by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
Trial lawyer Wayne Hogan, a partner of the Terrell Hogan Ellis Yegelwel firm, was named the 2011 Fran Peacock Coker FLABOTA Community Service Award winner.
“As lawyers, any one of us in our organization, by reason of our experience, education or training, could become trial lawyer of the year for the local ABOTA chapter or FLABOTA,” said Hogan.
“But to receive an award that honors Fran Coker means the world to me. She served as an example of what you can do apart from the law to help your community,” he said.
The Florida chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates established the award in March 2006 in memory of Coker, who died in a house fire in January of that year.
She was an educator and authored many of the books used in Mayor John Peyton’s book club, which aims to prepare every child to read before kindergarten.
Coker’s books also were written to educate children about Jacksonville. Some of the titles included “We are going to the Jacksonville Zoo!” and “We Love our Rivers!”
The award recognizes “her tireless devotion and accomplishments in the area of children’s literacy, an issue so important to the administration of justice and preservation of trial by jury, to be bestowed, from time to time, to an individual, lawyer or non-lawyer, whose dedication to the community exemplifies the character, commitment and accomplishments of Fran Peacock Coker.”
Hogan has been certified by The Florida Bar in civil trial since 1983. He was one of the lawyers representing the state of Florida against the tobacco industry in a trial resulting in a $17 billion settlement. He was recognized as “Trial Lawyer of the Year” by the Florida Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates.
“I remember the time that (Coker) got me to go over to the Head Start program and read to the kids that day, which helped to promote a lot of other ideas,” said Hogan.
“Any time that you were with Fran Coker she was always interested in how you were doing, but she’d always have a question or she’d always have a suggestion about something that you could be doing to help the community. It’s just the way she lived her life,” he said.
FLABOTA President Bob Cole, of Boyd & Jenerette, explained how the honoree is chosen.
“This award was created in Fran’s name to recognize people for outstanding service to their community. It’s not an award that we give every year. We only give the award to special people who deserve special recognition for the service they give to their community,” said Cole.
Fran Coker was the wife of Howard Coker, former president of The Florida Bar.
“I think Fran would be really proud. Wayne leads by example. He’s a giver, not a taker; a fixer, not a breaker. He’s a person who, when he sees a need, will put all of his efforts into anything that he feels is worthwhile,” said Coker.
Of the four recipients of the award, three are from Jacksonville. Hogan joins Jake Schickel and Joe Milton as honorees.
The award will be presented July 23 at the FLABOTA annual meeting.
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Fran Peacock Coker FLABOTA Community Service Award recipients
2008 — Joseph P. Milton, Jacksonville
2009 — James G. Stolhanske, Pensacola
2010 — John J. Schickel Sr., Jacksonville
2011 — Wayne Hogan, Jacksonville