ALEXANDRIA – Charles S. Weems III’s considerable contributions to the law and the community earned him recognition as a Louisiana Legend at the Louisiana Legends Award Gala and Auctions held earlier this month by the Friends of Louisiana Public Broadcasting (LPB) in Baton Rouge.
The Louisiana Legends program “honors the best and brightest of Louisiana’s sons and daughters who have distinguished themselves in a variety of disciplines and have brought honor to the state,” according to the Friends of Louisiana Public Broadcasting’s website.
“Unlike other recognitions I had received, all of which were and are sincerely appreciated, this was a broader validation of a lifetime of work that crossed and melded different areas of focus -- community, civic, legal and higher education,” Weems told the Louisiana Record. “No one on the list of past Legends looked like me -- all were famous athletes, well-known politicians or philanthropists, so I was especially gratified and humbled.”
Charles S. Weems III
Weems is the senior member and president of Alexandria firm Gold, Weems, Bruser, Sues & Rundell, which specializes in business and estate law. Through his practice, Weems acts as counsel to individuals, families, businesses and business owners, boards, and non-profit institutions.
Weems’ Louisiana Legend honor is the latest in a long line of professional awards. He was also previously named the corporate Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers in America. In addition, Weems was recognized by Louisiana Super Lawyers in America, was named Distinguished Attorney of 2009 by the Louisiana Bar Foundation and received the LSBA Distinguished Service Award in 1998, the Curtis R. Boisfontaine Award for Excellence in Trial Advocacy in 1999, the LSU Law Center Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Award in 2002, and the LSUA Distinguished Service Award in 2013.
Weems was named to the LSU Law Center Hall of Fame in 1987. He has also served in various officer and board roles within the Louisiana State Bar Association. He was elected president of the Louisiana State Bar Association in 1996 and instituted the innovative Citizen’s Summit for Justice Reform, which translated public input on civil trials into legislative action.
Weems is also the chair emeritus of the Louisiana State Law Institute, which is the official law reform division created by the Louisiana legislature.
“The work I'd done was always its own reward, and I never expected any particular recognition, but it was an unbelievable feeling to know that someone -- LPB, no less -- had noticed it all and thought it worthwhile,” Weems said.
In addition to his professional accomplishments, Weems is a past president of the Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce, and the founder and initial chairman of the Central Louisiana Diversity Alliance. He is a past chairman and board member of numerous other charitable and civic organizations, including the board of trustees of the First United Methodist Church and the boards of directors of the Alexandria Rotary Club, the Kent Plantation House Inc., Rapides United Way, the Central Louisiana Community Theater, Louisiana Appleseed and the Tiger Athletic Foundation.
“I have been so blessed in my life and my career to have worked with people in every arena who helped me grow, learn and achieve,” Weems said. “All are stars in their respective areas, all were men and women with whom I shared a dream and a vision of helping or making someone or something be better. I just wish that in every area I could have accomplished more. And maybe I can, because I'm not done yet.”
Weems graduated Order of the Coif from the LSU Law Center, where he was editor in chief of the Louisiana Law Review. He continues to serve the LSU Law Center as a member of its board of trustees.
Weems lives and continues to practice law in Alexandria.