Introducing… Our Centennial Brown-Forman Spirit of Justice Award Recipient, Marshall P. Eldred, Jr.
Legal Aid Society Board of Directors has named long-time Legal Aid Society advocate and counselor Marshall P. Eldred, Jr. the recipient of the Centennial Brown-Forman Spirit of Justice Award. The award will be presented during Legal Aid Society’s Justice in the Jazz Age 100th Anniversary Gala on Saturday, October 29th.
Each year, Legal Aid Society honors a member of the community who has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to equal justice under law. Past recipients include Ned and Nina Bonnie, R. James Straus, The Honorable Boyce Martin Jr., Stephen Reily, Martha Hasselbacher, Sadiqa Reynolds, and The Honorable Denise Clayton.
This year, in recognition of Legal Aid Society’s 100th Anniversary the Board of Directors sought nominations from the community. From these nominations, the Board’s committee unanimously and enthusiastically named Mr. Eldred, Jr. as the recipient.
“As Legal Aid Society pauses to reflect on one hundred years of accomplishments, it’s hard to image that Legal Aid Society would be where it is today without Marshall’s continuous, numerous and exceptional contributions to the mission over the course of his career,” said Kendrick Riggs, Chair of Legal Aid Society’s Board and Member with Stoll Keenon Ogden. “Marshall leadership is an example of excellence service to the community to all who believe in the mission of Legal Aid.”
Mr. Eldred joined Legal Aid Society’s board in 1965 when recruited by the late Edward (Ned) S. Bonnie, partner in the law firm of Brown, Eldred, and Bonnie (now Frost Brown Todd). Mr. Eldred’s father, Marshall P. Eldred, Sr. previously recruited Mr. Bonnie to Legal Aid Society’s board. Mr. Eldred Jr. would go on to serve over fifty years on Legal Aid Society’s Board of Directors, not stepping down until 2017. During his tenure, Mr. Eldred served as Chair, First Vice-Chair, and Treasurer, leading the organization through the establishment of the Legal Services Corporation, the federal funding cuts of the early 1990’s, and the Great Recession.
“Marshall and I practiced law and served on the Legal Aid Board together for over 40 years,” commented R. James Straus of Frost Brown Todd. “Marshall always stepped up for difficult and time-consuming Board and Board Committee assignments. Marshall maintained a tireless focus on access to the judicial system for all. He always kept the client in front of mind and deeply respected those members of the Board from the client community.”
“I am but one person in Legal Aid Society’s 100-year history of pursuing equal justice,” said Marshall when informed of his award. “I am deeply honored to be recognized in this way but know that many stand with me who believe in the power of civil legal aid. Today, more and more life and family situations of conflict can be resolved only in the context of our legal system. It’s important for all of us to imagine what it would be like to face a legal crisis without an attorney. Image your feelings, fears and frustrations if you were thrust into the legal system by an adversarial landlord, creditor, governmental agency, spouse, employer, neighbor or any other entity or person and you did not have the resources to hire an advocate. The availability of an expert in our civil legal system to fight for and support low-income neighbors is essential - without Legal Aid Society here in Louisville and serving fifteen Kentucky counties, many lives and families would be devastated and many lives lost. Thank goodness for Legal Aid!”
ABOUT MARSHALL P. ELDRED, JR.
Marshall P. Eldred, Jr is a native Kentuckian, born in Princeton, Kentucky and raised in Louisville. Eldred graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1960 and from University of Kentucky College of Law in 1963. He clerked for Justice John Moremen of the Kentucky Supreme Court (then called Kentucky Court of Appeals) before joining Brown, Eldred, and Bonnie a legacy firm to Frost Brown Todd. Eldred later concentrated on real estate development and financing, leasing, land use and zoning and estate planning and administration. A compassionate and humble lawyer, Marshall dedicate his life to the service of his community through his work with Legal Aid Society, the Kentucky Bar Association, Louisville Bar Association, St. Matthew’s Fire Department, and Bernheim Forest. Eldred has been an avid outdoor athlete and once rode his bike from the Pacific to the Atlantic.
ABOUT THE JUSTICE IN THE JAZZ AGE GALA
Legal Aid Society’s Justice in the Jazz Age 100th Anniversary Gala, presented by Signature Deco Sponsor Atria Senior Living will be held on Saturday, October 29th, 2022 from 7 PM to 11 PM at Old Forester's Paristown Hall. This once-in-a-century event is celebrating Legal Aid's Centennial Anniversary with all proceeds benefiting our 100th Anniversary Root to Rise Campaign (link to yourlegalaid.org/centennial). Stephen Reily and Emily Bingham are chairs for the event. The evening begins with the Sidecar Cocktail hour in the Paristown Hall balcony, sponsored by Duncan Galloway Greenwald and featuring Brown-Forman signature cocktails. After which guests will move downstairs for a gourmet dinner inspired by Paris in the 1920's and prepared by Chef Chad Welch and the culinary team of Atria Hospitality and paired with Brown-Forman table wine. We will raise our glasses to Marshall P. Eldred, Jr. as we present him with the Brown-Forman Centennial Spirit of Justice Award. The night closes with complimentary beer and wine and The Hop dance party sponsored by Dinsmore & Shohl and featuring legendary Louisville band, LOVE JONES (a favorite of Jimmy Fallon). Advocate Sponsor, Stites & Harbison, makes the night even more special by hosting Legal Aid Society staff members at the Gala to celebrate all they've accomplished in recent times.
ABOUT LEGAL AID SOCIETY
The Legal Aid Society is a non-profit organization that provides civil legal assistance to families and individuals in poverty in 15 counties in Kentucky. It is the only organization in Louisville and the surrounding counties that provides civil legal services free of charge and, founded in 1921, is one of the country’s oldest legal aid providers. Clients turn to Legal Aid for civil legal problems that threaten their physical and economic well-being. Those assisted include the elderly, children, victims of domestic violence, and other vulnerable groups. Last year, the Legal Aid Society helped over 4,000 people who had nowhere else to turn.