Montgomery Bar Selects First Black President
MONTGOMERY, AL -- Beasley Allen shareholder Kendall Dunson will be installed as President of the Montgomery County Bar Association on January 27, 2011. He is the first African American selected to lead this organization, which was officially established in 1915. Dunson will be installed at the MCBA annual meeting, which will be held at the Alabama Activity Center at 11:30 a.m. He will succeed current President Paul Clark, an attorney with Balch & Bingham.
"Montgomery is the birthplace of the Civil Rights Movement, and this is another milestone in our history," says Suzanne Duffey, Executive Director of the MCBA. "As public servants and leaders of our community, MCBA members promote equality and help people get justice. This is a reflection of that leadership," she says.
At its core, the mission of the MCBA is to provide continuing education for attorneys and to foster professionalism among attorneys. The MCBA offices are located in the Montgomery County Courthouse so their staff is accessible to attorneys.
"To be selected by my peers to serve as president of the MCBA is an honor unto itself," Dunson said. "I was surprised to discover I would be the first African American to assume the position. This revelation will only strengthen my resolve to serve. I hope to honor my family, my firm and those who have entrusted me with such an important responsibility."
Kendall grew up in LaGrange, Georgia, and graduated with honors from LaGrange High School in 1989, after serving his senior class as president. He was awarded a full scholarship throughout his matriculation at the University of Georgia. Kendall earned a degree in Corporate Finance from UGA. Among a host of UGA honors, Kendall says one of his most treasured honor was being elected president of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated.
A recipient of the Calloway Scholarship, Kendall is a graduate of the University of Alabama School of Law and is licensed to practice in both Alabama and Georgia.
Before coming to work at Beasley Allen, Kendall worked in the litigation section of a prominent defense firm for two and a half years. At Beasley Allen, he practices in the areas of Product Liability, General Personal Injury, and Workers' Compensation cases involving defective industrial machinery. Kendall has worked on numerous cases aimed at compensating clients for human losses and influencing corporations to manufacture safer products.
Kendall has served as the president of both the Alabama Lawyers Association and the Capital City Bar Association. He recently completed a term as a Board Member for the National Bar Association. He served on the Board of the Montgomery County Bar Association until he was elected to the Executive Committee. He is married to Attorney Samarria Munnerlyn Dunson, Assistant General Counsel for the Alabama Department of Public Health.
About Beasley Allen Law Firm
Headquartered in Montgomery, Alabama, Beasley Allen is comprised of 50 attorneys and more than 200 support staff. Beasley Allen is a proud sponsor of many great charities and has donated over $1 million in the past three years.
About the MCBA
The Montgomery County Bar Association hosts events to foster interaction, communication and professional opportunities to lawyers in Montgomery and other surrounding counties. The MCBA was formed in 1915. Today, the MCBA is one of the leading local bar associations nationwide, with more than 800 members.
