Ben E. Nordman Award

Purpose: To recognize outstanding contributions made by a Ventura County lawyer to the community by means of charitable, or other public service activities. The Selection Committee will consider the nominee’s: Leadership, Dedication, Tangible Impact, and the significance of the nominee’s activities to the entire community.

Eligibility: Any member in good standing of the California bar whose public service activities, in the opinion of the Selection Committee, warrant favorable recognition and will serve to foster the purpose of the award.

While all that is required to nominate a candidate is to complete the nomination form, it is helpful to the Selection Committee and the Advisory Committee if the application is as complete as possible.  Having nominations for a candidate from persons who are not related to or partners of or employees of a candidate are particularly impactful.  There is no limitation on the number of nominations that may be submitted for a given candidate.  Submitting details of the activities of the candidate, particularly sustained over a number of years, is particularly valued in the evaluation of the nomination.  It is not necessary that a nominator attend the Advisory Committee meeting. Efforts made to bring worthy candidates to the attention of the Committees is much appreciated.

​Benjamin E. Nordman 1913 – 1985

Benjamin Emil Nordman began his practice of law in 1939, shortly after graduating from Hastings College of the Law and passing the California Bar. He opened an office in the unincorporated area known as Port Hueneme. His practice was interrupted by the outbreak of World War II. His duties included traveling behind enemy lines in France to negotiate with the German military for the release of allied prisoners. Ben returned to practice law in Ventura County, this time in the City of Oxnard. He convinced his friend, Jerome H. Berenson to join in his practice and they were later joined by Marvin H. Lewis and practiced under the name Nordman Berenson and Lewis. Two associates, William H. Hair and Robert L. Compton joined the firm. Ben merged his practice with that of Ralph L. Cormany. Hair & Compton became partners, and the law firm of Nordman Cormany Hair & Compton was formed. From the beginning Ben believed that it was important for a lawyer to give back to his community. One of his favorite sayings was, “there’s more to practicing law than making a buck.” Ben became concerned that the images of all lawyers were becoming tarnished because of the highly publicized actions of just a few lawyers. To focus public attention on the contributions that the vast majority of lawyers made to society, Ben conceived of and founded the Ben E. Nordman Public Service Award. Ben created a fund (now administered by the Ventura County Community Foundation) to provide a stipend to each recipient of the Award. When Ben conceived of the award he proposed a generic name for it that did not include his name. His partners convinced him that attaching his name to the award would add prestige because of his reputation and standing in the community. Ben died before the first Nordman award was presented in 1986.

August 2013 Citations Article  Farewell Nordman Cormany Hair & Compton, by Joel Mark

1998 Ronald G. Harrington
1997 M. Carmen Ramirez
1996 James D. Loebl
1995 Wendy C. Lascher
1994 William D. Fairfield
1993 Laura J. McAvoy
1992 Colleen Toy White
1991 Leonard Alexander
1990 Frederick Bysshe, Jr.
1989 Edwin F. Beach
1988 Jerome H. Berenson
1987 Carl Lowthorp, Jr.
1986 Bruce Johnston