News Post

MONTGOMERY – On November 4, 2022, the Alabama State Bar’s Board of Bar Commissioners unanimously passed a resolution in memory of Tazewell Taylor Shepard II, the 146th president of the Alabama State Bar.

The resolution can be found HERE and below.

 

In Memory of Tazewell T. Shepard III

WHEREAS, Tazewell Taylor Shepard III a distinguished and respected member of the Alabama State Bar for more than 43 years, passed away following a courageous years-long battle with cancer on the 10^th day of October 2022, in Huntsville, Alabama, at the age of 68 years; and

WHEREAS, the Alabama State Bar honors his memory and recognizes his numerous contributions to this organization and the legal profession;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT REMEMBERED that this resolution was presented to the Board of Bar Commissioners of the Alabama State Bar on November 4, 2022.

AND WHEREAS, Tazewell T. Shepard III was born January 8, 1954, in Washington, D.C., to Admiral Tazewell T. Shepard, Jr., and Julianne Sparkman Shepard. Born into a family with deep political roots, he spent much of his youth with his maternal grandparents, Senator John J. Sparkman and Ivo Sparkman, close by.

AND WHEREAS, Tazewell T. Shepard III was awarded the degree of Bachelor of Arts in History from Dartmouth College and was awarded his law degree from the University of Alabama;

AND WHEREAS, Tazewell T. Shepard III was admitted to the Alabama State Bar in September 1979, and he engaged in the private practice of law in Huntsville, in Madison County, Alabama, for more than 40 years. In addition, he’d recently retired after also serving as a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Trustee for the Northern District of Alabama for more than four decades;

AND WHEREAS, in practice, Tazewell T. Shepard III displayed the highest degree of competence and professionalism possible at all times, which competence and professionalism led to his successful career as a bankruptcy attorney and civil legal aid advocate;

AND WHEREAS, Tazewell T. Shepard III served the Alabama State Bar as its President, President-Elect, Vice President, a two- term Bar Commissioner, and Chair of the Solo and Small Firm Section. He is also the former President of the Alabama Law Foundation, the Huntsville Bar Association and Madison County Volunteer Lawyer Program;

AND WHEREAS, Tazewell T. Shepard III also impacted his community through his roles in the Huntsville Committee of 100, Huntsville Leadership Class 25, and Huntsville Rotary International. His dedication to education was apparent through his appointment to the Athens State University Board of Trustees, the Alabama Space Science Commission, as well as the Alabama Supercomputer Authority; his election to the Alabama State Board of Education representing District Eight; and his service as President of the Board of Directors for The Schools Foundation for Huntsville and Madison County;

AND WHEREAS, Tazewell T. Shepard III was held in the highest regard by his fellow lawyers, his clients, his church and the community;

AND WHEREAS, Tazewell T. Shepard III is survived by his loving wife Pam, sons Tazewell T. Shepard IV (Sarah), John Sparkman Shepard, Hunt Chastain Shepard, and Riley Douglas Jacobs (Sarah), and daughter Jana Jacobs Broughton (Thomas), as well as six grandchildren.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Alabama State Bar Board of Bar Commissioners this day assembled that the lawyers of Alabama express their deep sorrow for and mourn the death of Tazewell T. Shepard III, a dedicated lawyer, an admirable professional worthy of emulation, a leader of the legal profession, a dedicated husband and father and the finest example of the gentleman lawyer.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be spread upon the minutes of this meeting.

DONE this the 4th day of November, 2022.

Gibson Vance
Alabama State Bar President

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