SCHOOL OF LAW / TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY
VOL.
1,
NUMBER
3
Special Placement Issue
APRil
1970
American Bar Council OI(s
School of Law Credentials
Full Approval To Follow
First Graduating Class
When the 46 members of the first graduating class at Texas Tech's School
of Law off1icially take their J.D. degrees this May, their alma mater should
be only three months away from every form of "accreditation" and "approval"
to which law schools aspire.
Dean Richard B. Amandes has guided the three-year-old law school along
a brisk accreditation path which should lead to final and formal American
Bar Association approval at the ABA
progress toward ABA accreditation
House of Delegates meeting in St.
was that the Council of the Section
Louis, Mo., Aug. 12-13.
on Legal Education and Admissions
Already a fully-approved member
to the Bar granted the Texas Tech
of the prestigious Association of
Law School approval at Atlanta, Ga.,
American Law Schools as of the Dec.
Feb. 21, and thus the right to go
28, 1969, AALS meeting in San Franbefore the Board-of Governors and
cisco, the Texas Tech Law School
House of Delegates for full and final
has been on the final approval list
approval in August.
of the Texas Supreme Court since
Dean Am,:mdes said lack oi. adequJune of 1968.
ate funding for buildings, libraries,
F.actors Considered
and faculty had held up accreditation
Dean Amandes said factors taken
of other schools in the past, but that
into consideration along the line
the state funds for Tech have been
toward final approval by all groups
made available in good time.
include "adequate funding," "caliFaculty Important
ber of faculty," "admission and reThe Dean said the faculty has been
tention standards," and numerous
a very strong point in favor of the
other considerations.
(Continued on Page 6)
Latest announcement concerning
I(irhy~s
Shorthand
Destroys The Curve
By BRUCE MAGNESS
Editor·in·Chief
A NEW KIND OF GRAD - lane Gentry, one of the 46 members of Texas
Tech University's first law School class, reaches for what will be uppermost
in the minds of seniors immediately upon graduation-the good 01' Bar Review.
lane's husband, Charles, was one of the 14 who finished degree requirements
in December of 1969 but will officially attend commencement exercises in
May. Six more will complete degree requirements this summer.
Unless one of her fellow seniors
sprouts judicial robes and writes a
Brandeisian barrage of final exams
next month, Mrs. Ruth Kirby is a
"shoo-in" as number one.
And, if graduating at the head of
the first class at the Texas Tech
University School of Law is not
enough to draw respect, Mrs. Kirby
has several other accomplishments
of which she is justifiably proud.
"I have never missed a law school
Driskill, Neill Head New
Spring Issue
Features Grads
Tech Law Review Team
This issue of "Dictum," student
newspaper for the TeXias Tech University School of Law, is dedicated to the firslt graduating class,
whose members are featured on
pages 2, 3, 4, and 5.
Serving the purposes of a newspaper, yearbook and placement
brochure is indeed a tall orderbut perhaps this, the third issue of
the student newspaper, will be of
some service in aiding employers
toward the realization that a new
source of young, weB-trained lawyers is now functioning on the
South Plains of Texas.
The first graduating dass of law
students from Texas Tech University numbers 46 . . . . representing
a selective portion of the 217 who
applied for admission in the first
year, 1967-68.
Six more studenJts included in
this issue will comp~ete degree
requirements this summer.
-The Editors
By RON NICKUM
Dictum Staff
Jack DriskiH, a mid-year law student and the son of Judge and Mrs.
Jack Driskill of Tulia, has been
elected to the position of editor-inchief of the Texas Tech Law Review.
Driskill, who ranks first in his class
in cumulaltive grade average, holds
the J. W. Sanders Memoria'l Scholarship.
Duane Neill was selected for the
post of managing editor. Bob Burnett
will serve as leading articles editor,
with Tom Womble serving as business manager.
All appointments wiU take effect
in May.
New candidates for the Law Review
board of editors are Reggie Reeves
and Ralph BeLter. Reeves is a midyear student from Canyon, and Belter
is a senior from Wichita Falls.
Students are selected as candidates
for Law Review on the basis of
superior academic achievement, and
after completing a publishable article
for the Law Review, they become
board members.
The initial issue of the Texas Tech
Law Review was published early this
year, with the second planned for
April. Featured in voiume one, number two, will be two articles on
juvenile proceedings: "The Evolution
of Juvenile Court Jurisdiction and
Procedure in Texas," by Professor
Martin A. Frey, professor of law at
Texas Tech; and "Juvenile Court Proceedings from the Standpoint of the
Attorney for the State," by Thomas
J. Purdom, Lubbock County Attorney.
Also featured will be an article by
Wayne Thode on criminal discovery
procedures.
class; I have never had to answer a
professor's question with an "unprepared' excuse; and I have never
looked at a 'canned brief" or outline,"
she said in a recent i'lliterview.
"Somehow, when I get into finals,
it all seems to pour out."
Shorthand Helps
Mrs. Kirby also thinks her ability
to take shorthand notes of the professors' lectures has helped her considerably. She types out her notes
each day after classes, and, long
(Continued on Page 6)
DEDICATION SPEAKER - Chief Judge
John R. Brown of the Fifth Circuit,
U.S. Court of Appeals, called for
increased law school education in
light of mounting social problems in
his dedicatory address at Texas Tech.
See "legal Briefs," Page 2.
DICTUM - APRIL, 1970
PAGE TViO
The HON. JOHN R. BROWN delivered what Texas Tech President Grover
Murray termed "one of the most stimulating addresses I have heard" for
dedication ceremonies here Feb. 21.
Brown, chief judge, United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, put the
blame, for what he called his own "dissatisfaction" with today's typical law
school education, on a lax attitude rather than irrelevant curriculum procedures .
"Good, sound, theoretical training is imperative for today's lawyer," said
Judge Brown, "And although there is much said these days about the need for
'practical' courses in law school, I feel that the 'practical' use of form books
and the like can be gained very rapidly Dnce a student passes his bar exam."
