University Distinguished Professor of Law, 2024
Recipient of the Blake Cady Award for Leadership in Tobacco Control
Tobacco Free Mass presented its 2024 Blake Cady Award for Leadership in Tobacco Control to Richard A. Daynard, JD, PhD at the Annual Tobacco Free Mass meeting in December. Dorothy Ross Cady presented the 2024 Blake Cady Award and spoke about her late husband Blake; his ability to dream, his sense of humor, being a person of action, his tireless dedication and his love of nature. Traits she said that Blake saw in Dick. She also remarked, "That's because you too rise to the level of tireless dedication that only great leaders have," in referring to Dick. Then thanked him for making his accomplishments in tobacco control a reality and not just a dream.
Dick accepted the award and spoke about how tobacco control began in Blake's living room back in 1983. At that time, they were pushing "crazy" ideas by going town to town, trying to get no-smoking sections in restaurants. If you were involved in tobacco control 40 years ago it was a very different world. It was believed that this was something that couldn't be done, until it was done. Dick wrapped up his comments by stating, "It moves me greatly that I was a hero to Blake because he was certainly a hero to me."
"Dick represents the best in the fight against the Tobacco Industry. A David vs Goliath fight and Dick won it with the 1998 Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement. While a crowning jewel that isn't all: He emphasized the importance of reducing tobacco advertising as a key tool for effective tobacco control. He examined the impact of tobacco use on health disparities. His efforts focused on the regulation of menthol cigarettes and his work contributed to establishing the legal liability of the tobacco industry for tobacco induced death, diseases and disability - the health consequences linked to tobacco use." - Ray Considine
