The deadline for nominations for Stetson University College of Law’s prestigious William Reece Smith Jr. Public Service Award is Monday, Dec. 16.

The annual William Reece Smith Jr. Public Service Award recognizes individuals who have provided outstanding service to the legal profession and the community. This year’s award will be presented Feb. 5 at the Annual Inns of Court Banquet in the Great Hall on Stetson Law’s campus in Gulfport.

Completed nominations may be emailed to [email protected].

The award, established in 1990, is named in honor of legendary Florida lawyer William Reece Smith Jr., who served for decades as a distinguished professional lecturer at Stetson Law. Smith dedicated more than 60 years of service to the legal profession. He passed away in 2013.

Smith worked tirelessly to provide legal services to the poor. Among his accomplishments, he founded Florida Legal Services and led as its first president; served as a city attorney for Tampa; was chair and trustee of numerous colleges and universities; assumed the role of interim president at the University of South Florida; and sat as a board member of countless religious, charitable, civic and professional organizations.

A member of the Stetson University College of Law Hall of Fame, Smith joined the Stetson Law faculty in 1954.