"My dissatisfaction with the legal education of today is based on an attitude which allows us to turn DUt finely-tuned technicia ns who turn out work
without ever knowing what the shouting is all about."
Specifically, Brown cited inadequate legal services for the indigent,
il1Jadequate representaJtion Df the indigent in the criminal courtroom, lawyer
indifference to the social causes of crime, and an almost totally nDn-existent
training program for "court administrators."
"If ever a group of people needed training in the causes of crime, and
exposure to the chill odor of the jail, it must be today's lawyers," he sla id.
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LLOYD M. BENTSEN JR., Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate seat
from Texas now held by Ralph Yarborough, brought his whirlwind campaign
to the Texas Tech School of Law February 19 and was greeted by a steady
stream of questions from members of the student body. The Houston insurance
executive is a forme r Congressman from the Lower Valley of Texas . Bentsen
expressed opposition to compulsory busing of school children to aClhieve racial
balance in public schools and is against further expansion of the n ation's
nuclear defense system . He proposed a 10 percent investment tax credit for
industrial firms who are willing Ix> locate in communities of under 100,000
populaticn. "This would break up both the population and pol'lution congestion
in our urban areas wh i'le strengthening the tax base and popu'lation growth
of our smaller cities," he said .
LAW BACHELORS, an organization whose avowed purpose is to "provide
a means for single male Iaw students to meet socially some of the coeds on
the undergraduate campus," h as apparently fulfilled its purpose.
Three parties , first with the panhellenic council of sororities, the second
with Pi Beta Phi, and the third with Kappa Kappa Gamma, have provided the
25 m embers of Law Bachelors with rare opportun~ties to become acquainted
with attrac tive campus coeds, according to President Jeffrey Wentworth.
Fifteen students of the Texas Tech Law Schoo,l were honored at the
ALL·UNIVERSITY RECOGNITION SERVICE on Mar. 22. Students who are
on scholarship and who ranked in the top 10 per cen t of the class during the
past year were honored. They were: Jack P. DriskiH, Bob D. Burnett Jr.,
J ess H. Hall Jr., Alfred D. Neill, John M. Sanders, W.ilma Ruth Kirby, R .
Charles Gentry, Marwin R. Brakebill, Leota H. Alexander, John A. Weber,
and Ernest R. Finney Jr. Recogrnzed for leadershiip in the field of appellate
advocacy were Hall, Gentry, Weber, Bill Shaw, Richard W. Maxwell, and
J effr ey Wentworth. Maxwell was also recognized for his work as editor of
the Law Review, and D avid Bourland won recognition fDr his placement in
"Who Who's in American Colleges a nd Universities " and fur his contributions
as Student Bar President during the current school year .
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Tall, slouching a nd intense, RALPH NADER fielded questions from an
overflow crowd of Tech law students in the courtroom of the Law Building
during his visit on campus J an . 29.
Charging th at too many lawyers have prostituted the ideals they had as
law students fDr IUc'r ative civil practices after graduation, he challenged and
encouraged today's law students to fDllow hiis example by spurning well-paying
corporate legal positions and taking up the cause of "the people."
Despite some dis agr eem ent with a few students present, he contended that
young men and women need to get involved in investigative work sU!ch as that
done by his "Nader 's Raiders" while they a re still students in l aw school and
not wai: until they h ave passed the bar e~am , because-according to Naderunless they do, they get "sucked into the rat race of civic organizations , social
clubs a nd their client' s problems and never seem to find time to work in behalf
of the people at large."
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CHARLES W. ADAMS
Charlie, a Lubbock native, is fifty-eight and married .
He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree
from Texas Tech University. Charlie has been manager
of a land title company in Lubbock for several years
and plans to continue in the title business after graduation.
*
RAYMOND BURR, of "Perry Mason" fame and now a star in the television series, "Ironside, " delivered the keynote address at the Law School
Banquet Feb. 20.
"There is much talk today of what this generation Df you ng Americans
has called the 'quality of life,' a nd I praise these young people for stirring us
toward the alleviation of a very serious pollution problem," said Burr.
"But tonig ht I would speak of what I believe Ix> be an even higher calling
for us- a calling toward improving the 'quality of our ideals,' " he continued.
"I would speak of words such as civility, culture, taste, and r efinement
. . a nd above all, serf-knowledge . For these are ideals which seem to be
losing ground to the 'as-Iong-as-you-don't-harm-anyone-else' way 0If thinking."
Burr said there is little difference between the latter school of thought
and what older generations have long c'a lled "selfish materialism ."
" My dream for this law school," concluded Burr, "is that you will CDntinue to believe in what is uniquely of man-dignity, sDul, a nd the value
of sacrifices m ade for others, and in something which is bigger than ourselves. "
*
J. PERRY ABBOTT
Perry is thirty-five and married. He received a
Bachelor of Science degree, math major, from Texas
Tech University in 1959. Perry was discharged from the
Army in 1965 and completed his work towards a Master
of Business Administation degree in 1969 at Tech. In
law school, Perry was a member of Phi Alpha Delta .
He worked as a teaching assistant in the Department
of Accounting at Texas Tech and is experienced in both
public and private accounting. Perry is interested in
teaching, taxation, estate and probate.
*
In the span of only 2lh months this spring, PROFESSOR JUSTIN C. SMITH
of the Tech School of Law was the recipient of two "one-of-a-kind" honors
bestowed upon him by members of the first-year Torts class. The most recent
achievement came his way March 10 in Wichita F alls when three m embers
of his class appeared unexpectedly at a Smith speaking engagement and
delighted the Wichita County Medical Association with presenta.tion of the
first a nnual "Golden Whistle Award." Ring-leader Eric Augesen, assisted by
Bill Habern a nd Richard Palmer; cited Smith for "services rendered" during
the faU semester when he literally "blew the whistle" on an unidentified Property professor who had reportedly developed the habit of holding his class
beyond the alloted time period each day of class . For his performance in
blowing an official police whistle exactly at the close of the other professor's
lecture hour, Smith was presented with an official "Aggie timekeeper's whistle"
and a life-size mannequin dressed in an appropriate "Texas Aggie Timekeeper's
Uniform."
