Awarded annually since 1992 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.
The Jim D. Bowmer Professionalism Award
2023 Recipient – Hon. Michael Massengale
Hon. Michael Massengale is an arbitrator, mediator, and neutral evaluator with JAMS. Previously, he served as an appellate justice on the First Court of Appeals in Houston and practiced law as a trial partner at Baker Botts.
Justice Massengale serves by appointment of the Supreme Court of Texas as a commissioner on the Texas Access to Justice Commission, which develops and implements initiatives designed to expand access to, and enhance the quality of, justice in civil legal matters for low-income Texans. He serves on the Commission’s executive committee, and he co-chairs the working group formed to study and respond to the Supreme Court’s request for proposed rule modifications to allow qualified non-attorney paraprofessionals to provide limited legal services directly to low-income Texans and to allow non-attorneys to have economic interests in entities that provide legal services to low-income Texans while preserving professional independence. Justice Massengale previously served two terms on the Supreme Court of Texas Children’s Commission on Children, Youth and Families, during which time he oversaw the design and implementation of a trial skills academy for lawyers working on child welfare cases. He has received the Houston Bar Association’s President’s Award for outstanding service on the Harris County Law Library committee.
A member of the Texas Bar College, Justice Massengale speaks and presents continuing legal education programs on a variety of topics including the Texas Constitution, appellate practice, and alternative dispute resolution. He is a fellow of the Texas and Houston Bar Foundations and an elected member of the American Law Institute. He chairs the Red Mass Committee for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, and he is a current director and former president of the Thomas More Society of Galveston-Houston, Texas.
Past Recipients
2022
Jennifer A. Hasley, Houston
2021
Kim Askew, Dallas
2020
Hon. Ernest Aliseda, McAllen
2019
Chad Baruch, Dallas
2018
Mickey R. Davis, Houston
2017
Coyt Randal (Randy) Johnston, Dallas
2016
Richard L. Spencer, Houston
2015
Hon. Patricia Alvarez, San Antonio
2014
John G. Browning, Dallas
2013
Robert Pelton, Houston
2012
James Cooper, Houston
2011
Paul N. Gold, Houston
2010
Al Ellis, Dallas
2009
Charles M. Wilson, III, Dallas
2008
Hon. David E. Keltner, Fort Worth
2007
Edward Lindsay, Houston
2006
Mark W. Laney, Plainview
2005
Dana D. Jacobson, San Antonio
2004
Robert L. Meyers, Dallas
2003
Robert H. Dawson, Midland
2002
Claude E. Ducloux, Austin
2001
Andrew S. Hanen, Houston
2000
James H. (Blackie) Holmes III, Dallas
1999
James E. Brill, Dallas
1998
Broadus A. Spivey, Austin
1997
Thomas H. Watkins, Austin
1996
Eugene P. McGreal, Plano
1995
Rosa J. Pace, Borger
1994
Steven C. Laird, Dallas
1993
Bernard O. Dow
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