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June 7, 2011
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June 9, 2011
Lifetime achievement awards are mostly reserved for individuals who became legends for their work and are either on the verge of or have long retired from practicing their crafts. However, on occasion, the honor is offered to those that make their mark before anyone would have thought their careers might end.
Such was the case Thursday, when the Terrebonne Bar Association presented its 2011 Elton Darsey Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously to Eldon Richard “Ricky” Harrall Jr., during the organization’s annual awards banquet at the Courtyard by Marriott in Houma.
“Ricky would have been humbled and proud,” said Harrall’s wife, Sylvia, who accepted the award 29 days after her husband lost his life to cancer. “He loved his profession and he did everything he could for his clients.”
“Ricky was an absolute credit to the bar association,” said Billy Stark, who presented the award to honor his fellow lawyer. “Ricky was always positive. He was always prepared and a good friend to so many.”
Harrall was originally from Fairfield, Ill. He moved as a child with his family to Terrebonne Parish, where they settled on a farm in the Schriever area. “He was breaking horses at the age of 9,” Sylvia Harrall said.
Among those who knew him, Harrall had always been active. After graduating from Terrebonne High School in 1973, Harrall, like many young men of the region, went to work in the oilfields.
Established in the business, Harrall was working on an oil derrick in the Persian Gulf in 1975, when he was crushed by a steel plate and suffered life-threatening injuries. The accident resulted in him contracting osteomyelitis, a chronic bone infection, which necessitated the use of crutches and left him in constant pain for the remainder of his 56 years.
Knowing his oilfield work had ended, Harrall decided to pursue a career practicing law. He earned his undergraduate degree from Nicholls State University while still undergoing physical rehabilitation and residual surgery. He was even presented his diploma while in a hospital bed. He then went on to law school at Loyola University and completed his work there in 1984.
Harrall set up practice in Houma just across the street from the Terrebonne Parish Courthouse. He had a general law practice, but his peers knew him for his courtroom presentations, especially when it came to criminal defense when he would take on cases with compassion that other lawyers would not touch.
“The guy was a legal bulldozer,” Stark said. “He wasn’t arrogant. Ricky was reasonable and diplomatic, but he knew his stuff.”
Harrall was diagnosed on April 6 with lung cancer that had spread to his brain and liver. Doctors said he probably had the condition for more than a year. His wife said no one knew because although he was already in constant pain, he never complained about his physical condition. A month after being diagnosed with cancer, he passed, but left a living memory with those that knew him
Ricky and Sylvia Harrall had three children. His wife said he was dedicated to his family as well as hunting, fishing and a good poker game.
“He had all the good virtues of a man in a lawyer,” Stark said. “It was an honor to practice with him.”
The Bar Association offered other awards for contributions to and on behalf of the legal community during their night of recognition.
The Community Service Award was presented to J. Louis “Bubba” Watkins.
Two $750 scholarships were handed out to Ashley Jones, who is entering her second year of law school at Loyola University, and to Richard Breaux, who is completing his law degree at Loyola University and preparing to take the Louisiana Bar examination.
Bar Association officers for 2011-12 were installed with Kassie Liner Hargis named as president, Amanda Mustin Mattingly president-elect, Jimi Carol Smith treasurer, and Raymond L., Landreneau Jr. as secretary.
The night’s keynote address was delivered by Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne who spoke about what Louisiana has to offer and many of the colorful, and some questionable, characters that highlight the state’s and, in turn, the nation’s history.
Clerk of Court Hon. I. Robert Boudreaux (left) administers the oath of office to treasurer Jimi Smith, president-elect Amanda Mustin Mattingly, president Kassie Liner Hargis and secretary R.L. Landreneau as they become officers for the Terrebonne Bar Association. MIKE NIXON
