1Gary R.

Gurwitz
STC Trustee, Place 4
- South Texas College
- Trustee (1993 to date)
- Secretary (1993 - 1995)
- Chair (1996 - 1998)
- Vice Chair (2008 - 2010)

- Managing partner, ATLAS & HALL, L.L.P.

- The University of Texas at Austin ( B.B.A. 1958); The University of Texas School of Law
(J.D. with honors; Associate Editor, Texas Law Review, 1959)
- admitted to the Texas bar in 1959 and is celebrating/completing 50 th year of practice
- Active supporter of the University of Texas and The Law School; highlights include:

- The Littlefield Society,

- The President's Associates
- Executive Committee of the Chancellor's Council
- University of Texas School of Law Dean's Council
- Former Director, University of Texas School of Law Alumni Association
- Former District Director, University of Texas Ex-Students' Association Council
- Established the Sarah and Jack Gurwitz Endowed Presidential Scholarship in
Law

- Active member of the State Bar; highlights include:

- Former Member, Board of Directors (1984 - 1987)

- One of the two nominees for State Bar President (1988; an election he lost)
- Former Member and former Vice-Chair, Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional
Conduct Committee (1996 – 2007)
- Former Member and Chair, Continuing Legal Education Committee
- Member, Board of Disciplinary Appeals (appointed by Justice Wainwright)
- Professional organizations and honors include:

- Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers;

- Sustaining Life Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation;
- Fellow, American Bar Foundation;
- Member, International Association of Defense Counsel;
- Member, American Counsel Association;
- Member, Association of Defense Trial Attorneys;
- Member, Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers;
- Past Vice President, The Texas Center for Legal Ethics and Professionalism;
- Past Board Member and Vice President, Texas Association of Defense Counsel;
- Past President, Hidalgo County Bar Association;
- Past Director, Texas Rural Legal Aid Association;
- Texas Super Lawyer for 2003 - 2009, Law & Politics/Texas Monthly magazines;
- Hidalgo County Bar Association Lifetime Achievement Award (2006)

- Community Service highlights and honors include (he has served as a board member or
counsel to virtually every major charitable and/or non-profit organization in South Texas):
 - Vice-Chairman, University of Texas-Pan American School of Business
Administration, Business Advisory Council
- Member, Board of Directors of Vannie E. Cook Jr. Cancer Foundation.
- American Heart Association, Upper Valley Division, Heart of Gold Award (1993)
- Muscular Dystrophy Association Humanitarian of the Year Award (2004)
- The State of Israel Unity Award (2007)

Gary’s bio is but a “dry” account of some of his accomplishments; it fails to

describe adequately his significant contributions to his law firm, his community, and the
profession. He is described by those who know him best as always doing what’s right.

Gary’s primary professional focus has been his law firm, where he has practiced
and been a partner with Morris Atlas for virtually his entire 50 year career–and where he
presently is the managing partner. Atlas & Hall is the largest firm south of San Antonio.
During a time where the quality or success of a firm is determined not solely by financial
results, but also by its efforts and ability to attract and retain women and minorities and
to nurture and help develop them into partners, plus its pro bono and civic dedication,
Gary has guided Atlas & Hall to the “top of the class” on all accounts. While firms
across Texas and the Rio Grande Valley are downsizing or otherwise suffering in a
relatively slow economic period, Atlas & Hall recently has grown by about 20%–in both
its transactional and litigation sections. The firm has grown by approximately 50% in
the last dozen or so years. The firm’s demographic profile includes Hispanic, Asian,
African, and Arab Americans. Women and minorities account for almost 50% of the
firm’s equity partners and almost 50% of the firm’s associates and non-equity partners.

Gary’s civic-mindedness also epitomizes the finest traditions of service to the

community. He has been a board member, counsel or advisor (and/or major
contributor) to many of the largest and most significant nonprofits, charities, and civic
organizations in the Rio Grande Valley, including Planned Parenthood, Easter Seals,
the American Heart Association, the Vannie Cook, Jr. Cancer Foundation, and South
Texas Academic Rising Stars (a scholarship provider that has raised millions of dollars
for local students to attend college). He has lead by example and fostered the same
commitment to community among his law partners, many of whom now serve as board
members, counsel or advisors to many nonprofits, charities, and civic organizations in
the Rio Grande Valley.