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AL UMNI NEWS AL UMNI NEWS

UH Law Alumni Association Awards

It is our pleasure to congratulate the recipients of the University of Houston Law Center Alumni Awards. The recipients were
st
honored at the 41 Annual Law Gala & Auction on March 25. Many thanks to all who participated in the nomination process.

Judge Mary Bacon forged a long and highly ment, she was often seen ordering her signature
successful legal career that she could not have quad-shot latte on her way to the courthouse to
dreamed of decades ago as a young college dropout serve as a visiting judge). In 1999, Gov. George W.
and mother of four children. Bush appointed her to the Texas Board of Criminal
In 1949, at the age of 19, Mary Baker left school to Justice, where she focused on furthering employ-
marry Bob Bacon. She returned to college while ment education for female prisoners.
raising her kids, completing her degree at Georgia Bacon never wavered from her view that everyone
State University in 1967, and enrolled in law who appeared in her courtroom was entitled to
school in 1969; there were fewer than 10 women the same respect she was afforded on account of
in her class. After graduation, she hung her shingle her gavel and elevated chair. She credits her superb
outside a one-room office in a converted motel off staff and the excellence of the Houston defense bar
the Katy Freeway, where she developed a thriv- for making her years on the bench such a pleasure.
ing family law practice. She also enthusiastically Bacon is grateful to the Law Center for help-
The Honorable Mary engaged with the Houston Bar, including serving ing her launch her vibrant professional career.
as editor of The Houston Lawyer and as president
She is proud of her namesake award, which was
E. Bacon ’72 of the Association of Houston Women Attorneys. endowed by her children and provides an annual
ALUMNA OF THE YEAR In 1981, she was appointed as associate judge to cash award to Law Center students who are rais-
state District Judge Henry Schuble. Two years later, ing families. She is pleased that the Law Center’s
In recognition of exceptional Gov. Mark White appointed Bacon to the 338th class of 2019 is nearly half women; she hopes that
achievement and noteworthy Criminal District Court, where she served until they and their fellow graduates enjoy their careers
contribution to the UH Law Center retiring in 1998 (although even after her retire- as much as she has.
and the UH Law Alumni Association

Bill Jackson credits his Law Center training, and is serving on the executive committee of
and plenty of hard work, for his success today the University of Houston’s $1 billion capital
in the field of environmental litigation. And that campaign. He is a former president of the
knowledge and skill — along with that same work University of Houston Law Alumni Association.
ethic — are evident in the tireless effort he has put In his decade on the Law Alumni Board, Jackson
in over the years supporting the school. also spearheaded various philanthropic efforts
“My education and time at the Law Center formed benefitting the Law Center, including chairing the
the foundation of my legal career and provided A.A. White Society. In 2014, Jackson chaired the
me the tools I needed to succeed in practice,” said 38th Annual Law Gala and received the Dean’s
Jackson, co-chair of Kelley Drye & Warren, LLP’s Award for outstanding service to the Law Center.
national Environmental Practice Group and the Last fall, Jackson was an adjunct professor at the
managing partner of its Texas offices. “I worked Law Center, teaching a class on the law of natural
through my second and third years of law school, resource damages liability. Previously, he served
and that experience, together with the practical as a guest lecturer in environmental law and as an
William J. Jackson ’92 skills and learning that the Law Center afforded adviser to the University of Houston Law Center’s
me, taught me the value of hard work and prepared Environmental & Energy Law & Policy Journal.
PRESIDENT’S AWARD me well for the practice of law.” While in school, he served as an associate editor
In recognition of outstanding Since graduating in 1992, Jackson has represented of the Houston Law Review and was awarded the
commitment, service and dedication to both public and private sector clients in many of Harold Sellers Scholarship as the top student in his
UH Law Center students and alumni the most significant environmental and natural first year section.
resource damages matters in the country. In 2015, “I continue to volunteer my time for the Law
he led the team that the Texas Lawyer named as Center, because the law school is an important
the “Specialty Litigation Group of the Year” for part of Houston and our entire community,” he
environmental litigation in Texas. said. “We all need to have the Law Center serve as
Jackson’s volunteer work on behalf of the Law a hub for legal excellence and an institution that
Center is equally impressive. He currently serves fosters legal learning and leadership. I want to help
as president-elect of the University of Houston the University of Houston in its $1 billion capital
Law Foundation Board. He is also chairing the campaign and to see a new Law Center building as
Foundation’s Law School Building Committee part of that effort.”
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