University of Texas School of Law - Peregrinus Yearbook (Austin, TX)

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SBA Presents Silver with Award of Merit November 12, 1997: What began as just another day on the job — albeit, a birthday, but still all in all quite normal -- would soon become one of the most memorable days of Professor Charles Silver ' s career. When Prof. Silver began his 8:30 class on Federal Civil Procedure, there was Happy Birthday written on the chalkboard and some donuts and orange juice set out — the usual things for the occasion. But the day would soon become. ..a little stranger. I was just teaching away when, about halfway through the lecture, in march what seemed to me about a hundred people, including former students and colleagues, Prof. Silver said. They launched into a birthday skit of Charlie ' s Angels, and they ivere trying to find out if I was really Charlie. Three female students were the Angels, and they made provocative poses behind my chair and rubbed my hair in ingratiating ways. The skit was just the beginning. Afterwards, everyone began giving presents - - and it was then that David Greenstone of the Student Bar Association presented Prof. Silver with the Texas Excellence Teaching Award. It was just extraordinary, and it took me completely by surprise. There were many colleagues there who were former winners -- it felt like I was being inducted into a hall of fame, he said. The Texas Excellence Teaching Award is given once a year, and the recipient is cho- sen by student voting. Heather Savoy, first year law student, said she voted for Prof. Silver because of the great value of his teach- ing. He teaches you how to be a lawyer. He ' s always bringing in real world experi- ences to his lectures, and has a great person- al interest in his students, she said. Prof. Silver puts a great deal of emphasis on the practicality of law, and makes it a focus of his lectures. I try to bring [the law profession] down to earth, and give it mileage in one ' s life, he said. Prof. Silver has gained distinction in many areas. He is regarded as one of the country ' s leading authorities on the responsibilities of insurance defense law yers, has testified in Congress, and at both Houses of the Texas Legislature, and has produced between 20 and 30 pubhcations. A graduate of Yale Law Schoo l, Prof. Silver went straight to teach- ing, and has been with the L ' niversity since 1987. I can still remember my interview for my job here at the University. I ' ve always thought it was the hand of God that plucked me out of New Haven, Connecticut, and placed me in Texas, he said. His time in Texas has garnered the respect of many of his colleagues. He brings a rare combination of real con- cern over how the law works with a sophisti- cated theoretical background. That he can make this available is wonderful. That he was chosen for the award is a tribute to our students, Professor Samuel Issacharoff said. According to Prof. Silver, he has always seen himself as a teacher, and has never regretted his choice of profession, or ever thought of UT as anything less than home. It ' s been a wonderful ride -- i t ' s hard to think of a better place to be, he said. It ' s a perfect job -- I get to teach intelligent stu- dents who want to be there, write what I want to write -- what ' s better? — Abby Dover

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Faculty Selects Canales to Receive Service Award The University of Texas School of Law Faculty Service Av rard is primarily designed to honor those who have improved the quality of life for law students and facult ' in some special way. This year the law school faculty selected Ramiro Canales, president of the Chicano Hispanic Law Student Association, for his outstanding leadership and profound dedication to the University and the law school community. Canales is the first student to receive this prestigious award. Previous recipients include Harry Reasoner, president of the Law School Foundation, and Morris Atlas, senior and managing partner of Atlas Hall, L.L.P. The award was presented to Canales at the spring Sunflower Ceremony on May 24, 1998, at the Frank C. Erwin, Jr. Special Events Center. Canales is the former chief of staff to Rep. Irma Rangel, D-Kingsville, chairwoman of the House Higher Education Committee. A former migrant farm worker, Canales received a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, in 1991 and a Master of Public Affairs from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin in 1994. Dean Michael bharlot presents the Faculty Service Award to Kamiro Canales at the Sunflower Ceremony. — photos by John Foxworth 16 - Faculty Service Award lEftv K Ramiro Canales gives his acceptance speech at the Frwin c;cntcr.

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Austin Honors Former UT Law Dean W. Page Keeton I When students returned to the Univcrsit) ' after their summer break, there was a new change that confused some and left others with a feehng of great satisfaction. The confusion lay in the renaming of the stretch of 26th St. from IH-35 to the Drag. The street was renamed Dean Keeton Street after the former Dean of the School of Law. The mission to rename the street after Dean Keeton was not easy. Keeton ' s cousin, Trooper Keeton, spear- headed the effort during the spring and summer when members of the Austin Cit ' Council contemplated renaming the street after the late Barbara Jordan. It is only right that that stretch be named Texas Railroad Commissioner Carol Keeton-Rylander helps her father, former UT Law Dean, W. Page Keeton, accept the official dedication sign from Austin Mayor Kirk Watson. Dean Keeton served as the Dean of the School of Law from 1949 to 1974. —photos bv Charles Luu Dean Keeton, said Trooper Keeton. He served the law school for longer than any other adininistrator had or since. After soliciting the help of several individ- uals including Darrell K. Royal and Austin City Council Member Eric Mitchell, the change was official on July 12, 1997. - Charles Luu DEAH wm MtA f iJ 18-DcanW, Page Keeton i l i.