Page 37 - FDCCFlyer_Summer2025

FDCC Meetings - Looking Behind
Larry Hepler Honored
With FDCC Lifetime Achievement Award
by Kile Turner and Beth Bauer
The FDCC’s Lifetime Achievement
Award is awarded to an FDCC
member who is “over and above”
when measured against exceptional
attorneys both inside and outside
the Federation. Award winners
are recognized giants of their legal
communities, the Federation,
and their communities at large.
Contributing substantially to
the Federation and as well as
national, state and local bar
activities, successful candidates
embody the core values of
the Federation of knowledge,
fellowship and professionalism.
Recipients exemplify distinguished
contributions and service to the
Federation, the bar and their
community at large. This year’s
FDCC Lifetime Achievement Award
was given to Larry Hepler of Hepler
Broom LLC of Edwardsville, Illinois.
Kile Turner Beth Bauer
Larry’s partner, mentee, and
fellow FDCC member Beth Bauer
presented the award at this year’s
Winter Meeting in Charleston.
Beth described Larry as a visionary
leader whose life and career
embody unparalleled integrity,
profound compassion, unwavering
patriotism, and abiding love for
his family and friends. Dozens
of letters supporting Larry’s
nomination were submitted by
many FDCC members; judges
in some of the toughest defense
jurisdictions in the country –
Madison and St. Clair Counties
in Illinois; some of the most
formidable plaintiff’s lawyers in the
Midwest; Edwardsville community
leaders; family and friends.
EXCEPTIONAL CAREER AND
IMPACT ON FDCC
Larry was raised on a dairy farm
outside Meadville, Pennsylvania
where he learned the earliest
lessons of hard work, humility and a
deep commitment to his family and
community.
Larry graduated from Bucknell
University in 1965 and was
commissioned as a Second
Lieutenant in the United States
Army. In 1968, Larry obtained his
law degree from Washington & Lee
University School of Law
magna cum laude.
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