Erny Sellers, Live Oak's city attorney, was recently honored to receive the Tradition of Excellence Award by the 2,600 member General Practice Solo and Small Firm Section of the Florida Bar.

The award is given once annually to a lawyer or jurist. The recipient must have made contributions to enhance the standing of the general practice lawyers in Florida.

"I was honored to receive it, particularly so after I saw who else received it before me," said Sellers.

Former recipients include former Florida Supreme Court Chief Justices Major Harding, Ben Overton and Ray Ehrlich as well as former state Attorneys General Bob Butterworth and Jim Smith. Smith, also former secretary of state, was the 2008 recipient. Past Florida Bar Presidents Patricia Seitz and Ben H. Hill III are on the list as well.

Sellers has practiced law since 1962, the same year he graduated from the University of Florida's College of Law and was admitted to the Florida Bar.

"Since 1962 I have engaged in a civil general practice representing clients in the United States district courts of seven states, the state courts of five states and in the circuit courts of 30 of Florida's 67 counties," Sellers said by email. "I have given lectures at Florida Bar continuing legal education courses in Pensacola, Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Orlando and Naples. For the last seven years, I have annually given a two-hour lecture on the subject of seed litigation at the UF College of Law. In addition, I have given a number of lectures on Agricultural Products Liability Law at the UF College of Agriculture."

Sellers served in numerous local and state posts which include: president of the Third Circuit Bar Association, president of Suwannee County Chamber of Commerce, chairman of the Board of Directors for Suwannee County Hospital, 24 years as director of the Advent Christian Village and chairman of the board for 1973-74, director and treasurer of the Suwannee County Fair Association and trustee at First Baptist Church. He presently serves on the Share Council of the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Services, the UF College of Law Alumni Council and the Suwannee County Development Authority.

Sellers said he does not know who nominated him for the award. Each spring, nominations are solicited in The Florida Bar News. A nomination letter explaining why the nominee deserves the Tradition of Excellence Award is sent to the section administrator of the General Practice Solo and Small Firm Section of the Florida Bar. The executive committee of the section reviews the submissions and selects the recipient.

Sellers and wife Norma have three children. Erny Sellers Jr. practices law in Gainesville. Daughter Mary Katherine Bradley lives in Washington, D.C. with husband Lt. Col. Jonathon Bradley and their twin sons. Mary Katherine Bradley has a degree in accounting and is employed as an auditor at the Federal Elections Commission. Son Royce Sellers has a degree in computer science and is employed at a major hospital in Charlotte, N.C. in the field of information technology.