Montgomery, July 23, 2003 . . . Created in 2002 in honor of the late Bill Scruggs, a former state bar president from Fort Payne, Alabama, the William D. "Bill" Scruggs, Jr. Award was presented at this year's recent Alabama State Bar Annual Meeting for the first time. Given to a bar member in recognition of outstanding and dedicated service to the Alabama State Bar, the first recipient of the award is E.T. Brown of Birmingham.

E.T. has long been one of Alabama's leading lawyers; has practiced as a partner, and now counsel, in the distinguished Cabaniss, Johnston firm in Birmingham. He has been an outstanding lawyer in the fields of trusts, estates, wills and taxation. He was admitted to the Alabama State Bar in 1944 after attending Princeton University and Cornell Law School.

E.T. served as chairman of the Board of Bar Examiners from 1968 through 1978. With significant growth in number of bar applications, came challenges to the Rules Governing Admission, including the grading procedure and review process, the number of times an applicant could take the exam and, in specific cases, discrimination itself. Throughout this time, E.T. had a vision and foresight to transform the process to accommodate the many challenges faced by the bar exam. In a major step, E.T. recommended the adoption in Alabama of the multi-state bar exam, making Alabama among the first states to utilize this exam.

As ASB president in 1980, his effective leadership saw the Alabama State Bar implement MCLE, face the challenge to professional licensure from the Federal Trade Commission, the unauthorized practice of law by title companies, and eliminated backlog of professional discipline. In addition, the Lawyer Referral Service was revitalized and strengthened. Another crowning achievement of E.T.'s presidency was the passage of the entire legislative package of bar interest legislation. E.T. is the founding father of the Alabama Law Foundation and continues to be active in and supportive of the foundation. Another contribution that today continues to benefit the bar is his strong sense of mentoring of young lawyers about service to the bar. The results of E.T. Brown's service to the state bar endure. By word and deed he has encouraged at least two generations of lawyers to be better members in service to our profession. There can be no better or enduring legacy. E.T. is in his 83rd year and there is no observable diminution of interest in his work, his interest in our state bar, or his concern for his profession. When bar commissioner, Rocky Watson of Fort Payne and long time local colleague of Bill Scruggs nominated E.T. Brown to receive this first award, he observed, " Bill would be pleased. "

Present at the awards ceremony were the widow of Bill Scruggs, Jr., Kay Scruggs and daughter Shannon Campagna. They received a replica of the plaque which hangs at the state bar building and which will list the recipients of this distinguished award. The inscription on the plaque reads: