April 29, 2004
TALLAHASSEE -- J. Blair Culpepper, of Winter Park, has been selected the newest public member of The Florida Bar Board of Governors. A Florida native with more than 40 years of business and civic experience, Culpepper was chosen to serve as a one of two non-lawyer members on the Bar’s board by the Supreme Court of Florida.
“I have been interested in the law all of my business career and have had the opportunity to work closely with attorneys every step of the way,” Culpepper, 66, said of his decision to seek the public member seat. “I will be honored to serve as a public member on the Board of Governors.”
Born in Gainesville, Culpepper grew up in Tallahassee and attended Leon High School. He graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in 1959. He then served two years as an Army officer and returned to the University of Florida for a master’s in business administration in 1963. He went on to complete advanced business courses at Harvard School of Business, Louisiana State University and University of Southern California.
In addition to his banking career, his professional experience includes being a law firm administrator and owner of a title insurance company. He is currently a senior vice president of First National Bank of Central Florida, Winter Park, where he is a senior lender and is in charge of business development. In addition, he helps to coordinate a subsidiaryjoint venture insurance company.
Culpepper is a member of The Florida Bar’s Ninth Circuit Unlicensed Practice of Law Committee, and was appointed to The Florida Bar Citizens Forum in 2003.
As a board member he will serve a two-year term beginning June 25. Public members may serve two consecutive terms if appointed by the Supreme Court. The other public member currently serving on The Florida Bar's Board of Governors is Solomon L. Badger, III, Ed.D., of Jacksonville. Culpepper replaces Vivian L. Hobbs, Ph.D., Tallahassee, whose second two-year term expires June 2004.
For a photo of Culpepper, please follow the links:
color photo:
click here
black and white photo;
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CONTACT: Francine Andía Walker, The Florida Bar
DATE: April 29, 2004
TELEPHONE: 850/561-5666
