September 29, 2010

Press Release

Local Bar Association Shares 75 Years of History with TISD

Photo: Left to right:  Valerie Valentine, government teacher and Roger McAdoo, principal at Robert E. Lee High School; Rhonda Walker and Kim Tunnell, Tyler ISD administrators; David Hudson, Jim Huggler and Michael J. McNally, members of the Smith County Bar Association

Members of the Smith County Bar Association (SCBA) will present Tyler ISD with more than a dozen copies of a historical reference book the organization has created on Wednesday, September 29, at 1:30 p.m. at Robert E. Lee High School in the library, located at 411 ESE Loop 323, in Tyler. This reference book was written in recognition of the association’s 75^th anniversary.  

These historical reference books will be placed in every Tyler ISD middle and high school library as well as the Instructional Library for the school District. The publication includes courthouses, judges, attorneys, significant legal cases, legal community outreach programs and the historical significance of Smith County. Tyler was one of the original circuit stops for the Texas Supreme court. Since that time, Tyler has had some notable “firsts” including the first televised criminal trial. This legal milestone occurred in the 7^th District Court and was appealed to the United States Supreme Court. 

Jim Huggler, Past President of the SCBA stated, “We are very excited to provide a comprehensive historical journal of the Smith County Bar to assist both the legal profession, and educate the public.”

The SCBA received a grant from the Texas Bar Foundation to increase community awareness of the justice and legal system in the East Texas area by publishing a history of the Smith County Bar.  The SCBA utilized local historical societies and published lists of attorneys licensed since 1900 to collect data.

Copies of the book will be provided to educational and public libraries across East Texas.