Introduction

The Kentucky Workers’ Compensation Hall of Fame was established to honor those who have made significant contributions to Kentucky’s Workers’ Compensation system during their distinguished careers.

The 2025 Inductees to the Hall of Fame are:
Rosalie Faris, Michal Fleet Johnson, Robert Swisher, Douglas A. U’Sellis, Tim Wilson

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KENTUCKY WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
HALL OF FAME

April 2, 2026

Dinner And Recognition of the Class of 2026
Honoring Those Who Have Made a Difference

 

5:30 - Reception

6:30 - Welcome: Timothy J. Wilson 2025 Hall of Fame

Invocation: Larry Clevinger, 2019 Hall of Fame

Dinner and Fellowship

Remarks:
Scott Wilhoit, Commissioner DWC
The Hon. Shea Nickell, Kentucky Supreme Court Justice

Recognition of 2026 Inductees:
Michael Alvey and
Robert Swisher, 2025 Hall of Fame

Closing Remarks: Stephanie Wolfinbarger

 

Special Thanks to Our Sponsors

Doug U’Sellis on behalf of U’Sellis Mayer and Associates

Hoskins Law Offices, PLLC

KEMI

McKinnley Morgan of Morgan, Collins, Yeast, and Salyer

Wilson & McQueen

 

All net proceeds generated from the Hall of Fame Dinner will be donated to Kid’s Chance of Kentucky and are fully tax deductible. Kid’s Chance of Kentucky was established by a dedicated group of workers’ compensation professionals and is committed to providing educational scholarships to the children of Kentucky workers who have lost their lives or sustained catastrophic injuries in work-related accidents. Your continued generosity in supporting this worthy cause is sincerely appreciated.

Class of 2027

Now accepting nominations at twilson@wmkylaw.com. Please e mail the name of the workers’ compensation professional you wish to have considered and a brief statement of the contributions they have made.  All recommendations will remain anonymous.

2026 Inductees

Ronald K. Bruce

Ronald K. Bruce received his undergraduate degree from Murray State University in 1970 and his J.D. from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 1974, fulfilling a long-held aspiration to become an attorney—one that began in the seventh grade. After graduation, he began practicing law with Leland Monhollon, the premier workers’ compensation attorney in Western Kentucky. He worked with Mr. Monhollon for several years before establishing his own solo practice in 1989, with offices in Madisonville and Greenville, Kentucky. Following in his footsteps, his daughter, Elizabeth Ashley Bruce, and granddaughter, Alexandria Panarelli, joined the practice after completing law school. Over the course of his 47-year career, Ron dedicated his work to representing injured workers in plaintiffs’ workers’ compensation claims, successfully advocating for hundreds of clients until his retirement in 2021. His professional excellence earned him numerous distinctions, including selection to Super Lawyers, recognition as a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Rated Attorney, and designation as a Silver Client Champion.

Dr. Gregory E. Gleis*

Dr. Gregory E. Gleis knew from as early as sixth grade that he wanted to become an orthopedic surgeon—perhaps inspired by his many encounters with orthopedic doctors during his years as a young football player at Saint Pius and Saint Xavier High Schools. He earned both his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Louisville (U of L), where he also completed his orthopedic residency. As a surgical chief resident, he received the program’s highest honors. Dr. Gleis began his career with the U of L Department of Orthopedic Surgery, where he taught residents, medical students, and physical therapy students. During this period, he also completed a fellowship in “Failed Back Syndrome” at the Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans. His interest increasingly turned toward non-operative interventions for spinal conditions. Recognized for his expertise in musculoskeletal injuries, Dr. Gleis was invited to serve on the Kentucky Governor’s Task Force, which was charged with revamping the state’s workers’ compensation system. His deep knowledge of the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (Fifth Edition) made him an invaluable contributor in developing clear, consistent guidelines for independent medical evaluations of injured workers in Kentucky. Over time, Dr. Gleis’s orthopedic practice evolved to focus primarily on independent medical examinations (IMEs) for individuals with musculoskeletal injuries.

 

Udell B. Levy*

Udell “Dell” B. Levy earned his B.A. in History from Washington University in St. Louis (1978) and his J.D. from the University of Louisville (1981).  He was  a highly experienced attorney and Administrative Law Judge with more than four decades in legal practice and public service. He served as an Administrative Law Judge for the Kentucky Department of Workers’ Claims (2014–2019) and for the Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals (2019–2024). Before his judicial appointments, he practiced law privately and with several firms, handling complex personal injury, workers’ compensation, and medical negligence cases in both state and federal courts. Levy’s legal career included developing and drafting legislation to reform Kentucky’s workers’ compensation laws, and he was extensively involved in litigation strategy, discovery, mediation, and trials. He also served as a Guardian Ad Litem, advocating for children in family court and mediating custody disputes. Earlier in his career, he worked as a Public Defender, representing thousands of criminal defendants, including capital cases. Dell was married for 38 years to Sheila Levy, his partner in fun, with whom he shared two sons, Tyler and Eli Levy (married to Bayly Martin Levy). He passed away on June 24, 2024, from advanced prostate cancer, shortly after celebrating his wedding anniversary in Crete.

