Reyes Morales and Chris Ulm Honored for Service to the Community

CANTON — A co-owner of a popular Canton restaurant and an investigator in Cherokee County’s solicitor-general office have been recognized by the local bar association for their work in the community.

Canton Williamson Bros. Bar-B-Q Co-owner Reyes Morales was presented with the Liberty Bell Award by the Blue Ridge Circuit Bar Association April 30.

The award presentation was part of a Law Day event hosted by the bar association and the Rotary Club of Canton at the Cherokee County Conference Center in Canton. Cherokee County is the only county in the Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit.

Morales was born and raised in Mexico, moving to the U.S. in 1996. He has lived in Cherokee County for the last 23 years.

After moving to the U.S. to help provide for his family, Morales worked as a dishwasher at the original Williamson Bros. Bar-B-Q location in Marietta, where also began studying English. He worked his way up through the ranks and, in 2001, became a co-owner of the Williamson Bros. location in Canton.

Over the course of the last two decades, he has continued to help the community through his business and resources, and has also been recognized as an honorary deputy with the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office.

Superior Court Judge Tony Baker said Morales is “the epitome of the American dream.”

“The Liberty Bell Award is given to a citizen who is a non-lawyer that has given back to the community and has given his or her time to strengthen and make the effectiveness of the American system of freedom better under our Constitution,” Baker said. “He came here and worked hard, doing everything you are supposed to do and earned his citizenship. If you need anything done, and I mean anything, call Reyes. ‘No’ is not in his vocabulary. He always asks, ‘What can I do?’ and ‘What do you need?’”

The award comes after Morales was named the First Citizen of Cherokee County by the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce in January.

Another award, the Robert S. “Bob” Stubbs II Distinguished Service Award, was given to Chris Ulm, the chief investigator for the Cherokee County Office of the Solicitor-General.

Chief Assistant Solicitor-General David McElyea presented the award to Ulm.

“This award recognizes non-lawyers that have made a significant contribution to the legal community of Cherokee County,” McElyea said of Ulm. “This is a long overdue recognition for Chris Ulm, who performs his job with a subtle kindness and professionalism that is unsurpassed. He has been a workhorse and is a jack of all trades.”

In addition to the award presentations, Georgia Supreme Court Justice John Ellington spoke during the event about the state’s highest court and the Blue Ridge Circuit Bar Association.

“The quality of work and the work product that I see come out of this circuit is as good as any in the state of Georgia, and that makes me proud,” he said. “What we do is not always fun, sexy or glamourous — what we do is hard work. It’s a sacrifice on your time, energy and family. So, I want to thank all of you today for what you do. To the award recipients, I want to thank you as well for what you do.”

Law Day, Ellington said, is celebrated May 1 as a way to reflect on the role of law in the foundation of the country and to recognize its importance in society.

“Law Day was first started in 1958 by President Eisenhower as a national dedication to the principals of government under law,” Ellington said. “Every year, the American Bar Association has a Law Day theme. This year, the theme is ‘Voices of Democracy’ and encourages citizens to participate in 2024 elections by deepening their understanding of the electoral process, discussing issues in honest and civil ways, turning out to vote, and moving the country forward after free and fair elections.”