Steve Kyle receives the GDLA’s Distinguished Service Award
By June 10, 2019 News/Events/Seminars
At this year’s annual convention of the Georgia Defense Lawyers Association, one of the founding partners was awarded the Distinguished Service Award. Steve was only the third person to receive this award in the 51 years history of the GDLA. Matt Moffett, another past president of the Association, made the presentation and below are his words of recognition.
Someone once said - We have two hands. One to help ourselves, one to serve others. Our highest honor - the GDLA Distinguished Service Award was designed to honor those who serve our Association and our clients. This award is given to honor a GDLA member for meritorious and extended service to the mission and goals of the Association. The candidate has been instrumental in developing, implementing, and carrying out the objectives of GDLA. His conspicuous commitment and dedication to GDLA and its purposes have been demonstrated over an extended period of years, the result of which will have been the strengthening of the defense bar and, as a by-product, the justice system in GA.
This year’s recipient is a person of service to his family, his church, his friends and his favored GDLA!
Steve Kyle embodies the true spirit of GDLA. More than just a past president, he was the more important event coordinator - which I refer to as venue selector - nobody else ever got us to Bermuda and the Cayman Islands - and also returned us only slightly hung over and without a criminal record.
Steve Kyle is perhaps our most inspirational leader. In fact, I credit Steve for my decision to step into leadership in our organization. Steve can be very persuasive - I remember he said to me “Matt, even you can do it, just remember our motto - we aim at nothing and seldom miss!” How could I say no to that?
OK. Let me get serious here. Nobody better represents us at our best - Nobody is more welcoming and hospitable than Steve Kyle. Year after year at our annual meetings, we remember Steve communicating our sincere appreciation for and to our GDLA sponsors. Steve made them part of our group. Steve would always remind us to remember their loyalty and return that loyalty to them by using their services when we had need for an engineer or a court reporting firm.
As my wife, Diane told me yesterday - “I just love that Steve Kyle. He’s always got a smile on his face and something kind to say”.
I just know that I always feel good after I’ve been talking with Steve. He’s my friend, and he’s a true giver. We have too many takers in this world don’t we? One thing I’ll never forget about Steve. Years ago he involved me in a case he had. He didn’t have to but he did. I wanted to do a good job because it was Steve Kyle - leader of the defense bar, one of the best of the best defense lawyers. Once the case resolved I wanted to do something for Steve - what can I do for you? And do you know what he said - Matt - I just value your friendship. Wow - that’s a true friend.
A leader is one who knows the way, shows the way and goes the way. Steve Kyle is that leader. He certainly is that example for me as he has always been for GDLA!
So, please join me in congratulating my good friend and our good friend and the best friend GDLA ever had - the winner of the Distinguished Service Award - Steve Kyle.