Roberts & Stevens attorney Wyatt S. Stevens recognized posthumously with John B. McMillan Distinguished Service Award
Roberts & Stevens is honored to share that the late Wyatt S. Stevens, litigation partner with the firm for almost 30 years, was posthumously awarded the John B. McMillan Distinguished Service Award from the North Carolina State Bar on Feb. 21.
Wyatt’s family accepted the award on his behalf, which recognized his exemplary service to the legal profession, community and state. Recipients of the award must demonstrate a record of service and commitment to the aspirational goals of the practice of law. The award also recognized Wyatt’s tireless work, advocacy and support for nonprofits in Western North Carolina, as well as his support of the environment through area conservation groups — illustrating his passion and devotion to the broader community.
“Wyatt loved the practice of law, because at their core, lawyers help people, and Wyatt loved helping people,” said Dennis L. Martin, Jr., partner at Roberts & Stevens. “Even after his cancer diagnosis in August 2022, he continued to practice law. During the year and a half prior to his death, his clients continued to reach out to him for help, and he continued to selflessly provide guidance until he simply could not do it anymore. He embodied what every lawyer should strive to be.”
Wyatt supported and worked with many area nonprofits, such as the North Carolina Nature Conservancy, Friends of the Smokies and Mountain Housing Opportunities. His leadership in these organizations created lasting impacts — including, for example, his work with Mountain Housing Opportunities, where his pro bono legal services helped improve housing for low-income families in Western North Carolina.
Since its inception in 2007, over 80 lawyers have received the John B. McMillan Distinguished Service Award. Nominees for this award: cultivate knowledge of the law beyond its use for clients and employ that knowledge in reform of the law; further the public’s understanding of and confidence in the rule of law and the justice system; devote professional time and resources to ensure equitable access to our system of justice; aid the legal profession by helping the bar regulate itself in the public interest; provide professional services at no fee or a reduced fee to persons of limited means or to public service or charitable organizations; treat opposing counsel with courtesy and respect; encourage and counsel peers by providing advice and mentorship; and promote diversity within the legal profession.
Wyatt was a past recipient of the Professionalism Award from the Buncombe County Bar Association and was also posthumously awarded the 2024 Excellence in Public Service Award from the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce. Wyatt represented a wide range of clients, including individuals and large corporations, and was known for handling complex cases in outdoor recreational sports, professional services, trucking, manufacturing and tourism. He will be remembered throughout the state for his legal ability, his professionalism and his legacy of service.
