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Each year, the Illinois Bar Foundation selects one recipient to receive our highest honor, the Distinguished Award for Excellence. The Distinguished Award for Excellence is awarded at the Foundation's annual Gala to an individual whose career and personal life exemplify their ongoing commitment to the law and the legal community. Our illustrious past honorees are listed below. 

PAST HONOREES

DISTINGUISHED AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE

1999

Mayor Richard M. Daley

2000

Gery J. Chico

2001

Scott Turow

2002

Mary A. Dempsey

2003

Jerold S. Solovy

2004

Joseph A. Power, Jr.

2005

Hon. William R. Quinlan

2006

Bernard M. Judge

2007

Peer Pedersen

2008

Gino L. DiVito

2009

Senate President 

John J. Cullerton

2010

Justice Anne M. Burke

2011

Newton N. Minow

2012

Rudolf G. Schade, Jr.

2013

Manny Sanchez

2014

Peter J. Birnbaum

2015

Todd A. Smith

2016

Illinois Attorney

General Lisa Madigan

2017

Senator Richard J. Durbin

2018

Tyrone C. Fahner

2019

Robert A. Clifford