FTRF Announces 2024 Roll of Honor Recipients

Freedom to Read Foundation Announces 2024 Roll of Honor Recipients

For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL
June 3, 2024

Today, the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) announced that Thomas F. Allen Jr., Ryan W. Goellner, Kevin Shook, and Ben A. West, attorneys with the law firm Frost Brown Todd LLP, are receiving the foundation’s 2024 Roll of Honor Award for their pro bono contributions to FTRF’s litigation efforts defending library users’ First Amendment rights and the freedom to read.   

Allen, Goellner, Shook, and West collaborated with FTRF’s General Counsel and staff in writing substantive amicus curiae briefs in Little v. Llano County and Book People, Inc. v. Wong, two important cases pending before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. They are each recognized for their contribution to the many hours of dedicated work they put into writing and researching these briefs and their commitment to supporting the freedom to read and First Amendment rights. The Freedom to Read Foundation also recognizes Frost Brown Todd LLP for supporting the work of the four attorneys. 

FTRF General Counsel Theresa Chmara praised the work done by the four Frost Brown Todd attorneys, stating that their dedication, commitment, and insights into the issues were valuable to both the briefs and the foundation’s ongoing efforts to battle censorship in  courts throughout the country. 

• Thomas Allen is an accomplished appellate attorney and a partner in the Dallas office of Frost Brown Todd LLP. He has presented oral arguments in various appellate courts, including the Texas Supreme Court and the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Second, Third, Fifth, and Ninth Circuits. With more than 20 years of experience, Allen is known for litigating high-profile appeals and obtaining groundbreaking results. Allen is also passionate about serving his community and engaging in pro bono work, including his recent advocacy on behalf of the Freedom to Read Foundation: “Freedom can’t exist without the freedom to read—broadly and according to each person’s own choices. It was therefore an honor to work with the Freedom to Read Foundation on these important matters,” said Allen.
• Ryan Goellner focuses on general corporate litigation, media law, business tort and contract actions, and appeals, where he has achieved significant outcomes for clients before Ohio, West Virginia, and Michigan appellate courts, as well as various federal circuit courts of appeal. Goellner’s media law practice has involved the successful defense of multimillion-dollar defamation claims against several media conglomerates. He is privileged to stand with clients advancing the free exchange of ideas.
• Kevin Shook advises clients in media, First Amendment, and intellectual property matters. He is the chair of Frost Brown Todd’s Media and First Amendment service team and has extensive experience representing national media clients in high-profile cases, often brought by celebrities or political figures. "My passion for the First Amendment inspired me to work on these cases. I strongly believe that children should have access to diverse perspectives and that books in our libraries should not be subject to a majority vote,” said Shook.
• Benjamin (Ben) West has represented small mom-and-pop companies, international airlines, national shipping companies, and everything in between, with experience advising on litigation and appeals involving aviation, transportation, class-action defense, and complex commercial disputes.West is grateful for the opportunity to advocate for the rights of readers and these important issues.

The Freedom to Read Foundation will honor the four attorneys on Friday, June 28 during the Opening General Session of the American Library Association’s Annual Conference and at the evening’s Rally for the Right to Read.  

The Freedom to Read Foundation established the Roll of Honor in 1987 to recognize a person or group of people who have contributed to the Foundation through adherence to its principles or who have provided substantial monetary support for the work of the organization. 

The Freedom to Read Foundation is a non-profit organization established to promote and defend First Amendment rights, foster libraries as institutions that fulfill the promise of the First Amendment, support the right of libraries to include in their collections and make available to the public any work they may legally acquire, and establish legal precedent for the freedom to read of all citizens. For over 50 years FTRF staff, volunteers, members, and supporters have achieved this work through First Amendment litigation, education, and advocacy. For information on other FTRF news and initiatives, visit FTRF.org or email ftrf@ftrf.org.