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To permanently honor outstanding and notable alumni of the University of Florida Levin College of Law and their contributions to the state and University, the Law Center Association Board of Trustees established the Heritage of Leadership Recognition Society. The Selection Committee determined the initial classes of inductees, barring exceptional circumstances, would be honored posthumously.
2025 Inductees
Russell W. Divine
Class of 1980. December 20, 1955 – September 13, 2022
A lifelong Gator fan and Double Gator, Divine graduated from UF Law in 1980. During his undergraduate years, he was President of Florida Blue Key and Treasurer of the Student Body. He was a founding partner of Divine and Estes, where he served as a Partner until he retired. Throughout his legal career, Divine was active in many leadership roles including President of the Orange County Bar Association and Florida Bar Association’s Board of Governors. He was most gratified in his role as a Board Member of the Heart of the City Foundation and organizing youth programs.
A lifelong Gator fan and Double Gator, Divine graduated from UF Law in 1980. During his undergraduate years, he was President of Florida Blue Key and Treasurer of the Student Body. He was a founding partner of Divine and Estes, where he served as a Partner until he retired. Throughout his legal career, Divine was active in many leadership roles including President of the Orange County Bar Association and Florida Bar Association’s Board of Governors. He was most gratified in his role as a Board Member of the Heart of the City Foundation and organizing youth programs.
Patrick G. Emmanuel
Class of 1946. January 25, 1920 – July 31, 2024
Emmanuel grew up during the Great Depression. In 1940, he received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from UF. After two years at UF Law, he served in the U.S. Army and fought in Europe during WWII. He was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious achievement in the Battle of the Bulge. He completed his law degree and joined a law firm that became Emmanuel, Sheppard and Condon. He was President of The Florida Bar and was awarded The Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Award. He was also President of the Florida Bar Foundation and received the Medal of Honor. Emmanuel, age 104 at his death, was a well-respected attorney with a strong faith and sense of duty.
Emmanuel grew up during the Great Depression. In 1940, he received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from UF. After two years at UF Law, he served in the U.S. Army and fought in Europe during WWII. He was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious achievement in the Battle of the Bulge. He completed his law degree and joined a law firm that became Emmanuel, Sheppard and Condon. He was President of The Florida Bar and was awarded The Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Award. He was also President of the Florida Bar Foundation and received the Medal of Honor. Emmanuel, age 104 at his death, was a well-respected attorney with a strong faith and sense of duty.
Judge Richard W. Ervin III
Class of 1960. October 16, 1934 – October 22, 2024
Judge Ervin was the son of Richard W. Ervin, Jr. who was Florida’s attorney general and a Florida Supreme Court justice. Following in his father’s footsteps, Judge Ervin graduated from UF Law in 1960. He began his distinguished public service career as an assistant U.S. attorney, then was appointed by Governor Farris Bryant to serve as Big Bend’s first public defender. He was elected as a judge on the First District Court of Appeal in 1977 and retired as its longest-serving judge. After his retirement from the court, he went into private practice working on workers’ compensation appeals. Judge Ervin was known for his scholarly and well-reasoned decisions, and was well-respected throughout the legal community as an outstanding jurist.
Judge Ervin was the son of Richard W. Ervin, Jr. who was Florida’s attorney general and a Florida Supreme Court justice. Following in his father’s footsteps, Judge Ervin graduated from UF Law in 1960. He began his distinguished public service career as an assistant U.S. attorney, then was appointed by Governor Farris Bryant to serve as Big Bend’s first public defender. He was elected as a judge on the First District Court of Appeal in 1977 and retired as its longest-serving judge. After his retirement from the court, he went into private practice working on workers’ compensation appeals. Judge Ervin was known for his scholarly and well-reasoned decisions, and was well-respected throughout the legal community as an outstanding jurist.
John G. White III
Class of 1983. September 2, 1955 – November 27, 2022
White, a Pensacola native with a passion for water sports, was Gray Robinson’s West Palm Beach managing shareholder. He graduated from UF Law in 1983 and clerked in West Palm Beach before taking the bar. He began his legal career with Levy, Shapiro, Keen and Kinkade, and later expanded his practice by joining other prestigious law firms before coming to Gray Robinson in 2017. He
was a leader in both the county and state bars serving in every elected position of the Palm Beach County Bar Association, as the 60th President of The Florida Bar, and on Florida Bar’s Board of Governors. He was also active in the ABA House of Delegates and National Conference of Bar Presidents. He was known as a lawyer with the highest integrity, both personally and professionally.
White, a Pensacola native with a passion for water sports, was Gray Robinson’s West Palm Beach managing shareholder. He graduated from UF Law in 1983 and clerked in West Palm Beach before taking the bar. He began his legal career with Levy, Shapiro, Keen and Kinkade, and later expanded his practice by joining other prestigious law firms before coming to Gray Robinson in 2017. He
was a leader in both the county and state bars serving in every elected position of the Palm Beach County Bar Association, as the 60th President of The Florida Bar, and on Florida Bar’s Board of Governors. He was also active in the ABA House of Delegates and National Conference of Bar Presidents. He was known as a lawyer with the highest integrity, both personally and professionally.