November 2012
November 14, 2012 - Spotlight on George Lawrence Mikan (Story Chapter)
P.A.D. Member Reached NBA Superstardom
Brother George Lawrence Mikan (Story Chapter) has left a legacy that will last for years to come. Not only has he pursued a career in law but has shaped the way basketball is played today.
Brother George is a Joillet, Illinois native and was very athletic growing up. He was 6 feet by the age of 13 and played organized football and hockey. In 1934, he won the Will County Marbles Championship which earned him free tickets to meet Babe Ruth and the White Sox. As a freshman, George tried out for the basketball team at Joilet High School, however, the coach told him he would never be able to play the game because he wore glasses. Sophomore year, he gave up basketball to pursue his dreams as a Priest and enrolled into Chicago’s Quigley Prep Seminary School. Upon graduation, Brother Mikan had a change of heart and chose to study law.
In 1941, Mikan enrolled into DePaul University and his legacy would begin to unfold. His first year, he became a member of the Blue Demons simply because of his height, raw talent, and a young first year coach saw potential in the 6’10 kid with glasses. He would go on to dominate the NCAA leading the league in all aspects of defense and offense resulting in many championship titles, multiple First Team All-American, and the list continues. For example, during the Semi-Finals against Rhode Island State, Mikan scored 53 points and would lead his team to victory with a score of 97-53; scoring the same points as the whole Rhode Island team. Outside of basketball, in 1945, Brother George was initiated into P.A.D. and graduated from DePaul University College of Law in 1949.
After DePaul, Brother Mikan moved on to the NBA, the NBL at the time, playing for the Minneapolis Lakers. Even at that level he couldn’t be stopped, thus his nickname “Mr. Basketball.” Teams and owners would try everything to prevent him from remaining productive on the court. They extended the free throw lane from six to 12 feet, raised the hoop to 12 feet, and introduced the 24-second shot clock all to hinder Mikan but none were successful. He’s earned many championships in the NBA as well as MVP awards and Best Defensive Player Awards. He is a member of the Hall of Fame and his number, 99, has been retired. It’s because of his success that great athletes like Shaquille O’Neill, Walt Chamberlain, and Bill Russell pay homage to the late George Mikan.
When he could no longer perform at the NBA level, he retired and was sought for a career in coaching. After his first year of coaching, he stepped down and pursued a career in Congress becoming a candidate for the U.S. Representative from Minnesota 3rd District with the support of President Dwight Eisenhower in 1954. Unfortunately, he would lose by less than 5,000 votes. In 1958, Mikan would continue his practice in law focusing on real estate and corporate law.
The legacy of Brother George L. Mikan will always be embedded within NBA history as well as P.A.D. The Fraternity is fortunate to have a member who was multi-faceted and embodied all the core values expected of members. Some people only dream to make it to the NBA, practice law, or maybe even run for office; Brother George did it all by utilizing his determination and challenging himself and that defines the qualities of a P.A.D. member.
November 6, 2012 - Spotlight on Peggy Quince (Cardozo Chapter)
Over the years, Phi Alpha Delta has had the honor to support members that were deemed a pioneer for something monumental. Sister Peggy A. Quince has fulfilled the Fraternity’s core values and expectations and continues to exemplify outstanding commitment to law and P.A.D.
Justice Peggy A. Quince (Cardozo Chapter), a Norfolk, VA native, earned her undergraduate degree from Howard University in 1970 and later received her J.D. from the Columbus School of Law. A few years after receiving her J.D. she moved to Bradenton, FL and opened a law office where she practiced general civil law. From 1980-1993 she worked in the Criminal Division of the Florida General’s office and served as Bureau Chief for death penalty appeals for the last 5 years.
In 1993, Justice Quince was appointed by the late Governor Lawton Chiles to the Second District Court of Appeals making her the first African American woman to be appointed. After her second term, she was appointed by Governor Chiles and Governor-elect Jeb Bush to the Florida Supreme Court. Justice Quince is the only Supreme Court Justice to be appointed by more than one Governor in the state of Florida. In 2008, she became the first African American woman to head any branch of Florida government as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Florida.
Justice Quince has obligated her time and energy to many organizations, her community and her family. She has also received many honors and awards varying from the Florida Women's Hall of Fame Award to a proclamation from the Broward Board of County Commissioners declaring February 28, 1999 “Honorable Peggy A. Quince Appreciation Day"; a Hillsborough County Sheriff's Black Advisory Council Appreciation Award. She was also awarded the Phi Alpha Delta Barbara C. Jordan Award in 2009 for her lifetime commitment and contributions to the ‘rule of law’… in keeping with the spirit of departed P.A.D. Sister, Barbara C. Jordan.
Justice Peggy A. Quince has shown a great passion for what she does and will continue to be an inspiration to current and future litigators and P.A.D. members. Her experience and perseverance has made her a pioneer and an inspiration. P.A.D. is honored to call Justice Quince a Sister and someone who understands the vision of Phi Alpha Delta.
*Florida Supreme Court. (n.d.). Justices of the Florida Supreme Court: Justice Peggy A. Quince. Retrieved from http://www.floridasupremecourt.org/justices/quince.shtml