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J.W. Patterson Foundation

Board of Directors

Executive Committee

Chairman - Mr. Jim Flegle, JD, Flegle Law, PC

Vice Chairman and Treasurer - Dr. Gil Skillman, Professor of Economics at Wesleyan University

Secretary - Mr. David Bradford, JD, Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary for Consolidated Electrical Distributors, Inc.

President - Elizabeth Patterson, J.W. Patterson Foundation for Academic Excellence in Speech & Debate

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Mr. John Cain, JD, President Wiseway Supply

Mr. Frederic Dorwart, JD, Frederic Dorwart Lawyers, PLLC

Mr. Russ Hubbard, CIPP, Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at American Airlines

Mr. Jeff Jones, JD, Partner Jones Day 

Mr. Cy Kiani, Investment Advisor Representative, Securities America Advisors, Inc.

Mr. Jonathan Massey, JD, Massey and Gail, LLP

Mr. T.A. McKinney, JD, General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer at CapitalSpring

Mr. William Smelko, JD, Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP

 

A Note from Our Board Chairman, Mr. Jim Flegle, J.D.

Jim Flegle & JW Patterson

“I was involved with the Kentucky debate program from 1970 through 1974 as a debater.  For most of those years, Dr. Patterson was Director of Debate.  I was also fortunate to assist the program in later years as I attended law school and began as a commercial trial lawyer in Texas.

The intellectual rigor and competition, the academic research and analysis, and the opportunity to work with colleagues much smarter than I, all gave me the skill set to approach life’s challenges.  Whether the issues were legal, or political, or social, the fundamentals taught by debate were, and are, spot on.

These benefits were enhanced by the coaching and leadership of Dr. Patterson.  He was clearly able to put debate in the context of the world, to put our efforts in the context of our future lives, and to put our arguments in the context of societal good.

Dr. Patterson not only was my debate coach for those years, he was also the advisor to Student Government during my term as President.  His wisdom and guidance on the art of leadership and the realities of politics were, and continue to be, invaluable.

This Foundation not only recognizes the contribution of a truly unique and selfless teacher, mentor, and coach.  It also serves to continue the visions of a passionate and dedicated believer that the truth shall set us free and that the freedom to express and to discuss issues and events makes our lives ever fuller.”

Mr. Jim Flegle, J.D.

Flegle Law, Chairman Board of Directors, J.W. Patterson Foundation

Jim has over 40 years of commercial trial and arbitration experience. He is recognized as one of the state’s leading attorneys. 

Jim spent the first 24 years of his career at Bracewell, serving as the managing partner of their Dallas office and on the firm’s Management Committee.

Representing clients nationwide, Jim has worked both sides of the docket in complex commercial disputes. These include intellectual property, oil and gas, contracts, partnerships, real estate, fraud, trusts and estates, employment and professional liability.

He represents officers and directors in Sarbanes-Oxley matters before the SEC and in court. He is also experienced in domestic and international arbitration.

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The J.W. Patterson Foundation
for Academic Excellence in Speech & Debate
2901 Richmond Road, Suite 140-303
Lexington, Kentucky 40509

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