+ Preface + Section Officers + History + Special Awards/Recognition + A Look Forward by Looking Back 35 Years PREFACE The Real Property Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia traces its origins back to the 1960's reorganization of the State Bar into a unified and mandatory Bar Association. It gradually developed from an association of lawyers organized around the premise of working together to improve the real property law practice in Georgia, collegiality, networking capabilities of its members, the education achievement levels, and to promote legislation beneficial to the real property law. Over the years, step by step, year by year, we built on the earlier contributions and successes. Today, we can take great pride in our Section and its accomplishments which consistently rank it among the largest and leading Sections of the State Bar. In addition, a number of our members have served on State Bar Committees, as Committee Chairs, on the Board of Governors, as officers and as President of the State Bar. Past achievements do not mean that we can rest on our laurels but that we have the impetus, the opportunity and the responsibility to advance and enhance those accomplishments in the future. This is especially true for young lawyers. Years ago, I was a new lawyer and found the Section interested in my "volunteering" and always found something for me to do. The same is true today. You are encouraged to participate. We need you. You will benefit professionally and personally in many ways. In this way, the Section will continue its history of going from success to success and making a meaningful contribution to the real property law practice in Georgia. Once a Chair, always a Chair - including calling upon them to remember what happened many years before. For their contributions to this History of our Section, we are all grateful for their participation. Leslie Smith, the Section Liaison with the State Bar of Georgia, was also very helpful and cannot be overlooked. A special personal thanks goes to my legal assistants, Susan Gerstel and Sheila Lee, for their endless hours in deciphering my illegible handwriting, retyping draft after draft and their always helpful suggestions. Of course, to my children and wife, Jeril, who have had to endure the hours without me, or my being preoccupied when I was there, I give my enduring gratitude in hopes that they will take as much pride as I do with the small contribution in recognizing the real giants of our profession and in recognizing the magnitude and importance of their efforts. I am humbled and grateful for the opportunity to have played a small part in our Section's accomplishments. Bruce P. Cohen