Longstanding Bowles Rice attorney Greg Bailey was honored posthumously by the West Virginia Association of School Human Resources Officials (WVASHRO)  at the organization's fall conference, with an award named in Bailey's memory. The Gregory Bailey School Human Resources Official of the Year Award's inaugural recipient was Dr. Justin Schooley, associate superintendent of human resources for Berkeley County Schools.

"We are pleased and proud that Dr. Justin Schooley was selected to be the recipient of [this award]," said Jerry Lake, president of WVASHRO. "Dr. Schooley is the epitome of the consummate Human Resources Officer. His tireless efforts in our organization and his active engagement at the national level make him the perfect choice for this prestigious award."

Lake, who worked with the award's namesake for more than a decade, said he was also pleased that WVASHRO is presenting the award in Bailey's memory.

"I can tell you he was not only an outstanding attorney, but an outstanding person who dedicated himself to the complex problems of our occupation," Lake said. "I, along with many others, was proud to call Greg my friend. I believe he would be well-pleased and proud that we have selected Justin to honor his legacy."

Schooley began his career with Berkeley County Schools in 2001 as the drug-free schools coordinator and safety-compliance officer. He has worked in human resources for the past 13 years and is the president-elect of the American Association of School Personnel Administrators. As the recipient of this award, Schooley now qualifies as a nominee for the American Association of School Personnel Administrator's "Herb Salinger Personnel Administrator of the Year Award."

The Gregory Bailey School Human Resources Official of the Year Award will be given annually to an individual in a personnel position who has distinguished him/herself in several areas:

• Personnel administration at the local and/or state level;
• Involvement and participation in local, state, national and/or international personnel functions and/or programs;
• Impactful contribution on public education at the local, state, national and/or international level;
• Skilled management of change and creative approach to personnel administration;
• Thoughtful approach to personnel administrative work, including a sense of humor and a sense of respect for his/her fellow man.

Bailey, who died unexpectedly in January 2015, was a member of Bowles Rice's Education Law Group and represented school systems throughout West Virginia. In 2014, he was named "Lawyer of the Year" in Education Law in the Northern West Virginia region by Best Lawyers in America®.

Prior to joining Bowles Rice, he served as the first in-house counsel for Kanawha County Schools and was instrumental in the establishment of Riverside High School.

"To Greg, the practice of school law was all about people," said Howard Seufer, the leader of Bowles Rice's Education Law Group, who was on hand during the presentation of the award to Schooley. "He treasured his relationships with the personnel directors and others who are responsible for the human resources function in school districts. He genuinely liked personnel officials, became a close friend and confidante of many of them, and enjoyed nothing more than helping them succeed in what we all know is perhaps the most vital and challenging functions of the central office."

Bowles Rice is sponsoring the award. The law firm's Managing Partner, Tom Heywood, said, "This award is a wonderful tribute to Greg Bailey and we are honored that WVASHRO chose to honor his legacy in this way."