E'arlier in the semester, first-year student Alan L. Yaffe entertained his
classmates with induc't ion of Smith into the local chapt er of the "CAPTAIN
AMERICA SOCIETY." Yaffe, founder of the local society, was dubbed "Captain Americ a" during the fall semester in recognition of his ability to consistently a nswer tort questions with a direct quote from the Texas Penal
LEOTA HElL ALEXANDER
Leota is twenty-eight, married and a resident of Lubbock. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics from the University of Wyoming where she was
a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and she attended the
University of Wyoming College of Law for one year
before transferring to Texas Tech where she is a condidate for Law Review. After graduation Leota desires
to engage in a general practice in Lubbock.
JIMMY ALLEN ASHBY
Jim, a native of Mineral Wells, Texas, is twenty-seven
years old and married. He holds a Bachelor of Arts
degree from Texas Tech University with a major in
government. While attending law school, Jim was a
member of the Student Bar Association and participated
in intramural athletics for the law school. After graduation, Jim will be engaged in personal injury practice in
Ralls, Texas.
HE'RSHELL L. BARNES
Hershell is twenty-six and married. He received his
Bachelor of Business Administration degrees, personnel
management major, from Texas Tech University. In law
school Hershell was a member of Law Review for two
years. He also participated in State Moot Court Team
competition and was the Student 'R epresentative to the
Student-Faculty Committee. Hershell is interested in labor
law and general practice. He prefers to relocate in
either Houston, Dallas or Austin.
RALPH E. BEL l'E'R
Ralph, 24, received his B.B.A. from Midwestern University and has worked as a summer intern for the
Internal Revenue Service. He is chapter clerk for 'Phi
Alpha Delta fraternity, and is interested in tax and
corporate law. He is single and would like to locate
in Texas. He is classified 1-A and will be available
in 1974.
MRS. BARBARA S. BENSON
Mrs. Benson is married. She took here Bachelor of
Science degree from Simmons College of Boston, Mass.,
in 1940. Her undergraduate major was biology.
Code. Yaffee had had prior experience as a campus security officer.
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Third-year students Tom Womble and J effrey Wentworth represented the
Tech Student Bar Association at the 13th Circuit convention of the LAW
STUDENT DIVISION, American Bar Association, held March 12-14 in San
Antonio. The two Texas Tech delegates co-authored a resolution tha t the 13th
Circuit be divided in such a manner that all law schools in Texas comprise
one separate circuit. This would facilitate the exchange of ideas on problems
directly related to all schools in the circuit. The resolution passed with no
opposition, 21-0. Other schools represented at the convention welcomed Texas
Tech 's participation and responded Ix> its suggestions for improvement of the
LSD's relations, according Ix> Womble a nd Wentworth.
PAGE THREE
DICTUM - APRILi 1970
JOAN BlANSCET
Miss Joan Blanscet would like to locate in Dallas,
Fort Worth, Houston or Austin. Her fields of interest are
taxation, estate planning, probate and corporate law.
Joan, 25, received her B.B.A. in accounting from Texas
Tech, is a member of the American Society of Women
Accountants, and has been a teaching assistant at Texas
Tech. She graduated in January.
JAMES A. BOBO
Jim, a native of Dallas, is 24 years old and married.
He has a Bachelor of Arts in History from Tarleton State
College. He has a military classification of 1~Y. Jim has
been a law clerk for the lubbock firm of Brown and
Harding. While in law school, Jim was Associate Justice
of the Judicial Council and a member of Phi Alpha
Delta law Fraternity. Jim is interested in general practice
or plaintiffs work and would prefer a location in west
or central Texas.
CAR'EY BOETHEl
Carey, whose interest lies in personal injury and
general practice, will be available in May. Carey is
2'8 years old and married. He received a B.S. degree
from the University of Houston, is a member of Phi Alpha
Delta fraternity, and secretary of the Student Bar Association. Carey has worked for the FBI laboratory, the
Houston legal Foundation, criminal division, and has
worked as a clerk in civil and criminal courts in Harris
County, Texas. Draft exempt, Carey has no location
preference.
J. DAVID BOURLAND
David is twenty-five and married. He received his
Bachelor of Science degree, political science major, from
Weber State College, Ogden, Utah. In law school, David
served one year as president of the Student Bar Association and was a member of Phi Alpha Delta. He served
as the law Student Division Representative-American
Bar Association, and was chosen to represent Texas Tech
in Who's Who Among Students in American Universities
and Colleges. David is interested in corporation and trial
practice and will locate anywhere. His military status
is l-Y.
MARWIN B. BRAKEBIU
Marwin 39, received his B.A. from Texas Tech. Marwin is a member of the Texas Tech law Review and of
the law Review's Board of Editors. He is married, prefers
the lubbock area as a location, and is available in the
fall.
SCOTT H.BUSH
Scott, a Dallas native, is twenty-three and single. He
holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with
a major in Finance from Texas Tech University. Scott
was Secretary-Treasurer of the Student Bar Association,
member of Phi Alpha Delta 'legal Fraternity and 'law
Bachelors Club. Scott is interested in corporate practice
and security work and desires to locate in Washington,
Dallas, Atlanta, New York, or los Angeles. His legal
experience includes work as a research assistant to
Professor Martin A. Frey and as investigator for Thomas
G. Nash, Jr., Dallas.
C. RODGER BYRD
Rodger is thirty-one and married. He received his
Bachelor of Science and the Master of Science degrees
from North Texas State University, Denton, Texas. While
in law school Rodger was a member of law Review and
served as Note Editor of Texas Tech law Review. He is
interested in the areas of corporation, commerce and
banking and desires to locate in Fort Worth. His military
status is l-A. Rodger completed his degree requirements
in December of 1969.
JACK B.A:R'RY COWLEY
Jack is 25 years old and married. He graduated with
a Bache,lor of Business Administration degree from the
University of Texas in 1967. Jack served as President
of the Student Bar Association during the first year of
the law school's existence. Jack has associated with a
Brownfield, Texas, law firm.
