Attorneys – Click on an Attorney to read his biography.
Luther O. McCutchen, III, one of the firm’s founding principals, has been practicing law since the 1970s. He has extensive experience representing homeowners and property owners associations and is a recognized advocate on HOA matters. He counsels in the areas of document interpretation and enforcement and construction defect litigation. He is active in the Community Associations Institute, a national organization addressing the needs of homeowners associations and property owners associations, and is a former member of its national attorneys’ committee. Also, McCutchen works extensively in the firm’s civil and business litigation and personal injury practice.
Patrick Wayne Mumford, a native of New Bern, North Carolina, graduated from East Carolina University in 1966 with a major in history and a minor in political science. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force and spent four years in the Strategic Air Command missile combat force, serving as the youngest missile combat crew commander in the USAF at that time. In 1970 Wayne entered the University of Tennessee College of Law. As a third year law student, he clerked for the City of Knoxville Law Department and became a city staff attorney immediately upon graduation and passing the Tennessee Bar. Wayne also served as a staff judge advocate in the Air Force Reserves for six years. From the city attorney’s office Wayne went to work in the title insurance industry. He served as vice president, state manager, and finally as president of the title insurance company. After seven years in the title insurance industry, Wayne entered private practice with a firm in Raleigh, North Carolina. He opened that firm’s Myrtle Beach office in 1985. When an opportunity arose to work in the real estate development business he served as President and Chief Counsel for a residential golf course community company. In 1989, Wayne and Luther McCutchen formed McCutchen & Mumford, P.A., the beginning of our firm. Wayne’s law practice is concentrated primarily in real estate, business law, and timeshare. He also is an active speaker, having written and taught nine courses approved by the South Carolina Real Estate Commission, and authored two books. His books are entitled: Unlock the Secrets to Success, Laws that Make the World Go Round, a Beginner s Guide and Companion Guide to Unlock the Secrets to Success.
Gene P. Vaught, III is a native of Conway, South Carolina, where he graduated from Conway High School in 1984. After attending Anderson College for one (1) year, Gene transferred to the University of South Carolina, where he graduated in 1988 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. Gene later attended and graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1991. While in Law School, Gene served as a Senate Page for the late J. M. Long, Jr. After practicing briefly in Lexington, South Carolina with the firm of Williams and Brink, Gene returned home to Horry County in 1993 and joined the firm of McCutchen, Mumford and Diggs. He became a partner and shareholder in the firm in 1996, and the firm name was changed to McCutchen, Mumford and Vaught. Gene’s practice is concentrated in the areas of personal injury, wrongful death, and workers compensation. He also has extensive experience in Family and Criminal Law. He is a member of the South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association, the Horry County Bar Association, and the Injured Workers Advocates, which is an association of attorneys who devote their time and services to helping individuals who have suffered injuries on the job. Gene has served on various advisory and executive committees pertaining to workers’ compensation and family law. He has spoken often at seminars on issues involving family law and ethics. Gene has served as a Guardian ad litem in multiple contested custody cases since 1999. He devotes a substantial amount of time to young people, and has served as a church Youth Director, Youth Choir Director, and Sunday School teacher in the past. Gene served as Attorney Coach for the North Myrtle Beach Middle School Mock Trial Team from 2003-2007, leading that team to the State Finals in 2005, 2006, and 2007. In 2008, Gene was instrumental in forming the first Middle School Mock Trial team for Forestbrook Middle School in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. That team won the Coastal Regional competition and placed third at the State Competition. In 2002, Gene was appointed by the President of the South Carolina Baptist Convention to serve on a committee studying and making recommendations concerning the relationship between that Convention and Furman University. Gene is married and he and his wife Dawn have four (4) children: Lauren (age 18), Clay (age 16), Joshua (age 13) and Caleb (age 9). Gene continues to be heavily involved with their school and extracurricular activities. Gene coached sports at the Little League level for several years. His interests include singing and playing guitar, and in fact he sang with a southern gospel group for eight (8) years. He also enjoys hunting, fishing, and spending time with his family.
Patrick F. O’Dea joined the firm in 1997 and was named a shareholder in 2000. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from Clemson University and graduated with Honors in 1979. While at Clemson University, O’Dea served as President of the Inter-Fraternity Council and was a member of Tiger Brotherhood. Thereafter, he earned his J.D. from the University of South Carolina School of Law and graduated in 1982. While at the University of South Carolina School of Law, O’Dea served as President of the Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity. O’Dea concentrates his practice in the area of Homeowner Association representation and is a member of the Community Association Institute, which is a national organization, with over 17,000 members, formed to provide guidance for the creation and operation of homeowner associations. O’Dea is also a member and past President of the Horry County Bar Association and a member of the South Carolina Bar Association.
Norton Brown McGaughy Geddie grew up in Tupelo, Mississippi. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in political science from Millsaps College in 1990, graduating cum laude, and his Juris Doctorate from Emory University School of Law. Licensed to practice law in South Carolina, Georgia and Mississippi, Mr. Geddie has worked with the Dekalb County Public Defender’s Office and the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office as well as private law firms in Mississippi and South Carolina. Since joining the firm in 1999, he has been the resident attorney and manager of the North Myrtle Beach office. Mr. Geddie is actively involved in the community as a member of the North Strand Optimist Club, serving as president in 2003 and 2004, and has been an Assistant Scoutmaster since 1993. He is an affiliate member of the North Myrtle Beach Board of Realtors and teaches courses to real estate agents on contract matters including “Contracting: the Basics”, a GRI course, and “Contracts, Multiple Offers & Closings.” Mr. Geddie was named a shareholder in the firm in 2003.
Hal L. (Chip) Beverly Jr. is a native of Conway, South Carolina. Chip attended Clemson University, where he graduated in 1997 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy. Chip later attended and graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 2001. Chip worked in Charlotte, North Carolina for several years before returning home to Horry County and joining McCutchen, Mumford, Vaught, O’Dea & Geddie in the Fall of 2005
Gregory J. McEvoy is originally from the Midwest and joined the Firm in 2006. Greg is a member of the South Carolina and Missouri Bar Associations. His practice is concentrated in the areas of Residential Real Estate, Estate Planning and Estate Administration.
Greg graduated from Drury College in 1982 with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law in 1986. Over the past 20 years he has worked primarily in the trust industry and has extensive experience with Trust and Estate Administration law and is a great addition to our Firm.
