Stephen A. Cozen, founder and chairman of one of Philadelphia’s top law firms, Cozen & O’Connor, was a recent recipient of this year’s Distinguished Citizen Award from the Cradle of Liberty Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Awards are given to those who “exemplify in their daily lives the ideals of the Boy Scouts of America as expressed in the Scout Oath and Law.” Recipients are “chosen for their outstanding community service as evidenced by the interest and leadership given to many worthwhile organizations, as well as the respect and esteem in which they are held by their colleagues.”

Past honorees include such notable businessmen as George A. Butler, Chairman & CEO of First Pennsylvania Bank, Joseph F. Paquette, Jr., Chairman & CEO of the Philadelphia Electric Company and Thomas F. Donovan, CEO of Mellon Bank.

In elaborating on the qualities that led Cozen to receive the Distinguished Citizen Award, the Boy Scouts of America noted: “As founder of the Samuel D. Cozen Memorial Fund, named in honor of his father, a beloved teacher, coach and mentor to hundreds of children, Steve has spearheaded a long series of generous grants and contributions to youth groups. In 1995, he established the Samuel D. Cozen Police Athletic League Center at 17th and Brown Streets. On opening day, over 1,100 neighborhood children joined the Center. Cozen PAL has almost 2,000 children enrolled today. In addition to modern athletic facilities, Cozen PAL provides a wide variety of enrichment programs to the community including tutoring, mentoring and a Boy Scout troop.”

As for collegial respect, the BSA noted that Cozen is “an accomplished litigator and counselor,” and “a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, a designation held by only the most respected and experienced court room practitioners. He is also well recognized as an appellate advocate and is frequently called upon for specialized appellate advice, counsel and oral advocacy before both state and federal appellate courts. Steve is also a nationally recognized lecturer and author on a wide variety of legal and litigation issues. Judicial opinions frequently cite his articles and texts as authoritative references.”

Cozen was also lauded for growing his law firm from four attorneys in 1970 to nearly 300 attorneys in twelve offices nationwide -- with a thirteenth office planned for London. The firm’s areas of practice concentration have also grown. Originally confined to insurance-related litigation, Cozen & O’Connor is now a full service firm, serving clients in the areas of business and corporate matters, securities, real estate, tax, public finance, health law, labor and employment matters, and trusts and estates.

The Distinguished Citizen Award Dinner, at which Cozen and past honorees have received their awards, provides an ongoing means of raising the funds necessary to support the efforts of the Cradle of Liberty Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

Cozen received his undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1961 and his law degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Law in 1964. He is a resident of Villanova, Pennsylvania.