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Achievement Awards

Texas Bar Foundation awards recognize Texas attorneys for professional achievements

The awards program of the Texas Bar Foundation recognizes professional achievements. There is no nomination form. The selection committees would appreciate a descriptive letter setting forth the case for the nominee and describing the nominee’s awards or contributions to the legal profession (writing, speaking, volunteer or professional work), community or civic work and/or awards. Additional letters of support are welcome.     

Nominations must be received by January 15th

50-Year Lawyer Award
Often described as the most prestigious statewide honor awarded to Texas attorneys, the Outstanding 50-Year Lawyer Award was established in 1974 as the first award given by the Bar Foundation.  The award recognizes attorneys whose practices span fifty years or more, and who adhere to the highest principles and traditions of the legal profession and service to the public. Five or six attorneys are recognized each year with an oral history documenting their outstanding careers.  Criteria: Must be an attorney who has been actively engaged in the practice of law for a period of more than fifty years, during all of which time he or she manifested adherence to the highest principles and traditions of the legal professional and service to the public in the community in which he or she lives.  Past recipients include Morris Atlas, Louis Bedford, Charlye Farris, Vester Hughes, Joe Jamail, Wales Madden, Jr., Eldon B. Mahon, Louise Raggio, Barefoot Sanders, Justice Jack Hightower, Howard Coghlan, Thomas Eubank, Judge Frank Maloney, Charles L. Smith, Robert H. Thomas, Robert C. Bledsoe, Harold F. Kleinman, Judge Tom B. Ramey, Jr., and Carol S. Vance.
 
Dan Rugeley Price Memorial Award
The Dan R. Price Memorial Award was established by friends and family and endowed through the Texas Bar Foundation.  The award is given in memory of Dan Price who practiced law in Austin, Texas, and died in January 1994. As a living tribute to Dan’s life and work in the practice of law, an award is made annually to an outstanding Texas lawyer.  The recipient is given a plaque and a $1,000 cash award to be donated to the Texas Law School of his or her choice. Criteria: Recipient to be an outstanding practitioner, dedicated to the Bar and the public. Past recipients include Al Ellis, David Keltner, Richard Clarkson, Charles W. Schwartz, ileta Sumner, Debra L. Baker, James E. "Jimmy" Brill, and William D. Elliott.

Lola Wright Foundation Award
The Lola Wright Foundation Award was established in 1985 and is presented in memory of Coleman Gay, a distinguished Texas lawyer who exemplified the highest standards of professional ethics.  The award is presented in recognition for outstanding public service in advancing and enhancing legal ethics in Texas. A cash award of $5,000 is given to the recipient for donation to the charity of his or her choice. Criteria: Must be an attorney to whom professional ethics are paramount. Given in recognition for outstanding public service in advancing and enhancing legal ethics in Texas. Past recipients include: Berry Crowley, James Holmes III, Lloyd P. Lochridge, Jim Sales, Louise Raggio, Guy Harrison, Richard C. Hile, Justice Douglas S. Lang, and Scott J. Atlas

Samuel Pessarra Outstanding Jurist Award
In 1987, the Texas Bar Foundation created the Outstanding Jurist Award to honor an active Federal or State Judge.  In 1995, the Foundation received a bequest to the endowment from the estate of Mrs. Samuel Pessarra in honor of her late husband Samuel Pessarra for the purpose of funding the Outstanding Jurist Award.  The award was renamed the Samuel Pessara Outstanding Jurist Award in 1995. Samuel Pessarra, a native of Quintana, attended Baylor University and Baylor University School of Law. Mr. Pessarra was a member of the Brazoria County Bar Association, where he served as president, director and secretary. The recipient is honored with a scholarship of $1,000 designated to the law school of his or her choice as well as a crystal gavel presented at the annual meeting of the Judicial Section of the State Bar of Texas. Criteria: Nominees must currently be serving as an active Federal or State Judge. Retired judges or judges of senior status are eligible if they continue to be active on the bench.  The nominee must have served on the bench for a minimum of 10 years and exhibit an exceptionally outstanding reputation for competency, efficiency and integrity.  The nominee may not be opposed while standing for election or re-election during the year in which the award is given. Past recipients include Chief Justice John T. Boyd, Judge Merrill Hartman, Judge George P. Kazen, Judge Guadalupe Rivera, Judge John T. Forbis, Judge Mary Lou Robinson, Judge David Peeples, and Judge Jane J. Boyle.

