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  • March 26, 2009

    Nonresident Lawyers Division present the Founders’ Award formerly the Dick O’Melia Award to

    Nonresident Lawyers Division present the Founders’ Award formerly the Dick O’Melia Award to

     

    Benton C. Strauss
    Northbroook, Ill. 

    Benton StraussThe Nonresident Lawyers Division (NRLD) Founders’ Award, formerly the Richard O’Melia Award, recognizes a nonresident member who has brought positive change to the division and has actively participated in State Bar activities for many years.

    As the fourth recipient of the NRLD Founders Award, Ben Strauss joins the other NRLD Founders Award recipients, Dick O’Melia, Jerris Leonard, and Nicholas “Chip” Retson. The first three of these recipients worked together to help bring the Nonresident Lawyers Division into existence and prominence in the 1980s. Their early work and Ben’s work over the past 14 years have enhanced the interests of several thousand nonresident State Bar members.

    “Ben has been an active contributor and division leader who consistently blends hard work with talent, mentorship, advice, wisdom, camaraderie, and the highest ethical and personal behavior,” says NRLD President Steven Schuster, Washington, D.C. “His selfless devotion to the State Bar of Wisconsin and the legal profession in general should be admired and respected by his peers. Ben’s reputation within the State Bar is exemplified by the fact that he has been appointed as the first nonresident lawyer to the Bar’s Finance Committee, where he has served for the past three years. Those who know Ben believe that his significant legal accomplishments and years of distinguished service to the State Bar of Wisconsin are matched by his example of devotion to his wife Sandy, their three children and granddaughter. The Nonresident Lawyers Division is honored and privileged to present the 2009 Founders Award to Division leader, mentor, colleague and friend, Ben Strauss.”

    Benton Strauss has served the NRLD as: director (1997 - 98 and 2004 - 06), secretary (1998 - 2001), president-elect (2001 - 02), president (2002 - 03) and past president (2003 - 04). His other State Bar of Wisconsin services includes the Board of Governors (2001 - 04), Executive Committee (2002 - 03), Leadership Development Committee (2003 - 06), and Finance Committee (2006 - present).

    Strauss practices with Strauss & Malk LLP in Northbrook, Ill., concentrating his practice in estate planning, trusts, taxation, and family business planning. He is a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. He is also co-author of two books on estate and trust matters: Estate & Gift Planning for the Business Owner, and Post Mortem Tax Planning, both published by Thompson Companies. Strauss attended the University of Illinois, 1968; Loyola University Law School, 1972. He was admitted to the State Bar of Wisconsin in 1987. 


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