Press Releases - August 13, 2004

JIM COOGAN, DREW & WARD PARTNER, RECEIVES CINCINNATI BAR ASSOCIATION TRUSTEES' AWARD

For his dedication and service over the past three decades to fellow attorneys recovering from alcoholism, Jim Coogan has been honored by the Cincinnati Bar Association with a Trustees' Award.

"I appreciate this distinction recognizing what can be accomplished in helping people in need of compassionate service," said Mr. Coogan, a partner at Drew & Ward, who practices in general civil litigation, as well as probate, trust and closely-held business areas.

In 1972, he began serving on the Council on Alcoholism, and remained on the council's board until 1980. He and several other recovering alcoholic attorneys noticed there was little assistance available to deal with the disease among their colleagues. The Cincinnati Lawyers' Assistance Program was formed in response.

In 1983, Mr. Coogan, a fellow attorney and an Ohio Supreme Court Justice - all recovering alcoholics - founded the Lawyers' Assistance Committee of the Ohio State Bar Association. He served as committee chair and helped redraft the Ohio Code of Professional Responsibility to assure that lawyers assisting other lawyers through recovery need not report grievances or felonies. This offered the confidentiality to assist them in recovery and return to the legal community.

Mr. Coogan became the bar association's primary speaker on substance abuse. Since 1991, he has given at least 35 speeches for the CBA alone, plus presentations for related groups in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky.

The Trustees' Award has been presented since 1989 to a CBA attorney for outstanding service to the bar association, the legal profession and general community. Recipients are honored for displaying a high level of commitment, dedication or courage. Award winners are selected by the CBA awards committee.

A Cincinnati native, Mr. Coogan is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati (B.A., 1959 and J.D., 1961), a member of the Cincinnati and Ohio State Bar Associations, and served as Committee Chairman of both associations. He was admitted to the bar in Ohio and the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio in 1961.

He also has served on the Board of Trustees of the University of Cincinnati College of Law and the Board of Trustees of the Council on Alcoholism of Greater Cincinnati. This year, he also was named an Ohio Super Lawyer in civil litigation. Mr. Coogan is one of the few Cincinnati lawyers with extensive experience in both estate planning/ probate and civil litigation.

Drew & Ward Co., LPA celebrated its 45th anniversary in 2003, enjoying a history of more than four decades of service: service to clients, service to the law, and service to the community. Ray Drew and Dick Ward opened their office in the Central Trust Tower (now the Fourth & Vine Tower) in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1958. Both were pilots during World War II and returned to pursue legal careers after admiring attorneys in their own families. The two founded the firm based on the ideals of serving clients with good counsel, cost effective solutions and hard work.

For more information, call 513-621-8210.