Three of Six 2013 Texas Exes Distinguished Alumnus Award Recipients Law School Alumni

Three out of six of the Texas Exes’ Distinguished Alumnus Awards (DAA) this year went to law school alumni, demonstrating the leadership, impact and commitment to service our alumni exhibit.

Linda L. Addison, J.D. ’76, Wallace B. Jefferson, J.D. ’88, and Janiece Longoria, J.D. ’79, are the law school’s latest recipients of this high honor, joining a legacy of lawyer beneficiaries.

“I am so proud of Linda, Wallace and Janiece,” said UT Law Dean Ward Farnsworth. “They collectively epitomize the virtues that this law school seeks to advance: professionalism, public service and a commitment to justice. It means a lot to us to have our alumni so well represented among those who have received this award over the years.”

Awarded annually by the Texas Exes, the university’s alumni association, recipients of the DAA are nominated and judged based on exact standards before being selected by a committee. DAA recipients demonstrate integrity; stature; prior recognition from contemporaries; pride in UT; a contribution of time, talent or money to the university; and serve as a source of inspiration to UT faculty, staff, students and other alumni, according to the Texas Exes’ website.

“The Texas Exes are pleased to have Linda, Wallace and Janiece join the list of distinguished alumni recipients,” said Charles Matthews, president of the Texas Exes. “While they’re being recognized for achievements in their professional lives, they also continue to be outstanding representatives of the university.”

Linda L. Addison,’76

Linda Addison
Addison is global head of dispute resolution and litigation and a member of the Global Executive Committee at the New York and Houston offices of Norton Rose Fulbright. She is a founder and immediate past president of UT Law’s Center for Women in Law and was the first female managing editor of the Texas Law Review. The National Law Journal has named Addison one of the “Most Influential Women Lawyers in America” and recently, she was named to Crain’s “50 Most Powerful Women in New York” list.

 

Watch videos of Addison and her acceptance of the award below.



Wallace B. Jefferson, ’88

Wallace Jefferson
Jefferson has twice made history — as the first African-American Justice and Chief Justice on the Supreme Court of Texas. Jefferson has served as president of the Conference of Chief Justices, an association of chief justices from the 50 states and U.S. territories. He currently serves on the Judicial Conference Committee on the Rules of Practice and Procedure, the board of the American Bar Foundation, and the council of the American Law Institute. Before his appointment to the state Supreme Court, Jefferson worked in private practice in San Antonio. In October, Jefferson announced his resignation from the Supreme Court of Texas and has returned to private practice with Alexander Dubose Jefferson & Townsend LLP.

Watch videos of Jefferson and his acceptance of the award below.



Janiece Longoria, ’79

Janiece Longoria
Longoria is a partner in the firm of Ogden, Gibson, Broocks, Longoria & Hall LLP in Houston. As chairman of the Port of Houston Authority, she oversees the second-busiest port in the U.S. She is a former vice chairman of The University of Texas System Board of Regents, a founder of the Center for Women in Law and supporter of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Center for the Study of Latin American Law at UT Law. She also serves on the Board of Directors of CenterPoint Energy Inc., the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the MD Anderson Board of Visitors, as well as the Board of Directors of the Texas Medical Center and the Galveston Bay Foundation, among others.

Watch videos of Longoria and her acceptance of the award below.


Many Law School alumni have received the Distinguished Alumnus Award in past years, including Julius Glickman, ’66; David J. Beck, ’65; the Honorable Diane Wood, ’71; the Honorable Edward Prado, ’72; former Mayor of Houston Bill White, ’79; State Sen. Rodney Ellis, ’79; former Mayor of Dallas Ron Kirk, ’79; and famed tort lawyer Joseph D. Jamail, ’53. A full list of past recipients can be found on the Texas Exes website.

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