Ronald D. Secrest Outstanding Trial Lawyer's Award
The Ronald D. Secrest Outstanding Trial Lawyer's Award was established to recognize an active trial lawyer. The firm of Beck, Redden & Secrest established the award in 2002 in honor and memory of Mr. Secrest, a gifted trial lawyer and a founding partner of the firm. The award recognizes a trial lawyer who, in his or her practice, has demonstrated high ethical and moral standards and has demonstrated exceptional professional conduct, thus enhancing the image of the trial lawyer. The award celebrates Ronald Secrest's life as an outstanding trial lawyer who devoted himself to the highest standards of the trial practice. Criteria: The recipient is to be an active trial lawyer who, by his or her practice, has demonstrated outstanding trial and advocacy skills, has demonstrated high ethical and moral standards, and has demonstrated exceptional professional conduct, thus enhancing the image of the trial lawyer. Past recipients include Knox Nunnally, Shannon H. Ratliff, Robert Q. Keith, Richard W. Mithoff, Jr., David T. Lopez, and Lisa A. Blue.

J. Chrys Dougherty Award
The Dougherty Award is a joint award of the State Bar of Texas and the Texas Bar Foundation that recognizes excellence in the work of individual legal service attorneys.  The award includes a $1500 stipend funded by the Texas Bar Foundation in recognition of the fact that these long-time legal services attorneys have chosen that track at some financial sacrifice to themselves. Past recipients include Roger L. Gette, ileta Sumner, Bruce P. Bower, Mario Caballero, and Richard LaVallo. Nominations for the J. Chrys Dougherty Award are handled by Texas Lawyer's Care. Please contact Catherine Nahay for further information.

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For more information on the awards process, contact Pasha Moore via email or by phone at (512) 480-8014.

2008 Award Recipients

Outstanding Fifty-Year Lawyer Award

The Outstanding Fifty-Year Lawyer Award was the first award established by the Texas Bar Foundation and is its most prestigious award. The award recognizes attorneys whose practices span fifty years or more, and who adhere to the highest principles and traditions of the legal profession and provide service to the public.  The 2007 Outstanding Fifty-Year Lawyer Award recipients are:

Robert C. Bledsoe, Midland

Harold F. Kleinman, Dallas

Judge Tom B. Ramey, Jr., Longview

Carol S. Vance, Houston

Ronald D. Secrest Outstanding Trial Lawyer Award

The firm of Beck, Redden & Secrest, LL.P., established the Ronald D. Secrest Outstanding Trial Lawyer's Award at the Texas Bar Foundation in honor and memory of Mr. Secrest, a gifted trial lawyer and a founding partner of the firm. The award recognizes an active trial lawyer who, by his or her practice, has demonstrated outstanding trial and advocacy skills, high ethical and moral standards, and exceptional professional conduct, thus enhancing the image of the trial lawyer.

Lisa A. Blue, Dallas

Samuel Pessarra Outstanding Jurist Award

The Pessarra Outstanding Jurist Award honors an active Federal or State Judge (including retired judges or judges of senior status who continue to sit) who exhibits an exceptional reputation for competency, efficiency and integrity.

Judge Jane J. Boyle, Dallas

Lola Wright Foundation Award

The Lola Wright Foundation Award is presented in memory of Coleman Gay, who was a distinguished Texas lawyer and who exemplified the highest standards of professional ethics.  The award is presented in recognition for outstanding public service in advancing and enhancing legal ethics in Texas.

Scott J. Atlas, Houston

Dan Rugeley Price Memorial Award

The Dan Price Award is presented in memory of Dan Price who exemplified service to the profession and to the public. The award is presented to a practicing attorney in recognition of an unreserved commitment to clients and to the legal profession as a volunteer and legal writer.

William D. Elliott, Dallas

J. Chrys Dougherty Award

This award recognizes outstanding efforts of legal aid attorneys. Texas Lawyers Care and the Legal Services to the Poor in Civil Matters Committee of the State Bar board of directors select the recipient. The Texas Bar Foundation provides funding for the award.

Richard LaVallo, Advocacy, Inc., Austin