February 16, 2017
By Patrick T. O'Connor
Athens Banner-Herald
To the Editor:
On behalf of the State Bar of Georgia, I wish to extend congratulations to Gary B. Blasingame, founding partner of Blasingame, Burch, Garrard & Ashley P.C. in Athens on the establishment of the Gary B. Blasingame Scholarship Fund at the University of Georgia School of Law.
Mr. Blasingame is well-deserving of this prestigious honor in light of his outstanding representation as a Georgia Law alumnus during his more than 55 years of service to the legal profession. An assistant U.S. attorney and director of the Legal Aid and Defender Society clinical programs at the law school before entering private practice, Mr. Blasingame received Georgia Law's highest honor, the Distinguished Service Scroll Award, in 2004.
We further salute Georgia Law Dean Peter B. "Bo" Rutledge for his leadership in creating the scholarship endowment, which was made possible by a $100,000 donation from Mr. Blasingame's law firm. It will benefit many future members of the State Bar of Georgia and is a most appropriate recognition of Mr. Blasingame's significant contributions to the legal profession and the justice system in our state.
Sincerely,
Patrick T. O'Connor
President, State Bar of
Georgia