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

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The Birth of the Peregrinus Saint Ives, Patron Saint of all law students, has nothing on the Peregrinus as a Patron Saint. The Peregrinus was created in December, 1899, and was adopted by the Junior Law Class in 1901 as the Patron Saint of the Law School. The birth of Perry took place in the lecture room of one of the most colorful and beloved of the early law professors. Colonel W.S. Simkins. It was the Colonel's first year of instructing, and his students were intrigued by the way he pronounced—or mispronounced —some Latin terms. One day in his Equity class he asked a student to identify the word Peregrinus, which was the name of an ancient Roman official, whose full name was Praetor Peregrinus. The student swung too low on the curved pronunciation, however, and guessed, Wal, I don't know. Judge, 'less it could be some kind of animal. This student was Jim Livingston McCall, a star Longhorn football player who was the center for the team. Another version of the incident by those who believe it was 1900 and not 1899 that Peregrinus was born, claim that the incident took place after Texas beat A M on Thanksgiving. McCall was asleep in class when called on because he had been up the night before celebrating the victory. Nevertheless, it was too good to let die, and in practically nothing flat another student, the late Russell R. Savage of Corpus Christi, drew a picture of the imaginary animal in class and on the blackboard the next morning before class. The Sketch was later copied in a plaster statuette, which was installed as the idol of the Law School. The small orange and white figurine has also been securely installed in the hearts of thousands of students through the years. Since early in the century Perry has been the symbol of a feud between the Lawyers and the Engineers, with the result that he has been captured and taken for a ride several times. It is not known for certain, but it is believed that the current Perry is the fourth edition of the original. Perry is always the subject of inquiry by the first year students; some have asked why a duck appears on the official senior ring. But, it doesn't take long before these students learn that the Peregrinus is the patron saint of the Law School and join thousands who for more than half a century have shown their love, admiration and respect for Perry. In discussing the Roman Court that set up the cases involving foreigners. Colonel Simkins told of the judge who presided over the court and, intentionally or unintentionally, he pronounced Praetor Peregrinus as Peregrinoos, and to this day it is still so pronounced. Savage drew the picture on the blackboard and when Professor Simkins arrived he saw that the creature had the tail of a fox, the body of a donkey, the eyes of an eagle, the head of a stork, and vicious fangs. On his front feet were men's shoes and on his rear feet were boxing gloves. Later a claw replaced one front shoe and an Irish ditcher's boot replaced the other. Colonel Simkins first gave significance to the features and through the years his comments picked up other traditional meanings. The fiery mouth was to fight injustice and represent the wide latitude of a bill of equity; the bushy tail of a fox represents the wise and skillful lawyer or the shrewd and crafty one. On the Peregrinus' front foot the Irish ditcher's boot indicates the law's protection of the least of mankind. On the other front foot the naked claws indicate that the greatest of mankind must fear its power. His hindquarters are those of a dog, man's most faithful friend. The spotted patches indicate that even the most beautiful days will have a few clouds. The arched back in the attitude of springing indicates that the law is ever ready to protect right or prevent wrong. The sharp extending beak indicates the power to penetrate the mysteries of the law which the true student must obtain by study. Page 3

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1975 PEREGRINUS The Peregrinus is back after a two year absence, hopefully to stay. We are honored in this issue to be back in time to pay tribute to a much honored man. Page Keeton. It is hoped that this special issue of the Peregrinus will express the gratitude felt by UT Law Students for having shared in Page Keeton's long and important career. We respectively dedicate this book to a great man, to a reluctant legend in his own time .. . Page Keeton. Page Keeton—A Reluctant Legend Page 4 Faculty Page 12 Activities Page 38 Organizations Page 58 Classes Page 86 Index Page 140

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Page I decided to be a lawyer when I read one day after coming home from the cotton field that a lawyer did most of his work sitting down. I decided to be a lawyer way back there when I was about eleven or twelve or younger even. I guess my father encouraged me, and I never had any doubts about what I wanted to be ' Page -1