The Merianne Gaston Award for Excellence in Legal Support

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.

2025 Recipient – Rhonda J. Brashears, CP, BCP

Rhonda has worked as a Paralegal for 37 years, with 35 of those years at the Underwood Law Firm in Amarillo, Texas.  She specializes in personal injury and civil trial defense law. She received her B.G.S. from West Texas A&M University in 1998, her Certified Paralegal designation from NALA–The Paralegal Association in 1996, and was Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Personal Injury Trial Law in 1998.

Since starting her career as a paralegal, Rhonda has strived to further the paralegal profession.  She became a member of the Paralegal Division of the State Bar of Texas in 1990 and first served on the Board of Directors from 1997-2001; she was secretary for two of those years and she was President in 2002-2003 and again in 2008-2009.  She was Publications Chair for Texas Paralegal Journal for four years and won outstanding committee chair for that position; Online CLE chair for seven years; and served as Chair of the Texas Advanced Paralegal Seminar “TAPS” for two years.

In November of 2015, Rhonda became coordinator of the Paralegal Division, serving the Board of Directors and the members in numerous capacities, including meeting planner for TAPS. She also still serves as an Ambassador to the Paralegal Division.

Rhonda was honored with the Paralegal Division Award of Excellence in 2023, which is the highest honor a member can receive.

Rhonda is a member of the Texas Panhandle Paralegal Association, where she has served as President, President-Elect, Treasurer, and NALA Liaison.  She is also a member of NALA–The Paralegal Association and an Amarillo Bar Association Paralegal Member.

In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, two doodles, scrapbooking, quilting and traveling everywhere she can.

Past Recipients