The Ellis County Bar Association has named Joseph "Joe" Jeter the recipient of the 2020 Willis K. Musick Professionalism Award. The award, created by the bar association to honor past and present members of the bar who have, by their conduct, honesty, integrity and courtesy best exemplified, represented and encouraged other lawyers to follow the highest standards of the legal profession, was first awarded posthumously to attorneys Willis Musick in 2015 and Richard Coffelt in 2016.
The award is not given annually but, rather, is presented up to once per year when the members of the Ellis County Bar Association offer nominations. A confidentially appointed committee of association members reviews the nominations and selects the recipient it believes is most deserving among the nominees.
“Joe has been an exemplary member of the legal profession for almost 50 years,” said Wendy Rohleder-Sook, bar president. “He exhibits all of the qualities and ideals recognized by this award, and he is well-respected in the local and state legal communities.”
Jeter was recognized by his colleagues at a recent meeting of the bar association.
Jeter, a partner at Jeter Turner Sook Baxter LLP, is the first recipient of the award to be honored while still active in practice, which includes estate planning, corporate and business law, probate, oil and gas law, and real estate law. He has been involved in many community organizations throughout his career and previously served as the City of Hays’ municipal court judge for almost 10 years.
— Submitted