Stephen L. Lovekin
1940 – 2009

Stephen L. Lovekin was born in Pennsylvania. He graduated from George School and then served in the United States Army with the White House staff under Presidents Dwight Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy. He completed his undergraduate degree at Catawba College in Salisbury, North Carolina and earned his law degree from Wake Forest University in 1967.

While in the Army under Presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy, he was in counter intelligence and later served in the reserves as an Army lawyer.

Mr. Lovekin primarily focused on personal injury matters, including automobile accidents, wrongful death cases, motorcycle accidents, slip and fall matters, and brain injury cases. He was a member of the North Carolina and Catawba County Bar Associations and the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers. He appeared in North Carolina State cases, including Magistrates Court, District Court, Superior Court, the North Carolina Court of Appeals, and the North Carolina Supreme Court. He appeared in workers’ compensation cases before Deputy Commissioners, the Full Commission in Raleigh and the North Carolina Court of Appeals. He appeared in federal cases, including the Western District of the United States District Court and the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Mr. Lovekin died in November, 2009. He is survived by his wife, Judith K. Lovekin, daughter Beth Ann Peeler, and son Stephen L. Lovekin, Jr.

Gary F. Young

Gary F. Young received his B.A. from Northwestern University in 1976 with Departmental Honor in Economics. He received his law degree at Chapel Hill. While at UNC, he was on the Holderness Moot Court Board, taught legal research, and was on the UNC Mock Trial team. He won the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers award as a third year law student.

Upon graduation and passing the bar exam in 1979, he came to Hickory, joining the law firm of Patrick, Harper & Dixon, where he handled litigation in commercial, insurance, auto accidents, workers’ compensation, slip and fall, employment, and social security matters.

After 24 years with that firm, he formed a partnership with his friend and colleague, Stephen L. Lovekin. He now no longer represents insurance companies, but handles claims and lawsuits for people who have been injured in auto accidents or on the job. He also handles family law and domestic matters including separation agreements, divorce, alimony and support, child custody, child support, and equitable distribution.

Mr. Young is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association and the Catawba County Bar Association, where he has served as Secretary, Vice President and President. He is a member of the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers and has served on the Family Law board of that organization. He has appeared in North Carolina State cases, including Magistrates Court, District Court, Superior Court, the North Carolina Court of Appeals and the North Carolina Supreme Court. He has appeared in workers’ compensation cases before Deputy Commissioners, the Full Commission in Raleigh and the North Carolina Court of Appeals. He has appeared in federal cases, including the Western District of the United States District Court and the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.