Page 163 - The First Fifty Years

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ESSAY

ENDURINGLY GREAT:
THE FIFTH DECADE OF
HOUSTON LAW REVIEW

Craig Joyce & Matthew Hoffman

The end, and the beginning, are nigh.1 The end? The
conclusion of Houston Law Review’s first fifty years. The
beginning? The next fifty. And at the midpoint? Perhaps the
fulfillment of Houston Law Review’s founders’ dream.

***

Andrews Kurth Professor of Law, University of Houston Law Center. To the
members of Board 50, thank you! Thank you all, but especially Katherine Witty Medford,
Peter Danysh, Casey Holder, and Cade Mason, for your diligence, patience, and good
cheer throughout this extremely special project. Similarly, we express here our deep
gratitude for the support provided us by the O’Quinn Law Library: Spencer Simons, Mon
Yin Lung, and Chris Dykes. The same to the Chief Encouragers: Bob Sergesketter and
Jeff Brown. Despite the best efforts of these and an army of others, the authors alone own
all imperfections that may follow.

We have been loath to write this ending essay. First, Decade 5 is wrapping up
only in real time for us. Its story, insofar as we have the ability to tell it, is for now mostly
journalism and not yet history. Second, this is an ending for us, too. To this continuing-
beyond saga of the entirely remarkable institution that is Houston Law Review, Matt and
I have given our all. Lastly, I at least—Mr. Hoffman, live long and prosper!—am sad to
make what amounts to a farewell address. But we must. Thus, finally, we express our
profound appreciation to all the members of Boards 41 through 50, who actually lived the
story we have been privileged here merely to recount.

Board 51 and beyond, salute!
In keeping with the general practice in historical essays, all notations hereafter
appear as endnotes at the conclusion of this essay, where the reader will find also a
compilation of statistical trivia, which the authors and the members of Board 50 hope will
enlighten and amuse, if not necessarily in equal degree.
Law Clerk to United States District Judge David Hittner; J.D. 2012, University
of Houston Law Center; Editor in Chief, Houston Law Review, Board 49.

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