DEADLINE EXTENDED TO APRIL 29
The Hispanic Issues Section is seeking nominations for its annual awards.
CLICK HERE FOR THE NOMINATION FORM – NOMINATIONS DUE APRIL 29!
Each year HIS gives out three named awards and several additional awards based on your nominations:
The Reynaldo G. Garza Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an attorney or judge who is a member in good standing of the State Bar of Texas that has demonstrated a long commitment to and made great achievement in addressing concerns and issues affecting the Hispanic community and to the Hispanic Bar in Texas and has worked toward advancing diversity and access to justice in the practice of law. The award is named after the Honorable Reynaldo G. Garza, who became the United States’ first Mexican-American federal judge when he was appointed by President John F. Kennedy to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas in 1961. Judge Garza was later nominated by President Jimmy Carter to serve on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in 1979 and served on that court until his death in 2004. Additional information about Judge Garza may be found here.
The Pete Torres, Jr. Community Service Award recognizes an individual or organization that has demonstrated a history of service and commitment to the Hispanic community. The award is named after Peter Torres, Jr., the first Chair of the Hispanic Issues Section (when it was known as “Concerns of the Spanish Speaking Community”). Mr. Torres practiced law for over 40 years and was a former city councilman of San Antonio. He received a variety of awards honoring his long service to San Antonio as well as to the overall Hispanic community in Texas, including the MABA-TX Lifetime Achievement Award, the Hispanic Issues Section Reynaldo G. Garza Lifetime Achievement Award, and the St. Mary’s Law Alumni Association Henry B. Gonzalez Award.
The James W. Wray, Jr. Founder’s Award recognizes exceptional achievements on behalf of the Hispanic legal community. The award was named after its first honoree, Mr. James W. Wray, Jr. of Corpus Christi. Mr. Wray’s incredible effect on the Hispanic legal community in Texas cannot be measured. He helped to create, along with the work of several others while facing what has been described as vitriolic opposition, the predecessor organization to the current Hispanic Issues Section.
HIS also gives out awards each year in these categories:
- Hispanic/Mexican American Bar Association of the Year
- Judge of the Year
- Legislator of the Year
We look forward to receiving your nominations!