EVANSVILLE BAR ASSOCIATION PRESENTS JAMES BETHEL GRESHAM FREEDOM AWARD and DORAN PERDUE SERVICE AWARD

The Evansville Bar Association recognized Philip Siegel by presenting the James Bethel Gresham Award to him on Friday, April 28, 2017, at the annual Law Day dinner hosted by the organization.

Phil has been practicing law for 57 years.   He was an assistant city attorney and the first attorney for the Vanderburgh County Area Plan Commission.  He has served as EBA President, is a Fellow of the Indiana Bar Foundation, has served on the ISBA Board and is a past Secretary, is a past recipient of the Susan K Helfrich Pro Bono Award and has been admitted to the EVSC Hall of Fame.  Phil is known throughout the entire legal community for his professionalism, honor and integrity.

The James Bethel Gresham Freedom Award was established by the Evansville Bar Association to recognize and honor individuals who have distinguished themselves in activities or careers which have elevated respect for the law, promoted freedom, or otherwise furthered the ideals for which Law Day is recognized and celebrated. The purpose of Law Day is to remind people throughout the country of the importance of the law and the role that it plays in our lives and in the basic freedoms which we all cherish and enjoy.  This award is named in honor of James Bethel Gresham who lived in Evansville from 1901 to 1914 and is believed to have been the first American soldier to have given his life in combat during World War I.

The Evansville Bar Association also recognized Meagan Brien by presenting the Doran Perdue Service Award to her at the annual Law Day dinner.  In Meagan’s first seven years of law practice, she has already served on the EBA Board of Directors,  chaired the Young Lawyer Section,  chaired the Mock Trials,  chaired the high school law day student lunch,  chaired the Women Attorneys Section,  co-chaired the Law Day Celebration and currently is co-chairing the event “Breaking Through Bias” featuring nationally known speakers on May 10.

When asked why Meagan deserved to win the award, her nominator stated that  “ Meagan always steps up where needed.  She is fully involved in every task given and does not chair in name only.  Over the last several years Meagan has made minor and major improvements to every event she has been involved in….Her quiet improvements to existing projects will create lasting and impactful changes within the Bar.”

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