J. EDGAR CRAIGHEAD, JR.
Ed, a native of Channing, Texas, is twenty-seven years
old and single. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering degree from Texas Tech University
and was a member of Delta Tau Delta Social fraternity.
In law School, Ed was a charter member of Phi Alpha
Delta legal fraternity and served as treasurer of that
organization during 1969-1970. Ed was also the chairman of the Student Bar Association Election Committee.
Ed would prefer to practice in the Northern Texas Panhandle area, in a small or medium size general practice
firm or a bank trust department.
MARTIN C. CUrDE, JR.
Martin, a native of Dallas, is twenty-seven and married.
He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree
from Southern Methodist University. While at Tech
Martin was President of the Third Year Class, VicePresident of the Student Bar Association and a member
of Phi Alpha Delta legal Fraternity. Martin is particularly
interested in Creditor's Rights, Criminal law and Local
Government and prefers to locate in Dallas.
ROBERT N. EAMES
Robert is twenty-four and single. He received his
Bachelor of Arts degree, government major, from Texas
Tech University. In law school 'Robert was a member of
Delta Theta Phi law fraternity. He is interested in personal injury and is willing to relocate anywhere in Texas.
His military status is l~rD.
JAMES F. EATON
James F. Eaton is 27 and his military status is l~D.
Originally from San Angelo, Eaton took his Bachelor
of Business Administration degree from Hardin Simmons
University with a major in Administration. While in law
school, James was employed by Edwards and Brackett,
lubbock law firm, and he will be employed as a full
partner with the San Angelo firm of Turner and Eaton
upon graduation. His principal interest is in trial
practice.
TIM EVANS
Tim is 26 years old and married with 2 children. He
has a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry with a major in
Biology from Texas Tech. He has a military classification
of III-A. Tim has been an investigator for the lubbock
firm of Huff and Bowers. While in law School, Tim
was a member of Delta Theta Phi law Fraternity. He is
interested in trial work and personal injury. He has no
preference as to location.
CAM l. FANNIN, JR.
Cam, a native of Lubbock, is twenty-four and married.
He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree
with a major in Accounting from Texas A&M University.
Cam is a member of Delta Theta Phi law Fraternity.
His interests lie primarily in the fields of Tax and Trust
law and he desires to locate in lubbock.
ERNEST R. FINN'EY, JR.
Ernest, a native of Amarillo, is 24 years old and
married. He has a B.A. degree in Political Science
from Tulane University. He has a military classification
of 1-Y. Ernest has been a law clerk for Nelson, McClesky
and Harriger in lubbock, Texas. While in law School,
Ernest has been on The law Review Staff, Vice President
of the second year class and a member of Phi Alpha
Delta law Fraternity. Ernest is interested in locating in
Texas with interests in the general practice of law or
securities transactions.
MICHAfil l. FOSTEl
Mike is 24 years old and married. He has a Bachelor
of Arts in Advertising and Journalism from Texas Chris~
tian University. He has a military classification of 1-Y.
While in law School, Mike was President of the Student
Bar Association, associate Editor of the law School
Newspaper and a member of Phi Alpha Delta law Fra-,
ternity. He is interested in trial and corporate law
including labor law and taxation. Mike would prefer a
location in the Dallas-Fort Worth area or a medium
size town in East or Central Texas.
PAGE FOUR
DICTUM - APRIL, 1970
ERROL FRIEDMAN
Errol is 25 years old and married. He has a Bachelor
of Science in Government from East Texas State University. He has a military classification of 1-Y. While in
Law School, Errol was Justice of Phi Alpha Delta Law
Fraternity and Editor-in-Chief of the Law School Newspaper, "Dictum" for one year. Errol prefers general
plaintiff's work and would prefer location in East Texas.
DENNIS L. FULLINGIM
Dennis is a Lubbock resident. She is thirty-nine years
old and married. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree
from New Mexico State University, and her majors were
Government and History. Dennis would like to reside
and work in the Lubbock area, and her preference is
for general practice of law.
.
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RUTH KIRBY
Ruth, a resident of Littlefield, Texas, holds a Bachelor
of Arts degree from the University of Texas. She is
married to a Littlefield attorney and has two children,
one of whom will graduate from the U.C.L.A. Law
School this year. While in Law School, Ruth was the
Leading Articles Editor for the Texas Tech University
Law Review. Ruth also won the West Publishing Co.
hornbook award in 1968 and 1969. Ruth is interested
in working near Littlefield and she prefers to work in
the areas of research, family law, and legal aid.
JEFFERSON DON LEWIS
Jeff is a native of Rule, Texas. He is twenty-five years
old and married. He holds a Bachelor of Business
Administration degree from McMurry College. In Law
School Jeff gained briefing experience before the Fifth
Circuit Court of Appeals while employed by the law
firm of Cade, Bowlin, and Griffin . Jeff would prefer
to practice in west or central Texas, and his interest is
in the general practice of law. He is currently on active
duty with the Texas National Guard at Abilene, Texas.
\,
LANE GENTRY
Lane, a Lubbock resident, is married to another graduating senior, Charles Gentry. She holds a Bachelor of
Arts degree from Hollins College, and attended the
University of Kentucky College of Law before transferring
to Texas Tech University School of Law. Lane gained
valuable experience working with the Kentucky Crime
Commission as well as serving as the first alternate for
the Moot Court Team in National Competition. Lane is
interested in working in the Southwest, and her fields
of interest are probate, domestic relations, and estate
planning.
R. CHARLES GENTRY
Charles, a native of Roswell, New Mexico, now residing in Lubock, Texas, is 34 years old, and married. He
has a B.A. degree in math and science from New
Mexico Military Institute and a Bachelor of Science in
civil engineering from The University of Missouri. Charles,
while in Law School, was on the Texas Tech Law Review
Staff as a note editor, Texas Tech Moot Court Team,
and was a member of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity.
Charles has been a law clerk for U.S. District Court
Judge HalO. Woodward. Charles is retired from the
United States Army.
