Graveside services for Addison Kennon Goff III, age 70, of Ruston will be held at 11:00 AM Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at Greenwood Cemetery under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Home in Ruston. Officiating the service will be Rev. Ned Head. Addison Kennon Goff, III, died December 5, 2011, following a lengthy illness. Kennon was born on July 7, 1941 in Ruston to A.K. Goff, Jr. and Dorothy Harrell Goff. He married his high school sweetheart Stephanie Hearn Goff. The couple had been together 54 years at his death. He was a graduate of the Ruston High School class of 1959 and attended LSU where he received both his Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctorate degrees. He was a member of Gamma chapter of Kappa Sigma fraternity. In 1967, he returned home to Ruston to practice law with his father in the family firm that his father had founded in 1931. During his distinguished legal career, Kennon became well-known and nationally renowned. Known as a “Tush Hog” in the courtroom, he had for over 25 consecutive years been named as one of the Best Lawyers in America, and for over 30 consecutive years had been voted by his peers as “Preeminent” in both legal skills and ethics. He practiced law with his son Addison “Add” K. Goff, IV and daughter-in-law Shelley Goff in the family firm of Goff and Goff, Attorneys. Throughout the years Kennon authored numerous books and legal articles for major legal publishers and the prestigious International Society of Barristers. He lectured around the world on the subjects of defective firearms and dangerous products, most recently being invited to lecture at a conference on firearms hosted by the Queen of Sweden. He began his focus on defective guns with Melvin Belli in the early 1970's and has been an avid advocate for gun safety since that time, holding for many years the chairmanship of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America ATLA section on Defective Firearm and Ammunition Litigation, a position his son Add now holds. He was president of the Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association, and served on the Board of Governors of the American Trial Lawyers Association. He was a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association's House of Delegates for 11 years and also served two terms as Hearing Committee Chairman for the Supreme Court's Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board. Kennon was president of the Ruston Jaycees and legal counsel for the Louisiana Jaycees. He was active in other charities and philanthropic causes. Since semi-retirement, he traveled extensively and enjoyed gourmet cooking and farming. He is survived by his wife Stephanie; children Add and Shelley Goff of Ruston, Laura and Barry Guinn of Ruston, Dorothy and Wayne Goulet of Queidersbach, Germany, and Nick Goff of Ruston; his five grandchildren Addison Kennon Goff V, Elizabeth O'Brien Guinn, Michael Thomas Guinn, Victoria Kendall Goff, and James Nicholas Goff, III; sisters and brothers-in-law Dorothy Etta and Jim Hoogland of Ruston and Minnette and Ed Cooper of Benton, Steve Hearn and Theresa Garlington of Ruston; mother-in-law Laura Hearn; and his beloved dog, Rooster. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to 4PAWS Rescue of Ruston. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com