Chain | Cohn | Clark founder Morris Chain honored with ‘100 Stars Award’

Bakersfield College hosted its 100th commencement on Friday, and Chain | Cohn | Clark congratulates all of the graduates who took part in this special ceremony. The Bakersfield junior college is especially significant for our law firm, as our founder — Morris Chain — and managing partner David K. Cohn are graduates of the college.

As part of its centennial celebration, acknowledging the college’s accomplishments and impact in our community, college officials recognized 100 alumni, retirees and community members who had a great impact on Bakersfield College.

Each recipient of the 100 Stars Award received a medal from BC President Sonya Christian, and their biographies and pictures are placed in the trophy cabinet in the campus library, and also featured on the BC website.

Chain | Cohn | Clark is proud to have Morris Chain featured as one of the 100 Stars. Chain died in 1977, and he has no immediate family in Bakersfield. Cohn accepted the award on his family’s behalf during the Bakersfield College student scholarship awards Honor Reception on May 9 in the Gil Bishop Gymnasium. Here is Morris Chain biography that was read during the awards ceremony.

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It’s safe to say that without Morris B. Chain, one of the most prominent lawyers in Kern County history, there would be no Bakersfield College Renegades.

That’s because Chain, who played BC football for three years, dubbed the team as the “Renegades” in the 1920s.

Chain, who attended elementary and secondary schools in Bakersfield, also graduated from BC. He studied law at University of Southern California and eventually returned to Bakersfield, where he founded his own law firm in 1934.

He quickly rose to prominence throughout our community and in local courts, building his reputation as a champion of the underdog and laying the foundation for what has become San Joaquin Valley’s leading law firm. Awarded the coveted Bar and Bench Award by the Kern County Bar Association in 1976, local dignitaries described Chain as “one of the most remarkable men in the history of the community, and certainly in the history of the legal community of Kern County.”

Chain died in 1977. Today, Chain | Cohn | Clark – celebrating its 80-year anniversary this year – carries on Morris Chain’s tradition of justice and community service.

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Chain joined 99 other BC standouts who have made tremendous impacts in our community, and throughout the country. They include Congressman Kevin McCarthy, baseball player George Culver and Mayor Harvey Hall, among many others.