FREiD GLOVER
Fred, 24, is a graduate of Texas Christian University
with a B.B ,A. degree in accounting. A member of Phi
Alpha Delta law fraternity, Fred hopes to locate in
the Dallas-Fort Worth area. He is single, has a six-year
reserve obligation with the National Guard, and will
be available in September.
ROBIN M. GREEN
Robin, a native of Clarendon, Texas, is twenty-four
years old and married. Robin holds a Bachelor of Arts
degree from McMurry College. While in Law School,
Robin gained valuable experience by working as an
investigator for the law firm of Wagonseller and Cobb.
Robin is willing to relocate, and his field of interest is
trial practice.
TROY CLINTON HURLEY
Troy, a native of Lubbock, is 25 years old and married
with one child. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in
Government with a minor in History from Texas Tech.
He has a military classification of III-A. While in Law
School, Troy was a member of Phi Alpha Delta Law
Fraternity. He is interested in general practice with
location in the lubbock area or the Fort Vvorth-Dallas
area.
RONAl'D M. JACKSON
Ronald is 25 years old and married. He has a bachelor
of Business Administration in Finance from Texas Tech.
He has a military classification of 1-Y. Ronald has been
a law clerk for the Lubbock firm of McWhorter, Cobb
and Johnson. While in Law School, Ronald was secretary of the Student Bar Association and a member of
Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity. He is interested in trial
worl: and commercial law. Ronald would prefer location in Texas or the North Western section of the U.S.
CORNELIUS B. MARSH IV
Cornelius is married and is presently residing in
Brownsville, Texas, where he is employed as a Law
Clerk for U.S. District Judge Reynold D. Garza. He
holds a Bachelor of Science degree from West Texas
State University. While in Law School, Cornelius served
as Chief Justice of the Student Bar Association and as
a Supreme Court Law Justice of the Texas Tech University Supreme Court. He was also a member of Delta
Theta Phi legal fraternity. After his tenure as a law clerk,
Cornelius would like to relocate in the Amarillo, Fort
Worth, or Houston area.
WILFRED THOMAS MARTIN, J'R.
Tom is 24 years old and married with one child. He
has a Bachelor of Science in Government from West
Texas State University. He has a military classification
of l-Y. Tom has been law clerk for an Alamogordo, New
Mexico, attorney, George L. Zimmerman. While in Law
School Tom was Student Bar Association representative
to the Faculty Committee and a member of Phi Alpha
Delta Law Fraternity. He is interested in Income Tax and
Estate
Planning-Bankruptcy and
Commercial Law
(U .c.c.) Tom would prefer location in the EI Paso and
Southern New Mexico area.
RICHARD MAXWELL
Dick, a native of O'Donnell, is thirty-two and single.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a major in
English from West Texas State University. While at Tech
Dick was Editor-in-Chief of the law Review. Dick is
interested in doing trial work in the West Texas area.
MI'CHAEL BURNS McKINNEY
Mike is available in July, with no location preference.
Mike, 24, is single and a 1967 graduate of Texas Tech
with a B.B.A. He has served on Law Review, Moot Court
and as chapter dean of Delta Theta Phi fraternity. He
has been a law clerk for Key, Carr, Evans & Fouts, and
has a six-year obligation with the National Guard.
C. GERARD MILLER, JR.
Gerry is twenty-four and single. He received his
Bachelor of Science degree in economics from the University of Houston. While in law school he was a member of Delta Theta Phi law fraternity and the Student
Bar Association . Gerry has gained practical experience
by working with the Legal Aid Program and doing
investigation for attorneys in the Lubbock area. Gerard
is interested in the areas of personal injury, trial practice,
bankruptcy and property and prefers to locate in South
Texas or abroad. His military classification is 3-A.
ALAN L. MU'RRA Y
Alan is twenty-four and married. He received his
Bachelor of Business Administration degree in finance
from Texas Tech University. In law school Alan was a
member of Law Review and served as Note Editor. He
was also a member of the Texas Tech Supreme Court
where he served as a Justice for two years. Alan was
Justice of Phi Alpha Delta and a delegate in the Student
Bar House of Delegates. Interested in general practice,
Alan has worked as a law clerk and a law libriarian's
assistant. His military status is 4-A and he -is willing to
relocate .
DICTUM
PAGE FIVE
APRIL, 1970
RONALD D. NICKUM
Ron is a native of Water Valley, Texas . He is
twenty-six years old, and single. Ron holds a Bachelor
of Science degree from Trinity University. While in Law
School Ron was the Managing Editor of the Texas Tech
University Law Review. He was also the Social Chairman of 'Delta Theta Phi Legal Fraternity. Ron also served
as Recording Secretary for the House of Delegates of the
Student Bar Association. Ron holds a commission in the
U.S. Army, and he has a two year service obligation
upon graduation.
CECIL G. PURYEAR
Cecil, a Lubbock native, is twenty-five years old,
married, and the father of one child. He holds a
Bachelor of Arts degree from Texas Tech University,
and his major was government. 'Cecil would prefer employment in the Panhandle or Dallas-Fort Worth area .
He is interested in the general practice of law, but his
preferences are in the areas of personal injury and
natural resources.
BOYD RfCHIE
Boyd, a Wichita Falls resident, is twenty-four years
old and married. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Midwestern University. While in law school,
Boyd served as Associate Justice of the Judicial Council
and as Chief Justice of the Judicial Council. He was
also Chairman of the Placement Committee of the Student Bar Association. Boyd is interested in trial practice
and the general practice of law. His military classification is 4-A.
JAMES GARY SANDERSON
Gary is twenty-four and married. He graduated from
Lamar State Co llege of Technology receiving the Bachelor of Science degree in government. In law school Gary
was a member of Delta Theta Phi law fraternity. He did
investigatory work for a local law firm and expresses
an interest in personal injury and labor law. Gary lists
Housto n, Beaumont, and Port Arthur as his choices of
location. He is exempt from military service.
