L. P. "Tony" Hornthal, Jr.
1936-2025
We extend our deepest condolences to the family and colleagues of L.P. "Tony" Hornthal, Jr., who passed away on Friday, February 7th, in Elizabeth City. Mr. Hornthal was a distinguished trial lawyer whose career spanned several decades practicing at Hornthal, Riley, Ellis & Maland, LLP in Elizabeth City until his retirement in 2019.
Tony was not only a respected figure in the legal field but also a founding member and former president (1984-1985) of the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys (NCADA). His professional leadership included service as a president of the North Carolina Bar Association, his role on the Board of Directors for the Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company, and as a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers. His outstanding contributions to the legal profession were acknowledged through several prestigious awards, including the NCADA’s J. Robert Elster Award for Professional Excellence, the NCSB John B. McMillan Distinguished Service Award, and the establishment of an NCBA Justice Fund in his name. A graduate of the University of North Carolina and its School of Law, Tony's legacy in legal profession is profound and enduring.
John Willardson, a fellow NCADA member and past president from Wilkesboro, remarked, "Tony meant so much to the NCADA, to the NCBA, and to our legal profession. He was a gentleman, a great lawyer, and an even better person. Tony was the embodiment of what every lawyer should aspire to be. He will be missed but will live on in our memories and in our hearts."
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, February 11th, at Christ Episcopal Church in Elizabeth City. For further details, please refer to the full obituary.
Related: Firmly Connected Thru Family