W. Bruce Cowden, Jr.

William Bruce Cowden, Jr. devoted nearly twenty-four years to the advancement, integrity, and fair administration of Kentucky’s workers’ compensation system. An honors graduate of Williams College, Mr. Cowden was among the original Administrative Law Judges appointed under Kentucky’s landmark 1987 reforms. He later served with distinction as a long-tenured Member of the Workers’ Compensation Board. Throughout his judicial career, Mr. Cowden authored hundreds of opinions that helped shape modern case law. He was widely respected for his clarity of reasoning, meticulous attention to statutory detail, and unwavering commitment to fairness for workers, employers, and counsel alike. As a Board Member, he reviewed appeals from Administrative Law Judges, produced numerous published opinions, and contributed to the consistent, thoughtful evolution of Kentucky workers’ compensation jurisprudence. Before his work in workers’ compensation, Mr. Cowden built an impressive legal foundation. He served as a Staff Attorney for the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, as Legal Assistant to a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and as an Assistant Attorney General, representing the Commonwealth in dozens of criminal appeals before the Kentucky Supreme Court and Court of Appeals. A frequent speaker at statewide workers’ compensation seminars, Mr. Cowden was also a generous mentor to new judges and practitioners. His dedication, intellect, and integrity left an enduring mark on Kentucky’s legal community.

Bonnie Hoskins

Bonnie Hoskins graduated from UK in 1978 with Honors and High Distinction. She continued her studies at the Centre for Renaissance Studies in Oxford, England, before entering the University of Kentucky College of Law in 1979. While in law school, she represented UK as a member of the National Moot Court Team and earned her Juris Doctor degree in 1982. Since then, Ms. Hoskins has focused her practice on administrative law, specializing in workers’ compensation defense. She spent over a decade as a partner with Stoll, Keenon & Park, where she also served on the firm’s administrative committee. In 2001, she founded Hoskins Law Offices PLLC, where she continues to lead a dedicated team of attorneys and paraprofessionals. Ms. Hoskins serves as Vice President and a Board Member of the Kentucky Workers’ Compensation Educational Association. She is a former Chair of the Workers’ Compensation Committee of the Kentucky Bar Association and is a frequent speaker at both state and national Continuing Legal Education seminars. Dedicated to service beyond her legal career, Ms. Hoskins has volunteered since 1996 as a Chancellor for the United Methodist Church, most recently serving on the committee responsible for incorporating the Central Appalachian Missionary Conference. Outside of her professional and volunteer commitments, Ms. Hoskins enjoys traveling and cherishes time spent with her grandchildren.

Denise M. Davidson

Denise Moore Davidson, a 1977 graduate of Hazard High School, is a distinguished attorney and community leader from Hazard, Kentucky. A member of the Hazard High School Athletic Hall of Fame, she continued her education at Alice Lloyd College in Pippa Passes, where she played basketball and earned induction into the college’s Athletic Hall of Fame. Through the Caney Cottage Scholarship, she transferred to the University of Kentucky, graduating in 1981 with a degree in accounting, and later earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Louisville College of Law in 1984.

Davidson began her legal career with Barret, Haynes, May, Carter & Roark in Hazard, focusing primarily on workers’ compensation and federal black lung defense. She became a partner in 2004 when the firm became Barret, Haynes, May, Carter & Davidson. In 2006, she founded her own practice, Davidson & Associates, continuing in the same legal specialties.

Alongside her private practice, Davidson has served widely in public and educational roles. She was an adjunct professor of business law at Alice Lloyd College (1985–1998) and has held several judicial appointments, including Trial Commissioner for the Perry District Court, Circuit Judge for Kentucky’s 33rd Judicial Circuit (2004), and ongoing service as Master Commissioner and Domestic Relations Commissioner for Perry County since 2005. She chaired the Mine Safety & Health Review Commission (2005–2009), served six years on the Kentucky Bar Association Board of Directors, and was named the Kentucky Bar Association Pro Bono Attorney of the Year. Currently, she serves as attorney for the Knott County School Board, City of Hazard, and City of Pippa Passes. Beyond her professional work, Davidson has been a dedicated coach in the Hazard-Perry County Little League for over 40 years. She and her husband, Charles (“Chuck”) Davidson, live in Hazard and have three adult children: Robbie, Jordan, and Maggie.

Denis Kline*

Denis Kline served as an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) for the Kentucky Department of Workers’ Claims, issuing rulings on workers’ compensation matters throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. Widely regarded as one of the most knowledgeable workers’ compensation defense attorneys in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Denis brought a uniquely comprehensive perspective to every case he handled. Before attending law school, he worked as a Claims Adjuster for Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, where he managed casualty claims and gained firsthand insight into the practical challenges faced by employers and insurers. Later, Denis served as an Administrative Law Judge with the Kentucky Department of Workers’ Claims for eight and a half years—a role to which he was appointed by three Governors. This combination of experience—as an adjuster, judge, and attorney—gave Denis an uncommon breadth of understanding of the workers’ compensation system. He used that perspective to position his clients for success at every stage of the legal process. When asked what he enjoyed most about defending workers’ compensation claims, Denis would simply say: “everything.” Whether collaborating with adjusters, advising business owners, conducting research, or advocating in the courtroom, Denis took great pride and joy in every aspect of his practice.