DAVID H. SEGREST
David, a native of Bryan, is twenty-four and married.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a major in
History from Texas Tech University. While in law school
David was a Law Review note editor, member of the
Student Bar Association House of 'Delegates, law School
Representative to the Student Senate, and a member of
Phi Alpha Delta. David is interested in a general
practice with emphasis on Patent Law and Trade Regulation . His legal experience includes work as a law clerk
for James A. Gowdy. David desires to locate in East
or Central Texas.
JOHN l. SEYMOUR
John, a graduate of Texas Tech with a B.A. in
government, will be available in June. John is 28, married, and is interested in the fields of natural resources,
oil and gas, and admiralty law. He would like to locate
in Houston, Corpus Christi, New Orleans, Albuquerque
or Denver. He is a member of Phi Alpha Delta fraternity
and of the Army reserve.
WILLIAM G. SHAW
William, 27, is available in July. He is interested in
general practice in Texas, New Mexico or Colorado.
Bill is married, and holds a B.B.A. from Texas A&M
University, 1964. He served as Law Review note editor,
Moot Court team member (1969), student senator and
member of Delta Theta Phi fraternity. He has been a
teaching assistant at Texas Tech, a law clerk and a
research assistant. His six-year reserve obligation ends
in August.
JOHN l. SHEPHERD
John is a January graduate and is now available.
He prefers the West Texas or Lubbock areas and is
interested in water law. John is 35 years old, married,
and has a V-A draft classification. He received a B.S.
from Texas Tech in 1955, and a M.Ed. at Tech in 1958.
BEN R. SMART
Ben is thirty-three, married and has two children. He
completed his military service in 1956. He received his
Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a major
in accounting from Texas Tech University in 1960. While
in law school Ben was a member of Phi Alpha Delta.
He is interested in all areas of tax law and would like
to locate on the Gulf Coast. Ben holds CPA certificates
from the states of Texas and New Mexico. He has nine
years as a public accountant.
PRESTON VARNER STEVENS
Preston, a native of Childress, is twenty-four and married. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration
Degree from West Texas State University. While at Tech
Preston was a member of Phi Alpha Delta Legal Fraternity and worked as a library assistant in the Law
library. Preston is interested in a general practice in the
North Texas area.
PERRY A. TANNER, JR.
Perry, 24, is married and available in August. He
would like to locate in Houston, Beaumont or Pqrt
Arthur, preferably in general or labor practice . He is
a 1967 graduate of Lamar Tech, has done research and
investigation for Jack Layne, Lubbock, and was honorably discharged from the armed forces.
BUFORD C. TERRELL
Buford, a native of Lubbock, is 29 years old and
single. He has a B.A. degree in Philosophy from
Texas Tech . Buford has worked as a law clerk for local
attorney Lewis Terrell for 2 years. While in law School,
Buford was on the Texas Tech Law Review, a Student
Association Senator, a member of the Moot Court Team
and a member of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity. He
is interested in the fields of Taxation, Trade Regulations,
and Labor Law.
WILLIAM CARL TERRY
Bill, a native of Bonham, is twenty-five and married.
He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree
with a major in Accounting from Texas Tech University.
Bill is interested in a general practice with emphasis on
Criminal, Corporate ar Tax Law. He prefers to locate
in the Central or North Texas area . Bill's legal experience includes work as a law clerk for Bass and Hobbs
and as Student Law "librarian at Tech .
JOHN A. WEBER
John, 23, received a B.A. from the University of Texas
at EI Paso and is interested in the legal fields of property, taxation and labor. He is married and is a member of Phi Alpha Delta, and served as business manager
of the Texas Tech Law Review. He has done investigation and briefing for Blanchard, Clifford, Gilkerson &
Smith of Lubbock; Albert Smith of Lubbock, and Woodrow Bean of EI Paso. John would like to locate in Texas,
New York or California . John has a 1-Y draft classification.
JAMES RICHARD WHITTINGTON
Dick, a native of Fort Worth, is twenty-four and married. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration
Degree with a major in Marketing from Texas Christian
University. While at Tech Dick was treasurer of the Student Bar Association. He is particularly interested in
Corporations, Property, and Oil and Gas Marketing and
desires to locate in a small town in Middle-West Texas.
ROBERT A. WILLIAMS
Bob, a native of Temple, is twenty-four and single.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a major in
Government from Texas Tech University. Bob is a member of Phi Alpha Delta Legal Fraternity. He is interested
in employment with a governmental agency preferably
in Texas.
PAGE SIX
DtCTUM - APRIL, 1970
SBA Ideas Approved
As the Student-Faculty Committee
of the Student Bar Association moves
into the final stages of its first year
of operation, two major a;C'complishments stand in testimony of its effectiveness.
The abolition of an earlier faculty
plan to require ,certain scholastic
credentials for legal fraternity pledgeship and approval of participation in
the All-University Recognition Service
this spring are due in large part to
the "recommendations" of the committee.
The Student-Faculty Comm·ittee suffered its first major setback when the
faculty turned down a proposal that
final exam schedules be posted in
advance of registration.
Reasons for the faculty refus·al to
adopt such a policy included: Faculty
members' schedules on out-of-town
business trips are not firmed up far
enough in advance, and faculty members object to allowing stUdents to
make final exam schedules a factor
in their selection of courses.
Committee rec'Ommenda tions made
during the spring semester also included a unanimous vote in favor of
lea ving all doors to the Forum unlocked to encourage vacuIty membeY's
Basketball Squads Fall
In Grad-Faculty League
By JERRY KOLANDER
Dictum Staff
Highly-touted Law School No. 4
dropped two straight ventures on
the basketball hard court, and with
those lossels visions of a C'lean sweep
in 196:)-70 intramural ,competition were
swept under the rug another year.
After topping Biology Department in
the season's lidlifter, 67-55 undetr the
tutelage of Coach Macon Strother,
hopes were high for a trip to the
trophy room. But, the handpicked
roundballers faltered to History BJue,
61-57 to dim the hopes of duplicating
the championship feat of Law School
Blue in earlier gridiron battles.
