Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award
2009
Bio:
Charles Rutherford ’53, ’57, Of Counsel with Dykema Gossett PLLC, is the recipient of the University of Detroit Mercy’s Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award. He is recognized for his professional achievement and experience in all phases of intellectual property law practice, including data security and E-commerce. For more than 40 years, he has utilized his expertise in preparing, filing and prosecuting U.S. and foreign patents related to the mechanical, hydraulic, basic electrical, medical and general engineering fields. He has also prepared trademark and copyright applications, and handled litigation regarding patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets. He provides counsel on effective ways to protect and exploit intellectual property assets as well as negotiates licenses and agreements. He is highly regarded as an arbitrator and mediator in intellectual property, contracts and commercial disputes.
Rutherford received his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in 1953 from University of Detroit and is licensed as a Professional Engineer in Michigan. He earned his J.D. from University of Detroit School of Law in 1957, and throughout his career has been an active member of numerous engineering and law professional associations. He also has 32 years of active and reserve military service, retiring in 1984 as a Colonel in the U.S. Air Force, Judge Advocate Department Reserves.
His extraordinary contributions to the legal profession have been recognized by the Catholic Lawyers Society with the Monsignor Charles J. Malloy Award, and the UDM School of Law as an honorary member of the Frank Murphy Honor Society. His contributions were also recognized in 2004 by the Senior Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan, which established the Charles R. Rutherford Senior Lawyers Leadership Award for leadership within the profession and extensive devotion of time, service and effort to the State Bar.
Rutherford has received alumni awards from the UDM School of Law, the U of D Alumni Association, and the Toledo Waite High School Alumni Association.
He has also been active in his community, serving as an officer and board member of the Legal Aid and Defender Association, Metropolitan Youth Symphony, Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society, Detroit Rotary Club, and the Grosse Pointe Symphony Association.
Volunteering his time to others is a way of life for Rutherford. “It’s the way we were raised,” he says. “The idea was always to serve—God, country, community and profession. Besides, it’s fun.”
Award presented at The Ignatian Circle Dinner, September 25, 2009.