The Steven G. Condos Award for Outstanding New Member to the College

The award has been presented annually since 2016 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.

2021 Recipient – Shelly Joyner

Shelly C. Joyner is an associate attorney at Crain & Wooley, an estate planning firm in Plano, Texas. She is a proud graduate of UNT Dallas College of Law where she was active in advocacy activities, student government, and other student organizations.

Originally from Memphis, Shelly is a “second career” lawyer after 17 years in various positions with an air freight shipping company. She chose to go to law school after she found herself studying law as a way to unwind after a tough night on the tarmac. She found the perfect school in UNT Dallas College of Law where her class was comprised primarily of other non-traditional students with a passion for justice.

After graduation, Shelly was able to continue at Crain & Wooley where she’d started working as a law clerk during law school. There, she was able to use her contingency planning background to create custom estate plans for clients. The firm also gave her the opportunity to find creative outlets for community education regarding Texas probate laws, which are commonly misunderstood and often result in a costly clean-up for loved ones.

When the pandemic changed everything, Shelly chose to take the lemons and make lemonade. When CLEs became easily accessible online through her various bar organizations, she loaded up on as many as possible. Because of the additional education, she was able to take on ancillary matters for her estate planning clients that the firm had previously referred out. Additional civil rights training allowed her to spend the summer volunteering as a legal observer at the racial justice demonstrations throughout North Texas. Other pro bono work during the year resulted in membership in the State Bar of Texas Pro Bono College. Shelly strongly believes that it is her duty as an attorney to advocate for those who cannot afford legal services, and is grateful that the Texas Bar College gives her the resources to be able to effectively do so.

Shelly is involved with the amazing women of Attorneys Serving the Community and Daughters of the American Revolution. She is also currently serving as a Co-Chair of the Dallas Area Young Lawyer’s Elder Law Community Outreach Committee. She greatly enjoys helping aspiring advocates by judging high school, undergraduate, and law school moot court and mock trial competitions throughout North Texas. She also loves walking Plano’s city parks with her mutts, Pepper the Batdog and Moira Rose.

2020

Carra Miller

2019

Geeta R. Dammanna

2018

Christine S. Wakeman

2017

Constance Filley Johnson

2016

Russell Blair Ross, Houston

2015

Rachael K. Jones, Austin

2014

Kirsten L. Ruehman, Houston

2013

Jessica L. Mikell, Houston

2012

Ms. Umeka Lewis, Houston

2011

Abraham Michael Khaleghi, Houston

2010

Allen L. Stidger, Fort Worth

2009

Edward Frank Penak, Austin

2008

Elizabeth Ann Gilday, Dallas

2007

Maxine Aaronson, Dallas

2006

Mary E. Ramos, Houston

2005

Leo A. Luebbehusen, Hurst

2004

Rebecca Denise McCrum Renfro, Deer Park

2003

Kristyn Swen Helge, Fort Worth

2002

Douglas F. Ocker, Houston

2001

Ben B. Fiedler, Houston

2000

Georgia L. Fenton, Sugar Land

1999

Teresa C. Trowers, Lubbock

1998

Lloyd D. Ronin, Houston

1997

Robert L. Cole, Jr., Quitman

1996

Andrew L. Fono, Jacksonville, NC

1995

John C. Juravich, Houston

1994

Gloria P. Martinez Senftner, Auburn, CA