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Health Care Advocate Wins 2009 Morris Dees Justice Award

A health care advocate who has dedicated his career to representing low-income clients, the elderly, disabled and uninsured has been selected as the winner of the 2009 Morris Dees Justice Award.

A health care advocate who has dedicated his career to representing low-income clients, the elderly, disabled and uninsured has been selected as the winner of the 2009 Morris Dees Justice Award.

Gordon Bonnyman Jr., co-founder of the Tennessee Justice Center, will be presented the award at a Nov. 12 reception in New York City at the Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom law offices.

The renowned international law firm partnered with the University of Alabama School of Law in 2006 to create the award in honor of Dees, an Alabama graduate, for his lifelong dedication to public service. It is given annually to a lawyer who has devoted his or her career to serving the public interest and pursuing justice, and whose work has brought about positive change in the community, state or nation.

The first award recipient, in 2006, was U.S. District Judge William Wayne Justice of the Eastern District of Texas. The 2007 winner was Arthur N. Read, general counsel for Friends of Farmworkers Inc., based in Philadelphia. Last year's award recipient was Cheryl Little, executive director of the Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center, located in Miami.

More information about the award is available at www.morrisdeesaward.com.