News

February 4, 2019 (Charlotte, N.C.)— The Mecklenburg Bar Foundation presented Pender R. McElroy, a founding partner of James, McElroy & Diehl, P.A., with the Ayscue Professionalism Award at its annual Law & Society luncheon on November 14, 2018. Pender was honored for the high standards of professionalism and excellence in his 50-year career as an attorney in Mecklenburg County.

The annual award, named after the first recipient, E. Osborne Ayscue, Jr., was established in 2004 to recognize exemplary professionalism, including outstanding service for the benefit of the legal community or the community at large, substantial and significant service to the community, to the Bar or to the justice system, and embodiment of the traits to which all attorneys should aspire – high ethical standards, model conduct, unquestioned integrity and consistent competence.

“I can attest to the fact that Pender embodies the traits that this award seeks to recognize: integrity, high ethical standards, service to the profession, service to the community and professionalism,” said one of his colleagues in the Mecklenburg Bar News. “At the firm, Pender was always there to remind folks that we were part of a profession and had an obligation to give back to our community and that the practice of law was much more than just a business where the worth of the firm was judged solely by the bottom line.”

A fellow Bar member also noted, “He walks comfortably with both kings and commoners and treats them both with the utmost respect. That really tells you all you need to know about him.”

Pender, who served as managing partner at James, McElroy & Diehl for 30 years, has also rendered outstanding service to the Mecklenburg County Bar (MCB) and Mecklenburg Bar Foundation (MBF) through his efforts as a president of the MCB and chairman of the NC Conference of Bar Presidents. He provided countless hours of service as chair of the Future Bar & Foundation Center Committee to establish the new Bar & Foundation Center. He continues to serve on the MBF Board of Directors, currently serving his second term.

Outside of his activities with the Bar, Pender’s service to the city of Charlotte, the county, state and the nation through his volunteer efforts have been substantial, particularly in the area of mental health. Pender was a member of the NC Commission for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services for 13 years, and served as its chairman for seven years. He served on the board and is past board chair of Mental Health America. He was also a board member and past board chair of the Presbyterian Samaritan Counseling Center in Charlotte. He was a member of the Tryon Palace Commission.

Pender is a member and past president of the Rotary Club of Charlotte and a Paul Harris Fellow. He previously served on the boards and as board chair of Crisis Assistance Ministry, Legal Aid of North Carolina, Mental Health Association in North Carolina, Mental Health Association of Central Carolinas, Presbyterian Home at Charlotte (Sharon Towers), Charlotte-Mecklenburg Senior Centers and Community Health Services.

After earning his Juris Doctor degree from the University of North Carolina School of Law, where he was a member of the North Carolina Law Review, he served as clerk for one year to Justice William H. Bobbitt of the North Carolina Supreme Court.

After joining James, McElroy & Diehl in 1969, Pender developed a practice representing and advising businesses engaged in many different endeavors including services, sales, manufacturing, healthcare, construction and real estate development and investment. Currently of counsel with the firm, his work involves sales, purchases and financing of businesses and real estate, contracts and disputes with suppliers and customers; employment issues; regulatory issues; corporate governance; and succession planning and estate planning for the owners and managers. He also is involved in creating trusts and administration of estates. In addition, Pender served as a commercial arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association for 40 years.

For more information about the Mecklenburg Bar Foundation, click here.