Association Business
The Bull Shipper’s Award — the Highest Honor TLA Bestows?
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welve years ago, Fritz Damm regaled our readers with the female recipient in recent times.6 Nevertheless, the award retains history of the Transportation Lawyers Association’s beloved its glory as the highly coveted symbol of the artful gift of gab, the Bull Shipper’s Award.1 That is the award to which I referred in combination of verbal skill, imagination and occasionally even wit, my recent presentation to our latest deserving recipient, Gordon traits we transportation lawyers highly regard in one another—or, McAuley, as the highest honor our organization has to bestow. quite frankly, whatever other characteristics the holder of the award Fritz suggested2 that it’s time for an update to his composition chooses to focus on in selecting his or her successor. and, after much nudging, I acceded to his request. Who are the fortunate TLA members whose names have been etched into the splendid black name plaques on the trophy? The The Bull Shipper’s Award was established in roughly 1951 to Millennium History lists the following recipients recognize “the biggest and best bull thrower of the and years of presentation appearing on the current year.”3 The award was presented each year through trophy: 1968 at the Annual Conference in what former TLA President Dick Champlin described as one of the 1988: Richard H. Champlin highlights of the event. Trouble for the award began 1989: Mike J. Ogborn brewing in the mid-1960s, starting with a motion by 1990: Leonard R. Kofkin a member of the organization that the presentation 1991: Miles L. Kavaller be discontinued because “it was beneath the dignity of the Association.” The motion narrowly failed, but 1992: Michael L. Harvey within the next few years the award indeed met its 1994: Jeremy Kahn demise for over 20 years. 1996: James F. Flint In 1988, then-President Mike Ogborn reestab1997: David R. Parker lished what he referred to in his excellent article on 1998: Kim D. Mann how and why the Motor Carrier Lawyers Association Kathleen C. Jeffries* transitioned to the current TLA in the 1980s,4 subFritz Damm’s 2009 article picked up from the mitted as part of Dick Westley’s decades-later series end of that list, identifying the next seven names on the history of TLA and regulation of the motor carrier industry, as on the face of the trophy: “the most sought-after, prestigious award in the history of the asso2000: David B. Schneider ciation.” He stated that the renewed annual award was intended for 2001: W. Robert Alderson “the person deemed best deipnosophist.”5 The decision to revive 2003: Brian J. Smith the award was among those lofty objectives that he explained “were made in order to meet the changing times and achieve the goals set 2005: Gordon M. Hearn forth by the association to keep it viable, relevant and of value to the 2006: Eric L. Zalud existing and future members.” 2007: William D. Bierman Notwithstanding (or perhaps as a reflection of) the prestige 2008: Fritz R. Damm associated with the award, the current Bull Shipper’s Award troSince 2009, the following names have been added to the treaphy—topped with a human figure throwing a bull over his shoulder and bearing the names of the (mostly) worthy recipients from 1988 sured accolade: through today—is somewhat of an ostentatious display of bravado. It 2010: Greg E. Summy is impressive in its size and marble and brass composition, though 2011: Donald J. Vogel somewhat bedraggled from years of being shipped, hand-carried 2012: Kenny Ray Hoffman and otherwise moved from conference to proud office display to 2014: Carlos Sesma, Sr. conference. The bull is missing at least one hoof, the plaque containing the name of the award is bent and scratched, the marble 2016: Rick Kissinger is abraded in numerous places and one of the handles of the urn 2017: Pat McMonigle on which the bull shipper himself stands is held on by Scotch Tape. 2018: Roger Watts For the two most recent years, the human figure even wore a bright 2019: Kathleen Jeffries pink cocktail umbrella as a skirt in honor of yours truly, the first 2021: Gordon McAuley * Scopelitis, Garvin, Light, Hanson & Feary, LLP (Pasadena, CA) The Bull Shipper’s Award represents the brightest and best
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Transportation Lawyers Association • Canadian Transport Lawyers Association • October 2021, Vol. 23, No. 2
