The Robert C. Cone Community Involvement Society inducted four members at the April Member meeting: Jason Hicks, Hon. Robby Hassell, Eloise Hassell, and Adam Marshall.

The Community Involvement Committee is proud to announce the creation of the Robert C. Cone Community Involvement Society.  This will be for service outside of the service as contemplated by the rules of professional conduct.  Like the Herb Falk Society, it will be based on service above 75 hours.

(L-R) Jason Hicks, Judge Robby Hassell, and Eloise Hassell

This award is named after deceased Greensboro lawyer and past GBA President, Robert C. Cone.  Mr. Cone was a native of Greensboro, and he lived his entire life here with the notable exceptions of a year spent on an Israeli kibbutz and the years he spent in Chapel Hill as a Morehead Scholar attending UNC (Class of 1974) and UNC School of Law (Class of 1978).

Bob and his wife, Sally, were law school classmates. They married a few weeks after sitting for the Bar Exam, beginning their 38 years as husband and wife. They welcomed their son, Sam, in 1981 and daughter, Laurie, in 1982. Mr. Cone joined Tuggle Duggins, PA in 1986 and remained there for 31 years, actively practicing until just before his death.

Bob served the legal profession in numerous ways. He chaired the UNC Law Foundation Board, leading by example through his personal giving and participation in fundraising endeavors. He served as President of the Greensboro Bar Association (GBA) and the GBA Young Lawyers Section, as Chair of the GBA Fee Dispute Resolution Committee, and co-founder of the Herb Falk Society, which promotes pro bono service by GBA members. He served as President of the Guilford Inn of Court and as a preceptor at Elon Law School. Cone was
elected as an 18th Judicial District Bar Counselor to the NC State Bar and served from 2010 until forced to step down due to illness in 2016. Bob rarely said “no” when volunteers from the legal community were needed, as evidenced by his work on several GBA-sponsored Habitat for Humanity houses.

In 2011, Bob received the NCBA Centennial Award, presented jointly by the North Carolina Bar Association and the Greensboro Bar Association. In 2016, he was honored with the State Bar’s John B. McMillan Distinguished Service Award. Bob was a lifelong member of Temple Emanuel, where he chaired the Education Committee, taught Hebrew School, and led the successful effort to save the Temple’s historic Greene Street location. He supported the Greensboro Jewish Federation in innumerable ways and was honored posthumously as a recipient of the Federation’s Benjamin Cone, Sr. Leadership Award. He and Sally served as hosts for Jewish refugees resettled in Greensboro from Baku, Azerbaijan. Bob served as a Trustee of the Jewish Foundation of Greensboro.

Within the broader community, Bob served as a Trustee of The Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital (now Cone Health) for 20 years and chaired the Cone Health Foundation Board. He chaired the Greensboro Public Library Foundation Board and served as President of Rotary Club of Greensboro. He was an active Board member and supporter of Greensboro Urban Ministry. In 2016, Bob and Sally were honored as co-recipients of the North Carolina for Community and Justice Brotherhood/Sisterhood Citation Award for their “extraordinary efforts to combat bias, bigotry, and racism and create a more compassionate and respectful community for all of us.”

GBA President-Elect Judge Bill Davis, President Manisha Patel

As the GBA prepares for a new chapter of leadership, we take a moment to reflect — and to celebrate — the extraordinary service and impact of our outgoing President, Manisha P. Patel.

During her tenure, Manisha has not only exemplified what it means to be a leader — she has redefined it. With an unmatched level of dedication, vision, and grace, she ensured the seamless operation of the organization while simultaneously elevating it to new heights.

It has been noted by fellow leaders that under Manisha’s guidance, the workload across the board felt lighter — not because there was less to do, but because she had already stepped in to take care of it. She embraced every responsibility with such efficiency and composure that others could focus on their roles with newfound clarity and support. Her leadership has been a true masterclass in service, organization, and empowerment.

Manisha understands this organization on a deep level — it’s clear how much she cares about every part of it. From bylaws to long-term planning, she held it all at her fingertips — often quite literally, with a meticulously prepared binder in hand. She had every project mapped out down to the hour, every detail accounted for, and every leader empowered to execute with confidence. Her foresight and precision provided the structure and stability needed to allow innovation and collaboration to thrive.

And innovate she did. Manisha brought not only her own ideas to the forefront but also created a space where the ideas of others could be nurtured and realized. Thanks to her leadership, several initiatives that were only sparks of inspiration became fully realized projects that will enhance the GBA’s mission for years to come.

Her contributions extended beyond operations and strategy. Manisha elevated the caliber of GBA’s programs, bringing in a slate of outstanding speakers — including a sitting NC Supreme Court Justice — and enriching the experiences of members across the board.

Above all, Manisha led with heart. Her impact is strong, not just in what she accomplished, but in the culture of collaboration and excellence she helped foster.

The GBA extends its deepest gratitude to Manisha for her exceptional service, unwavering dedication, and transformational leadership. We are incredibly proud of all she has done — and even more grateful to have had her at the helm.