Aug. 20 U of M Law Dinner Will Celebrate Alumni and Brown Decision
For release: August 13, 2004
For press information, contact Gabrielle Maxey

The Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law at the University of Memphis will hold its first "Celebration of the Law" alumni dinner Friday, Aug. 20, at 6 p.m. at the Holiday Inn at the University. The dinner celebrates the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Education decision, which ended racial segregation in United States public schools.

Oliver White Hill, an attorney for the plaintiffs in the Brown case and the oldest surviving member of the legal team, will be the featured speaker. Judge James Swearengen, one of the first African-Americans to attend the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, also will be recognized.

Professor Kevin Smith will be presented the Excellence in Legal Education Award, Richard Collins will receive the Law Alumni Chapter Scholarship, and Tom Preston will be named Friend of the Law School.

Oliver Hill graduated from Howard University and Howard's School of Law. He was a classmate, rival, and close friend of U.S Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. They worked together on many cases, including Brown. Hill practiced law in Virginia and served in the Army during World War II. After returning from service in Europe, he worked tirelessly to end segregation and to achieve equality of education.

Tickets for the dinner are $55 per person or $400 for a table of eight. For reservations or more information, contact Emily Jones by phone at 678-1782 or via email at emilyjones@memphis.edu.

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