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Since 1928, the Lucas County Bar Association of Lucas County, Ohio has been welcoming members and is currently over 300 members strong. Join and find out for yourself why the Lucas County Bar Association is known as the friendliest, most welcoming bar. The Lucas County Bar Association is entirely run through the dedication of Officers and Executive Council members who volunteer their time and talent.
The Lucas County Bar Association membership represents the full range of practice areas, practice settings, and years of practice. The Senior Members are honored annually with a special presentation. Also, the Past Presidents (see below) are honored annually and give their insights and wisdom from their Presidency term.
High among the rights, duties, obligations and emoluments of membership in the Lucas County Bar Association is fostering of the "Toledo way of practicing law" -- the instant connection with fellow attorneys and judges, the welcome feeling at each week's luncheon, and the camaraderie of a very friendly organization unlike any other bar. Client referrals and networking are common at each meeting. Each member has a fond memory of exactly how s/he joined: a mentor, a colleague, a family member, a judge encouraged membership. Low membership costs, a delicious lunch, intelligent speakers and topics, and a friendly welcome are among the favorite reasons members join and remain active in the Lucas County Bar Association. LCBA members are among the list of past recipients of honors, such as from the Ohio State Bar Association, Toledo Bar Association, and the Access to Justice Awards, as well as among the longer list of past nominees. We are proud of the LCBA membership's honorable tradition of service to our community.
In addition, the Lucas County Bar Association has a history of co-sponsoring numerous events with local bar leaders, including the annual Memorial Service and the Diversity Luncheon with the Toledo Bar Association, the Big Unwind with the Toledo Women's Bar Association and a Naturalization Service for new US Citizens with the federal bar.
For more information about membership, please download a Membership Application, contact the President on the "Contact Us" page, or just drop in at a weekly luncheon meeting. Guests are always welcome and enjoy their first luncheon for free. It's the LCBA's way to say "Thank you" for the guest considering joining our affordable, educational and growing organization. Annual dues are only $30 and are pro-rated for new members. If you are voted into membership between January 1 and August 31, your dues of $30 are waived for the current calendar year. If you are voted into membership between September 1 and December 31, your dues of $30 shall accompany this application and shall cover the remaining calendar year and subsequent calendar year. Download an application from this website today!
The LCBA leadership has remained strong throughout the decades in this and other bar associations. For example, many past LCBA Presidents were also leaders in the Toledo Bar Association, as noted below.
Lucas County Bar Association Past Presidents:
* = deceased
1928-33: Stephen Brophy*
1934: Eugene Rheinfrank*
1935: Arthur Cline* (Note: also Toledo Bar Association President 1945)
1936: George Taylor*
1937: John Forshey*
1938: Edward Buckenmeyer*
1939: Royal Binzer*
1940: Clarence Ducey*
1941: A.E. Simmons*
1942: Robert Mefley*
1943: Robert A. Kelb* (Note: also Toledo Bar Association President 1968)
1944: Amos Conn*
1945: Dennis Drennan*
1946: E. Jack Erwin*
1947: James Easley*
1948: Louis Lebo*
1949: Edwin Barger*
1950: Harry Hood*
1951: Arthur Brunskill*
1952: William Burgess*
1953: Matt Kolb, Sr.* (Note: also Toledo Bar Association President 1965)
1954: Walter Kohn*
1955: Jamille G. Jamra* (Note: also Toledo Bar Association President 1961)
1956: Gerald Ryan*
1957: Robert Morris*
1958: Edward Harris*
1959: Moe Okun*
1960: John Eastman*
1961: M. Robert Kopf*
1962: Thaddius Walinski*
1963: Harry Feldman*
1964: George Ferstle*
1965: Jude Sutter*
1966: Warren Wolfe*
1967: William Driscoll*
1968: James Fox*
1969: George Strassner*
1970: David Schnorf*
1971: John "Bull Dog" Rust*
1972: John Wasserman
1973: Ted Kwiatkowski*
1974: George Fell
1975: Matt Kolb, Jr.*
1976: Louis Hattner*
1977: Edward Clark
1978: John Wetli
1979: Robert Dixon*
1980: Richard Kolb
1981: James Markwood*
1982: Warren Rayman*
1983: Charles Stupsker*
1984: Charles E. Racine*
1985: Louis Zavac*
1986: John Gouttiere
1987: Margaret Weisenburger
1988: Randall C. Dixon (Note: also Toledo Bar Association President 2014)
1989: John Landry
1990: Thomas Stebbins
1991: Gregory Arnold
1992: Eddie M. Cole
1993: Francis Landry
1994: C. Drew Griffith
1995: Kevin Heban
1996: Nancy Miller
1997: Steven Lauer
1998: Mike Mikkonen
1999: Dennis Sawan, Sr.
2000: Susan Hartman Muska
2001: Richard Friedmar
2002: David Dennis
2003: Jill Hayes
2004: Hon. Connie F. Zemmelman (Note: also Toledo Bar Association President 2013)
2005: John Wanick
2006: Patricia Hayden Kurt
2007: John Mattimoe
2008: Joe Westmeyer III
2009: Beverly Cox
2010: Joanne Rubin
2011: Jean Ann S. Sieler
2012: Rick Baum
2013: D. Lee Johnson
2014: Megan McNulty
2015: Paul R. Syring
2016: Tonya Robinson
2017: Matthew Simko
2018: Craig M. Witherell (Note: also Toledo Bar Association President 2025)
2019: Timothy W. Effler
2020: Chad M. Thompson
2021: Thomas E. Luettke
2022: Hon. Jack R. Puffenberger
2023: James O'Brien
2024: Holly Matthews
2025: Steve Casiere