Wednesday, July 19, 2000 | 9:48 a.m.
Elizabeth Foyt's social column appears Wednesdays. Reach her at [email protected].
One of the finest summer gatherings was the gala dinner at Paris Las Vegas honoring Robert C. Maddox as Trial Lawyer of the Year for 2000.
Cal J. Potter III, president of the Nevada Trial Lawyers Association (NTLA), announced the award, commenting that Maddox is regarded as exemplifying the standard of what a Nevada trial lawyer should be. Maddox was presented his coveted award at NTLA's summer galas, events held in Las Vegas as well as at the Thunder Canyon Country Club in Reno.
Maddox has a remarkable record of achievement on behalf of homeowners, both in the courts and also at the Nevada Legislature. A Harvard Law School graduate, Maddox has a 23-year career that has developed into two law practices in Reno and Las Vegas representing homeowners in construction-defect cases. In January he secured a $4.6 million settlement for 88 homes in a North Las Vegas subdivision and, most recently, $2.5 million for condominium owners in Henderson. He has been instrumental in the passage of laws that protect owners against homes with design and construction faults.
Maddox's evening of honor opened with a reception that drew a large contingent of the legal community, with Nancy Allf, Mathew Ence, Jerry Gillock, Judge Jack and Lulu Lehman, John Mowbray, Jerry Welch and Judge Sally Loehrer among those supporting the ceremonies.
Praising Maddox were Nevada legislators, including Assembly members Mark Manendo, Gene Segerblom and Vonne Chowning, joined by state Sen. Dina Titus and husband Dr. Tom Wright. Gracing the event as well was Robin Brooks Townsend and her husband, state Sen. Randolph Townsend. Table-hopping in the congenial crowd was Dean Richard Morgan of UNLV's Boyd College of Law with wife Tina, and accompanied by Jason Bach, a second-year student who serves as president of UNLV's American Civil Liberties Union student organization.
Tammy Russell-Price and Victoria Coolbaugh coordinated the silent auction, which raised funds for the Nevada Foundation for Consumer Education, NTLA's nonprofit charitable foundation. Happily bidding on the assembled treasures were Linda Potter, Harley Akers, Judge Mark and Alice Denton, Kathleen England, Scott Canepa with fiancee Shawntelle Davis, Bob Lyle and Rich Myers. Accompanying Maddox to the dinner was his wife, Nancy, and their son, Dan, a 19-year-old graphic design student who attends Cal-Arts in Valencia.
Maddox's acceptance speech was a glowing tribute to his family, in particular his father's legacy of decency and populist theory.
Honored in further ceremonies by the Nevada Trial Lawyers Association were two other remarkable Nevadans. The late Richard L. Morgan, Esquire, a multitalented attorney who served as NTLA's lobbyist during four legislative sessions, was posthumously recognized as Consumer Advocate of the Year. Peter I. Echeverria, a founding member of the organization and an attorney of truly legendary stature in the fields of trial and litigation, was given NTLA's Lifetime Achievement Award.
No illusion
Las Vegas is justly proud of longtime residents and favorite superstars Siegfried and Roy, who have been honored with Hollywood's prestigious Award of Excellence for bringing family entertainment to their Las Vegas performances and to the movie screen with the IMAX film "Siegfried and Roy: The Magic Box." Presenting the award during brief ceremonies backstage at the Mirage was Elayne Blythe, founder and president of the Film Advisory Board, who praised the honorees for their efforts to create a film that epitomizes excellence in family and children's entertainment, surpassing every criteria of award requirements.
To be considered, a film must stimulate imagination, raise awareness, be created in good taste, accurately represent its subject matter, be safe where applicable, encourage postiveness and ambition, and be both attractive and entertaining.
"Siegfried and Roy: The Magic Box," the life story of how two boys from war-torn Germany turned their dreams into reality, has also garnered awards from Maximum Image Awards, the ultimate for excellence in large-format filmmaking, being named Best 3-D Picture and Best 3-D Cinematography of the new millennium. The film is in worldwide distribution at IMAX theaters.
Reaching out
The School-Community Partnership Program of the Clark County School District helps match concerned individuals, organizations and businesses with needs of public schools and students. Recently the membership of the Las Vegas West Rotary Club was among those recognized for outstanding efforts to help less-fortunate students, in particular, the at-risk population served by Twin Lakes Elementary School.
Ken Fong, president, represented his organization with past President Ken Cox, and attended the early morning function with John McMillan and Stephen Segal, co-chairs of the community service committee for the Las Vegas West Rotary Club. McMillan accepted a bronze medallion from Barbara Fox, principal of Twin Lakes Elementary.
Twin Lakes, one of the community's oldest schools, was helped in multiple projects during the past year with efforts by this Rotary chapter, including serving as reading mentors for children identified as at-risk, the donation of new shoes and coats for low-income families, funding of awards for students and teachers of the month, and funds provided for the purchase of new computer equipment, books and classroom supplies.
In addition to its efforts at Twin Lakes, the Las Vegas West Rotary Club is also a generous presence at Helen Jydstrup and Fay Heron Elementary schools.
Assisting our public schools in dozens of other creative endeavors as well were Richmond American Homes, Las Vegas Valley Water District, the Community College of Southern Nevada Dental Hygiene Program, Nevada State Museum and Historical Society, and American Pest Control, to name just a few. Taking a leadership role during the School-Community Partnership Program's annual Recognition Breakfast was William Martin of the Partnership Advisory Board with Mary Beth Scow, president of the CCSD Board of School Trustees and Joyce Woodhouse, director of the Partnership Program.
Hadland work displayed
A most pleasant and charitable event will be held Saturday at Dolphin Bay Center from 2-7 p.m., when several award-winning artists share their works in a public viewing supporting the Las Vegas Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Susie Hadland, longtime resident and popular artist, will be featured.
Noted for her still photography, which carries both a scenic and wilderness theme, Hadland's accomplishments include serving as team photographer for the UNLV basketball team in the late '80s and past ownership of the Gallery in the Sky atop the Stratosphere.
Joining Hadland will be Lake Tahoe artist Carole Anne Kulla, who works with layered paper mixed media, as well as Larry Rosenfield, a 3-D graphics artist from South Africa and new addition to the Las Vegas arts scene. All artwork will be for sale, with partial proceeds benefiting the Cystic Fibosis Foundation. For further information about the public art show, call the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation office at 383-8500.
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