2018 was filled with professional and personal accomplishments for Crabbe, Brown & James managing partner Larry James and his wife, Donna James.
In July, Mr. James was honored as one of the three 2018 inductees to the Lincoln Theatre Walk of Fame for his work in overseeing the restoration of the historic Theatre to its former glory. Mr. James was also inducted into the 2018 Hall of Fame Class of his alma mater, the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law.
In October, the Greater Columbus Arts Council announced Mr. and Mrs. James as winners of the 2018 Community Arts Partnership award for their work in developing the citywide arts collaboration I, Too, Sing America: The Harlem Renaissance at 100. Throughout 2018, the city of Columbus collectively celebrated local African-American artists and the 100th anniversary of the Harlem Renaissance with gallery exhibitions, performances, poems, songs, and a trip to Harlem. In addition, the Columbus Museum of Art hosted a four-month-long exhibit as part of the I, Too, Sing America movement and celebrated the James as the guests of honor at their 2018 Art Celebration.
Mr. and Mrs. James were also named as recipients of the Ohio Civil Rights Commissioners’ first-ever Community Spirit Award. The Community Spirit Award honors Ohioans who demonstrate efforts that go above and beyond the routine efforts to advance civil rights through contributions that benefit the community and foster collaboration between different entities.
In November, the Columbus Metropolitan Library Foundation recognized Mr. and Mrs. James for their civic, political, business, and legal contributions to the central Ohio community with the Library’s 2018 Julian Sinclair Smith Celebration of Learning Award.
Mr. James joined Crabbe, Brown & James in 1981, when the firm was still known as Crabbe, Brown, Jones, Potts & Schmidt. In recognition of Mr. James’ many achievements, the law firm changed its name to Crabbe, Brown & James in January 2001. In addition to serving as the firm’s managing partner, Mr. James is a life member of the Sixth Circuit Judicial Conference and has served as General Counsel for the National Fraternal Order of Police since 2001. He is also co-founder of the African-American Leadership Academy and a member of the Board of Trustees of Kenyon College.