11he dreams were shattered the next
outing as the squad encountered defending champion and unbeaten Math
Department. ~he eventual champions
soundly drubbed Law 4 in what many
thought would be a re-run of last
year's 2-point thriller, by a taHy of
83-48.
The graduate league was divided
into two divisions fur the 1970 oampaign, Championship and Fun Divisions. The first-year students comprised Law No. 1 and were placed
in the Championship Division via
their early season practice game victory over English Department, 57-30.
Richie Crews was the mentor of the
Frosh as they found the going rough
in the higher of the c'lassificlations
and ended the season with a disappointing 0-5 mark.
Fun Division Battles
In the Fun Division, it looked at
first glance like a run-away as the
Local PADs
To Be Hosts
Of Conclave
By ALAN MURRAY
Dictum Staff
The Sam Rayburn Chapter of Phi
Alpha Delta law fraternity win host
representatives of nine law schools in
Texas ·and Louisiana at the 1970-71
District VII PAD Conclave.
David Ca'sey and Bruce Magness,
representatives for the Rayburn
Chapter at this year's condave in
Baton Rouge, La., Mar. 6-8, announced the appointment of Texas
Tech as host school upon their return.
FBI Spec'tal Agent Harold C. Swanson, a veteran of 19 years with the
country's major crime-f.ighting force,
was the year's fifth guest speaker
for the Rayburn Chapter in February.
Local attorneys Bill Russell and
Kent Hance were a'Iso featured
speakers during the year for PAD
meetings, along with Tech professors
Hemingway and Stevens.
After sketching the organizational
structure of the FBI, Swanson said
applicants for positions as agent with
the FBI must have either a law
degree or be accountants with at least
one year's experience.
Beginning salaries for agents range
up to $12,750, he said.
two Law School entries won their
first outings in easy style.
Under the guidance of Coach Phil
Lam, Law School No. 2 took the
Government DepCllrtment in their first
outing by a margin of 50-29. Law
Sch'Ool No.3 with John Weber as the
headmaster also had an easy time of
it as his charges mastered History
White by a 40-20 tally.
The early victories set the s'1Jage
for what some considered to be the
championship fracas of the Fun Division between the two Law Schoo,l
units. It turned out to be a see-saw
battle with the better-conditioned Law
No. 2 coming out on top by a margin
of 49-37.
But the glory was short lived for
Law No. 2 as Education Department
crept up from behind for a 53-45 upset. Educ'Clltion went on to capture
the championship of the Fun Division
followed in the standings by Law
No.2.
Law No. 3 l'Ost again and with the
losses by the two teams, any r:ays
of a 1970 basketball crown for the
Law School in either division were
blotted out.
In the only other encounter between
teams from the I.;aw School, Law No.
4, after leading by as much as 14,
and with an 11 point margin with
two minutes left, held on to edge Law
No. 1 54-52 in Ohampionship Division
play late in the season.
Law No. 2 f,inished the 1970 campaign with a 4-1 mark and had the
best won-last mark of the four Law
Schoo·l hardfloor fives. Law No. 3
ended up 2-3, Law No. 4 had a 2-3
mark and Law No. 1 had an 0-5
ledger.
The first annual Tech Law School
Golf Classic was scheduled for Saturday, April 4.
Memlbelrs of the flour blllJsk'etJbla;H squad-s
which made it possalble fOol' 49 I'aw stUdents
and ,two p.rafessors to paI1l;ii'cUlpate in :j),asketJbal'l
were: lJaJw ISClbJOIdl No. I--1Mike 'Thomas, Mike
DeGuel1in, 'Stan MdWiiHilams, 'Ria-ndy 'Rees'e,
M'lIJrk Laney, Ricihar'<i fulmer, Mike Doyd, Dan
Tabor, Kent Siro.s, Thm Hi'll, Jeff "Wiarren,
Leon IStJaV'llo, Mike "WiaJtJsion, NelWell Squy['es,
S,a:m Ohas'e, :Mike Irish ·and pllayer-CI(~a'ch
Ric'haru GrelWlS.
LaJw Nio. 2---'Cflai!g BrummetJt, Dan 'M'ciN'eI"'Y,
AlanMur,my,M'lIJn Nasits, .Tim Rudd, J~hn
Skogland, BenStepihens'on, Rian'ely'Thlomas, Je·flf
Wentworth land playe·r-C'oa;c!h Phll Lam.
Law No. 3---'CecH Puyea:r, Mike 'Sanders,
D'i!ck Whittingt'On, Mar,tin Cud'e, Carey Boethe:l,
Terry Hagin, Rion Nickum, Boyd Ric'hi'e, Sdott
Bush, Gene Gaines. Boor. MaJrj;lin F1rey, PrOof.
Anthony Palizzt and player-,Cloach Jiohn Weber.
Law Nio. 4-A:lan Jloonson, Tiom Womble,
M,ark Thomlas, Bruc'e Mlagness, Don Tucke.r,
Mike MdKinnelY, Da-vid Segr:iJs.t, Dan Dent,
Keno Henderson, Jim Boblo, ,and pl'aye,r-'ooa;ch
M3JCion Strother.
and students to mix in the area. This
recommendation, according to chairman Jeffrey Wentworth, SBA vice
president, was designed to helpalleviate "a decreased communication between faculty and students and an
increased polarization of the two
groups since moving into the new
building. "
Other committee members include
Professors
Richard
Hemingway,
Maurice Kirk and Ray Phillips, and
students Hershell Barnes, Tom Martin, Duane Neill, Tom Edwards,
Sharon Cannon and Dr. Art Howard.
Kirby . ..
(Continued from Page 1)
before f,inals begin, begins to prepare
her 'Own "homemade" outline of the
course.
"Holidays are reserved f.or my outlining," sibe commented, "but when
the holidays get short, I work weekends to get ready."
Married to a Littlefield attOtrlley,
Jerome W. Kirby, and a former secretary to Dean Page Keeton at the
University of Texas School of Law,
Mrs. Kirby is the daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. J'Ohn T. Forbis of Wellington.
