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.

2026 Recipient – Christi A. Lankford, BCP-Family Law, TBLS

Christi is a premier paralegal and a dedicated steward of family law in Texas. Reflecting her rigorous professional standards, Christi has been a Board Certified Paralegal in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 2017.

She brings nearly four decades of elite legal support experience to her career. This includes an extensive former tenure as a Senior Paralegal for Cheryl L. Wilson at Wilson, Pennypacker & Thomson, LLP, along with her ongoing role since 1994 as the Executive Director of the Family Law Council of the State Bar of Texas, reflecting her lifelong commitment and central passion for the field of family law. She currently serves as the Paralegal/Executive Director for a private family office and foundation in San Antonio, a role that has significantly broadened her knowledge across diverse legal fields.

Christi’s work to advance programs within the Family Law Section and to direct the Family Law Council showcases a statewide dedication to promoting excellence in her field. She maintains active membership in the Paralegal Division, the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Texas, and the Texas Family Law Foundation, and is a Sustaining Member of the Junior League of San Antonio.

On a personal level, Christi enjoys being a MiMi to her precious grandchildren, spending time with her family, gardening, and traveling – especially to Jackson Hole in all seasons.

Past Recipients