Donny MacKenzie has several mementos to remember Bob Beckham, a man he calls the greatest teacher and lawyer he’s ever known.
MacKenzie has the prominent trial attorney’s ashtray on his desk at Holland & Knight.
Not far from it is the pro bono champion’s martini shaker.
But maybe the most memorable keepsake now resides at MacKenzie’s home.
The yellow, orange and red piece of art has Beckham’s name on it. But it also has MacKenzie’s, the recipient of the 17th annual Robert J. Beckham Equal Justice Award.
The honor is given by Jacksonville Area Legal Aid to an individual or organization that has greatly helped the nonprofit assist low-income people in need of legal representation.
Beckham won the award in 2007 and became its namesake in 2009, months after he died.
“To have my name etched along with his,” said MacKenzie, before pausing a moment. “It’s the highlight of my career.”
Lynn Drysdale, head of JALA’s consumer advocacy and litigation unit, helped introduce MacKenzie during Wednesday’s awards dinner.
Drysdale was a nervous wreck, she said, but not just because MacKenzie’s family — including his 21-year-old son, Noah, who was wearing the always-fashionable Beckham’s shoes — was in attendance.
MacKenzie has meant a lot to her, too.
The two began their partnership in the early 1990s when MacKenzie was a relatively new attorney at Holland & Knight. It was a cumbersome case — 96 clients who ended up not being able to secure class-action status.
Drysdale said she wasn’t so sure about the young MacKenzie, but her initial impression was way off.
“He never flinched,” she said.
In the 20-plus years since, she said, MacKenzie has worked on myriad pro bono cases, both large and small. He has treated them the same. Always calm. Always prepared. And always with a sense of purpose.
Drysdale said those traits were garnered from Beckham and other mentors.
And while Drysdale said she was nervous Wednesday, Mac-Kenzie was, too.
No matter how prepared he is for a speech or a hearing, he has the same reaction just before it starts. MacKenzie sweats — he jokes it was the same “even when I was really skinny.”
“When I settle down, focus on what I am doing and start, I am fine,” he said.
MacKenzie said he doesn’t like being in the spotlight, but used the opportunity Wednesday to thank his family, Beckham, Holland & Knight and a plethora of others before diving into the importance of “equal justice for all.”
It’s good for business and the economy, he said, but most importantly society — which should do more.
He sees the upcoming pension reform sales tax referendum as a perfect opportunity. Should the extension of a half-cent tax pass, he believes freed-up funds should be spent on human services.
“It’s time for us to stand up and realize the spotlight is on us,” he said Friday.
MacKenzie has done that during his career, much like Beckham did.
Former Florida Gov. Bob Graham saw it. He was keynote speaker at the awards dinner and paid MacKenzie quite the compliment by channeling his inner Lloyd Bentsen.
Graham knew Bob Beckham. Worked with Bob Beckham. And Dominic MacKenzie is Bob Beckham.
“It’s the highest compliment anybody could ever give me,” said MacKenzie.
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