Reflections - Texas Wesleyan School of Law - Texas Wesleyan ...

Photo by Dan Brothers
Law School Sponsors
Power Attorneys Luncheon
Fort Worth Business Press publisher Banks Dishmon (left) and
Frederic White, dean of Texas Wesleyan University School of
Law (right), presented Judge Charles Bleil with the inaugural
Texas Wesleyan University Excellence in Justice Award.
Following on the heels of its 20th anniversary campaign kickoff in
September, Texas Wesleyan University
School of Law was the presenting sponsor
of the Fort Worth Business Press’ Power
Attorneys luncheon at the Fort Worth
Club on Oct. 8. This was the first time
the law school had participated in the
event, which annually honors 12 of the
most pre-eminent lawyers in the greater
Fort Worth area.
After welcoming remarks, Business Press
publisher Banks Dishmon introduced
Frederic White, dean of Texas Wesleyan
University School of Law. As Dean
White made his way to the podium, a
video celebrating the law school’s 20th anniversary was shown to the luncheon
guests. “We are proud to sponsor the
2009 Power Attorneys Awards,” said
Dean White. “Over the years, many of
the award recipients have consistently
supported the law school and the
university,” he continued. “In fact, one of
this year’s winners, Rice Tilley, also serves
as an active member of the university
board of trustees.” The other luncheon
sponsors included Kelly, Hart & Hallman,
LLP; Shannon, Gracey, Ratliff & Miller,
LLP; the Kearney | Wynn law firm; Coors;
Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse;
and Justin Boots.
Senior U.S. District Judge Royal Furgeson
of the Northern District of Texas in Dallas
was the luncheon’s keynote speaker.
by Dan Brothers
With a deep, abiding respect for the jury
system gained from many years on the
bench, Judge Furgeson addressed the
vital role played by juries in our judicial
system in his remarks.
The presentation of the 2009 Power
Attorneys Awards was launched by
Dishmon. “It is an incredible privilege
to recognize these individuals this
afternoon,” he said, “for they represent
the best of all that is Fort Worth and Tarrant
County. Each of them was selected based
on their professional accomplishments,
leadership qualities and community
involvement.” Dean White was invited to
present the awards. The 2009 honorees
were Bill Bogle, Susan A. Halsey, State
Senator Chris Harris, Jeff Kearney, David
Keltner, Gary F. Kennedy, Phillip McCrury,
Frank McDonald, Pollard Rogers, Ike A.
Shupe, Mack Ed Swindle and Rice Tilley.
The final presentation of the afternoon
was the inaugural Texas Wesleyan
University Excellence in Justice Award.
“The purpose of this award,” explained
Dean White, “is to honor an outstanding
lawyer who has demonstrated long-term
commitment to the profession through
professional experience, dedication to
community service, commitment to
success, and tradition of excellence.”
The Honorable Charles Bleil, who has
served as the United States magistrate
judge for the Northern District of Texas
since 1996, was the 2009 recipient of
the Excellence in Justice Award. Judge
Bleil has spent countless hours mentoring
students, supporting Texas Wesleyan
University School of Law’s mission, and
helping the local bar association. Prior
to his appointment to the Northern
District, Judge Bleil served as a justice
in the Sixth Court of Appeals of Texas;
as a judge for the Fifth District Court of
Texas; as an associate and partner with
Atchley, Russell, Waldrop & Hlavinka in
Texarkana; and as a captain in the U.S.
Army’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps. z
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2009 Po w e r At t o r n e y s
Ho n o r e e s
Bill Bogle
Harris, Finley & Bogle, P.C.
Susan A. Halsey
Jackson Walker, LLP
State Senator Chris Harris
Harris Cook, LLP
Jeff Kearney
Kearney | Wynn
David Keltner
Kelly, Hart & Hallman, LLP
Gary F. Kennedy
AMR Corp. and American Airlines
Phillip McCrury
Shannon, Gracey, Ratliff & Miller, LLP
Frank McDonald
XTO Energy Inc.
Pollard Rogers
Cantey Hanger, LLP
Ike A. Shupe
K & L Gates, LLP
Mack Ed Swindle
Whitaker, Chalk, Swindle & Sawyer, LLP
Rice Tilley
Haynes and Boone, LLP