A plaque is awarded to an author of an outstanding CLE article presented during the year. Articles must be published by December 31st to be considered. The award is named in honor of Franklin Jones, Jr. of Marshall, Texas, a co-founder of the College.
The award is presented annually to an outstanding first-year member of the College. The Texas Bar College created the award in memory of Steve Condos, one of the original Charter members of the College who served as an influential and hardworking member of the first College Board shortly before his untimely death.
This award recognizes a legal support professional whose conduct, commitment, and actions demonstrate extraordinary dedication to the legal profession. The award is named in honor of Merianne Gaston, who worked for over 30 years at the State Bar of Texas. She served the Texas Bar College from 2009 until her retirement in 2018, first as Managing Director and then as Executive Director. Merianne dedicated her entire career to promoting the importance of continuing legal education and improving the quality and content of the programing.
Awarded annually since 1994 to an outstanding College member based on achievement or contribution to professionalism. A plaque is given to the recipient and a cash award of $1,000 is given to the Texas Access to Justice Foundation, or the law school of their choice, in the name of the award recipient. The award is named in honor of Jim D. Bowmer, of Temple, Texas, the originator of the idea of the State Bar College and a co-founder of the College.
This award honors a Texas attorney for outstanding achievement in CLE as a course director, speaker, author, or creator of a new course and highlights their significant impact on the legal community’s ongoing education and professional development. The award is named in honor of Patrick A. Nester of Driftwood, Texas, who served as the Executive Director of the Texas Bar College until his retirement in 2017. Mr. Nester was also the Director of TexasBarCLE, the State Bar of Texas’ CLE department, from 1986 to 2000 and again from 2005 to 2016.
