Randall D. “Randy” Quintrell, a 1985 University of Georgia School of Law graduate, has been memorialized by more than 100 donors with a scholarship bearing his name. Quintrell – whose law school experience included moot court, the Environmental Law Association, Order of the Coif and graduating magna cum laude – passed away in July 2020 from cancer at the age of 65. An accomplished environmental lawyer who practiced more than 30 years at Eversheds Sutherland (formerly Sutherland Asbill & Brennan), he is survived by his wife, Nancy, his son, two daughters and three grandchildren.
“Randy attended law school on a memorial scholarship, so it is a fitting tribute that others will benefit from a similar scholarship created in his memory,” Nancy, his wife, said. “My children and I are overwhelmed by his friends' and former colleagues' generosity and our hearts are comforted knowing that his legacy of integrity, humility, and discernment will continue.”
Nancy added that she and Randy had been married less than a year when he started law school. “My teaching salary barely paid the bills, so his scholarship funds were greatly appreciated. Though we counted every penny, those three years were very happy ones. Randy enjoyed being challenged intellectually, and we developed many friendships and memories. Knowing that Randy's memorial scholarship will help assuage the financial strains of future outstanding law students so that they can focus on their studies and perhaps have time to enjoy the fellowship of classmates makes me smile,” she said.
The scholarship will support law students demonstrating a commitment to environmental law with preference given to those who share Quintrell’s admirable traits of humility, intelligence, politeness, professionalism and a tireless work ethic to find equitable solutions to difficult and complex issues.
Saying that Quintrell was “one of a kind and deserved to be remembered and his character traits emulated,” Denny M. Dobbs, a former Georgia House Representative, helped establish the scholarship in his memory. “When we lost Randy so early it was as if I had lost my baby brother. Randy and his family were my close friends since our teen years. As we developed our careers (his environmental law and mine environmental engineering), we had the opportunity to work together on many environmental cases, problems and projects. Everyone who hired Randy or came into contact with him was impressed … . He was that rare person who was remembered fondly by clients and opposing parties alike. He was never too busy to help a person needing help and often did it with no expectation of payment!”
School of Law Dean Peter B. "Bo" Rutledge said, "It is always hard to lose a member of the School of Law community, but I am heartened by the outpouring of support for this effort to provide a lasting tribute to Randy. I look forward to meeting future Quintrell Scholars who will become leaders for state and society and add to Randy’s legacy."