Frank Speziale photo

NORWICH – Chenango County Bar Association’s Annual Law Day Celebration will take place on Friday, May 18 at 1 p.m. in the Chenango County Courthouse. The celebration is free and the public is encouraged to attend.

For the first time at the celebration, the Liberty Bell Award will be given posthumously to 2018 recipient Harold W. Funke. Funke served in the Korean War as a United States Marine before his 21-years as a New York State Trooper. He was a member of the state scuba diving team, a former Norwich High School attendance officer, and was heavily involved in the Norwich VFW Post 2782 and South New Berlin American Legion Post 1289.

Chenango County Court Judge Frank Revoir said of the award, “Basically we give the award to someone who, through their example – it could be through their personal life, their career, or both – promotes respect for the law, the constitution, and respect for civil rights.”

Funke was a member of the South New Berlin Fire Department, a Chenango County Court attendant, a Norwich YMCA lifeguard, a water aerobics instructor, a referee for high school football, a volunteer driver for DAV, a chimney inspector, and 55-year member of the South New Berlin First Baptist Church. He was married to his wife, Betty, for 63 years and the two have five children 15 grandchildren, and 17 great-great grandchildren.

Betty Funke will be accepting the award on Harold’s behalf at the Law Day Celebration, and one of Harold’s sons, Kurt, will be delivering remarks at the ceremony. Ronald J. Palmer, a best friend of Funke’s, will also be speaking about Funke at the event.

The recipient is chosen by a committee, Revoir said, and past recipients include former Norwich Police Chief Joe Angelino, former Norwich schools principal Gary Brookins, former Chenango County Treasurer Bill Evans, and others. Retired Chenango County Court Judge W. Howard Sullivan will speak about the history of the Liberty Bell Award at Law Day.