Kirk Most Stimulating
Her tenUtre as secretary to Dean
Keeton aJilowed hell" to take courses
in Torts under Prof. Kee1Jon, PrOlcedures under Prof. Hodges, Constitutional Law under Prof. Keith Morris'On, and several others from 19481956. But, because the courses were
dated, she clame to Texas Tech in
1967 without any transfer credit.
"I would have to say thCllt, C'Dnsidering all of the professors I've
had, Professor Maurice Kirk of the
Tech :eacutlty has been my most stimulat~ng prOfessor," says Mrs. Kirby.
"He relally 'Puts my m-ind to work."
Mrs. Kirby, at 47, has two other
proud achievements-a daughter of
24, who wiH graduate from the UCLA
Law School ,1Jhds June, 'and an 11-yearold daughter alt home ,in Littlefield.
The 11-year-old "does nOit want to
be .a lawyer."
Mrs. Kirby quickly moved to the
head of her class during her freshman year ,at Tech after the sehool
opened its doors in the fall of 1967,
becoming a candidate for Law Review in May of 1968 and a permanent
member of the Board of Editors in
May of 1969. She now serves as leading articies editor.
"But I have always thought that,
after my family, daily work comes
fiirst even before Law Review," she
says.
Does her Law Review pos,tti'On or
daily assignment regimen ever interfere with her famHyaffairs?
"It hasn't yet, and I don't think
it will," she answers. "Honestly, I
think it is just a matter of selfdiscipline and decidingthalt you're
going to work. If the ·situation ever
arose when I had to choose, of course,
my familly would come first. But I've
never faced such a choice."
First In Classes
Mrs. Kjj.rby has nat only compiled
a grade 'average of 88.8, she has .also
finished first in her c'laS's eight times
and tied for the lead twice during her
courses at Tech.
Mrs. Kirby said that, other than
definite plans "not" to practice law in
her husband's firm, her legal future
is indefinite.
Prof. Elias Returns To Baylor
Erwin A. Elias, professor of law
at Texas Tech for the past two years,
has been nalmed associate dean of
the Baylor SchoOiI of Law in Wac'O,
effective in June.
A former member of the Baylor
law faculty from 1957 to 1968, Prof.
Elias came to the new Texas Tech
school in June, 1968. He holds BA and
JD degrees from Marquette University and an LLM from the University
of Michigan. He is married and the
father of one daughter.
Elias has authored numerous legal
articles during his 13 years as a
Texas law professor and wrote a text
entitled, "Problems, Texas Municipal
Corpor.ations." He is a recognized
authority in the fields of loca'l government and constitutional law and
is a member of the State Bars of
Texas and Wisconsin.
In addition to his administrative
duties at Baylor, Prof. Elias will be
teaching local government, labor law,
and trade regulations.
Alllerican ...
(Continued from Page 1)
law school since its inception in 1967.
The 15-member faculty now at Texas
Tech holds a combined tota'l of 39
undergraduate and law degrees from
33 different colleges and universities,
and includes two former law deans
in Maurice B. Kirk and George Neff
Stevens.
In regard to the school's "admission and retention standards," Dean
Amandes said, an acceptable retention standard wouad depend on what
admission standards are.
"If you are accepting only extremely-highly qualified people, then
you should have a very low rate of
attrition," he <said.
Dean Cites Improvements
Dean Amandes pointed out that the
first class admitted to the Texas
Tech School of Law, numbering 72,
was selecited from an application list
of 217. Of those 72, four withdrew
during the course of the year and 62
of 68 taking tina:ls were eligible to
resume study when the second year
rolled around.
"Applications increased about 10
per cent the second year, but mainly
because of military problems only 63
students enrolled, said Amandes. Of
those 63 origina:lly enrolled, 53 took
final exams and 47 passed.
"For this year's class, applications
increased another 28 per cent, and
the LSAT average of the students is
about 20 points higibetr than the
previous Cllas's, and their grade point
averages are abollit .11 higher," continued the Dean.
We now have seven stUdents with
sub-70 averages in the B·rst-year
class," dedared Dean Amandes, "but
with their improved admission credentials, the rate of attrition for this
class should be even lower than in
the past."
"We had several students last year
whose mid-year averages were below
70, but they pulled their averages into
the mid-70s with fina'l exams in
May," the dean said.
-BRUCE MAGNESS
Delt Speakers
Shed Light
On Problems
By ROBERT N. EAMES
Dictum Staff
Delta Theta Phi legall fraternity
has initiated programs in extra-curricular legal education and <social
contacts since the lJindsey Senate
was established in the spring of 1969.
'J1he speaker series initiated this
year has consisted of a bi-monthly
luncheon at which local attorneys
have given lectures involving the
practical aspects of their particular
areas of interest.
In the past two months, the Delts
heard Tom Richa'rds, first assistant
in the LUbbock Distric,t Attorney's
office; Kent Hance, practicing attorney in Lubbock; and J obn McFall,
a local attorney with a large criminal
practice.
Richards spoke on the workings of
the district attorney's office, placing
particulalr empha:sis on what a recent
law gr.aduate might be doing should
he be employed as an assistant district attorney.
Hance, in an informal talk, discussed the many problems .and adventures of a newly-licensed lawyer.
He was recently admitted to the Bar
and was able to give practical answers to many of the questions which
trouble potential lawyers.
DICTUM is published periodically by the
Texas Tech School of Law in co-operation
with the school's Student Bar Association.
Views expressed by the editor, sta.ff or
guest columnists do not necessarily reflect
the opinions of elither the university or law
school administm.tions or the Student Bar
Association. ,CompoSition for this publication is done by Tech Press, Texas Tech
University. Photos courtesy of Texas Tech
Information Office.
Editor-in~Chief
Bruce il\-Iagness
Associate Editor .. .
Bob Baker
Placement Editors .. .
Boyd L. Richie',
Lloyd Jones
Staff
Jerry Kolander, Ron Nicku.m,
Jeff Wentworth, Alan i\Iurray, Robert
N. Eames
Faculty Advisor
W. Reed QullliaIIl