MACON—Walter Homer Drake Jr., United States bankruptcy judge for the Northern District of Georgia, was honored by the Mercer University Law School as the recipient of the 2003 Outstanding Alumnus Award. Drake is a double graduate of Mercer, earning his bachelor of arts degree in 1954 and his law degree in 1956.
The award was presented to Drake at the annual Law Day Luncheon by Law School Interim Dean and Professor Michael Sabbath, who also holds the Walter Homer Drake Endowed Professorship.
In presenting the award to Drake, Sabbath noted how the judge works in an area of law that impacts people’s lives and families. “He deals with people and issues with integrity while genuinely caring for the individual. People respect him for his moral values, leadership and common sense approach to solving complex problems.”
A loyal alumnus, Drake is a past president of the Mercer Law School Alumni Association and a past chair of the Law School Board of Visitors. He currently serves on the Mercer University Board of Trustees.
He has served as an adjunct professor of law at both Emory University School of Law and the University of Georgia School of Law. The author of two books and numerous articles, he was recipient in 1994 of the first David W. Pollard Achievement Award presented by the Atlanta Bar Association for contributions to bankruptcy law and practice.
In 2002, he was presented the Monroe F. Swilley Award for Christian Statesmanship by Mercer University.
The Southeastern Bankruptcy Law Institute made a gift of more than $302,000 to establish the Walter Homer Drake Endowed Professorship of Bankruptcy Law at Mercer. Sabbath, who has been at the Law School for more than 25 years, is the initial holder of the endowed professorship.
More than 300 persons attended the annual Law Day Luncheon held March 14 at the Macon City Auditorium. Secretary of State Cathy Cox, a 1986 graduate of the Mercer Law School, was keynote speaker.
