The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) is proud to announce the winner of the 2013 Powley Elder Law Award: Reginald H. Turnbull, of Jefferson City, Mo. This award is presented annually to a NAELA member who is recognized in his or her community as a leader in promoting a greater understanding of the rights and needs of the elderly and people with special needs, and of how Elder Law attorneys advocate for those rights.
The award was established in the memory of Wes and Helen Powley, grandparents of NAELA member Timothy L. Takacs, of Hendersonville, Tenn. Both Wes and Helen were active in civic affairs for all of their lives, and Wes practiced dentistry well into his 80s. The award is funded by a cash grant from the Takacs family to a nonprofit organization chosen by the Powley Award recipient.
For more than a decade, Turnbull has served as an officer and leader of the Missouri Chapter of NAELA, keeping fellow Chapter members up-to-date on important legislation and encouraging continuing education in the field through such legal education programs as the Chapter’s “Missouri Elder Law Fundamentals Institute.” He has been a Certified Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation since 2003 and is a Fellow of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys.
Turnbull frequently speaks at local and statewide events on public and private benefits for people who are aged and people with disabilities. He serves on the pro-bono attorney panel of the Samaritan Center.
Turnbull has also demonstrated his commitment to promoting the needs of the elderly and special needs communities as past Chair and Board Member of the Missouri End-of-Life Coalition; as a past general manager and member of the Special Needs Alliance, a national organization of Special Needs Law attorneys; current Chair of the Elder Law Committee and Vice Chair of the Probate and Trust Committee of the Missouri Bar Association.
Turnbull is a Co-Chair of MO-WINGS, the working interdisciplinary network of guardianship stakeholders, which is rewriting Missouri’s guardianship code. He serves as a member of the Advisory Council of the Mid Missouri Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association and Ethics Committee of the Capital Regional Medical Center.
As part of his recognition, Turnbull can direct $1,000 from the Takacs family to charities providing services to people with disabilities. He has chosen to have $500 awarded to the Cole County Residential Services and $500 to the Jefferson City Area Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
Turnbull will receive the award at NAELA’s Annual Conference in Atlanta, being held May 2-4, 2013.
About NAELA
Members of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) are attorneys who are experienced and trained in working with the legal problems of aging Americans and individuals of all ages with disabilities. Established in 1987, NAELA is a non-profit association that assists lawyers, bar organizations, and others. The mission of NAELA is to establish NAELA members as the premier providers of legal advocacy, guidance, and services to enhance the lives of people with special needs and people as they age. NAELA currently has members across the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit NAELA.org.