Bob Cone Receives John B. Mcmillan Distinguished Service Award From State Bar

Tuggle Duggins P.A. partner Robert C. Cone was recently honored by the North Carolina State Bar with its John B. McMillan Distinguished Service Award.   The award, which was presented to Cone by State Bar President Margaret Hunt at the meeting of the Greensboro Bar Association held October 20, 2016, recognizes North Carolina lawyers who have demonstrated exemplary service to the legal profession.

“There is no one more deserving of this award”, said Nathan Duggins, managing partner of Tuggle Duggins. “We stand in awe of all that Bob has contributed to Greensboro and to the state in general, through his selfless work on behalf of others, all while maintaining a busy and successful law practice.”

Bob Cone

Below are the full remarks delivered by Margaret Hunt at the GBA meeting:

Robert Cone is a life-long resident of Greensboro and was a Morehead-Cain Scholar at Chapel Hill where he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in 1974 and his law degree in 1978.  He is married to the former Sally Boyette and they are the proud parents of two children.

He has been a litigator for over 35 years and is a member of the Tuggle Duggins Law Firm.  Bob has represented clients in all North Carolina state and federal trial courts and has argued cases on appeal in the North Carolina Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court and the 4th Circuit.  He is also a certified mediator in North Carolina state and federal courts.

His contributions to our profession are many including:

His service as a State Bar Councilor from this District where he was a member of various State Bar committees including the Grievance, Legislative and Executive Committees.

Bob helped to organize and lead the Guilford Inn of Court that promotes ethics, civility and excellence within the Bar and served as treasurer and Master of the Bench.

His pro bono services include volunteering with the Lawyers on Line Legal Service Program and as co-founder of the Herb Falk Society of the Greensboro Bar Association that promotes pro bono work by its members.

Bob has chaired the UNC Law Foundation, served as a Preceptor at Elon Law School, served as a member of the Greensboro Bar Association’s Board of Directors and as president, and chaired the Fee Dispute Resolution Committee of the GBA.

Bob’s service to his community is also exemplary and includes his services as:

• Chair of the Greensboro Public Library Foundation Board.
• Board member and vice-chair of the
  Greensboro Urban Ministry.
• Member and president of the Rotary Club of Greensboro.
• Trustee of the Greensboro Jewish Federation
  and Chair of its Men’s Campaign.
• Trustee of the Jewish Foundation of Greensboro.
• Trustee of Temple Emanuel, Inc.
• Chair of the North Carolina Regional Advisory Board
  of the Anti-Defamation League.
• Member of the Advisory Board of the UNCG Program for Conflict and Resolution.

He was the recipient of the Whitney M. Young, Jr. Service Award from the Boy Scouts of America for his work in promoting diversity and bringing scouting to lower-income neighborhoods in Greensboro and of the Centennial Award that is presented jointly by the Greensboro Bar Association and the NCBA for exemplary community services.

Bob has also contributed countless hours to Cone Health, a private, not-for-profit health care delivery system in Greensboro, having served on the Board of Trustees for 20 years and as Chair of the Foundation where he worked tirelessly to assure that the marginalized, underserved and others had access to appropriate health care.

Throughout his career Bob has used that unique body of knowledge and skills we all have as lawyers to help his clients resolve legal problems, to help in the self-regulation and improvement of the legal profession, to actively mentor young lawyers, to serve as a role model for all lawyers, and to be actively engaged in the civic and philanthropic life of his community.  The State Bar is honoring Bob not just for all that he has done, but also for the manner in which he has accomplished so much.  The words written by Susan Shumaker, President of the Cone Health Foundation, in describing Bob’s service to that Foundation are also true of all of his legal and civic endeavors.  She wrote, “Bob’s gentle nature, wisdom, vision, kindness, keen intellect, knowledge, humor and persistence informs his work.”  Bob is truly the personification of the citizen lawyer who has brought credit to our profession and we can all honor Bob by simply following his example.

It is an honor for me to present to Bob, on behalf of the State Bar, the John B. McMillan Distinguished Service Award for a lifetime of exemplary service to his clients, his profession and his community.

Bob Cone’s family was in attendance at the October member meeting for his receipt of the John B. McMillan Distinguished Service Award. Pictured from Left to Right: Sam, Sally, Bob, and Laurie Cone.