and served as Secretary in April 2000, was elected as Vice President in October 2001, and was elected as President in October 2003.
Toy is a partner at the Lansing firm of Farhat & Story, P.C. He has served as an adjunct professor for most of the twenty-four years since his graduation.
Charles R. Toy is the first active member of the former Board of Governors of the Alumni Association (now the Alumni Board of Directors) to be named to the Board of Directors of the Thomas M. Cooley Law School. Finally, he has served on the State Bar of Michigan’s Board of Commissioners since 2000 and, having been selected as the Bar’s Treasurer in September 2005, is in line to become president of the State Bar of Michigan. Award Recipient 2004
James Vlasic (1978 Ransom Class)
James Vlasic completed his undergraduate studies at Yale University in 1973, earned his Juris Doctor degree Cum Laude, and attended Wayne State University to earn a Master of Laws degree in Taxation in 1986. Mr. Vlasic was elected to membership on the Board of Directors of the Thomas M. Cooley Law School in May 1997 and has served continuously in that capacity through the present time.
He serves as Chair of the Development Committee and is a member of the Executive Committee, the Audit Committee, the Strategic Planning Committee and the Nominating Committee. He is also a Member of the Board of Trustees for the Cranbrook Educational Community. Award Recipient 2003
Linda Sutton (1981 Dethmers Class) and Jerry Sutton (1976 Cooley Class)
Linda Sutton and Jerry Sutton have furnished employment to many of the law school’s alumni at their firm of Sutton Advisors, plc in Lansing, Michigan. Jerry and Linda Sutton have also been among the most significant donors to the law school.
Jerry Sutton served as a Class Representative for the law school’s first graduating class, the Thomas M. Cooley Class of 1976. He has regularly attended the Annual Meetings of the Alumni Association Board of Governors, accompanied by his wife and business partner Linda Sutton, a graduate of the 1981 Dethmers Class.
Linda and Jerry Sutton have been especially faithful supporters of the Alumni Memorial Scholarship though their consistent sponsorship and participation at the Annual Alumni Golf Outing. Award Recipient 2002
No award made.
Award Recipient 2001
Virginia P. Allen (1982 Wing Class)
Virginia P. Allen is the Chair of the Cooley Alumni Association Past Presidents' Committee. She served in most of the offices on the Executive Committee and is a substantial donor to the law school. She is also very active in the management of the Lansing Symphony.
Award Recipient 2000
Michelle Reddin (1999 Flannigan Class)
Michelle Reddin is the President of the Florida Alumni Association and a participant in the Cooley Externship Program. She is involved in many county and state bar programs. |
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