austinbar.org JULY/AUGUST 2021 | VOLUME 30, NUMBER 6
Introducing the 2021-22 Austin Bar President: David Courreges
D
avid Courreges began his term as president of the Austin Bar Association on July 1, 2021, along with President-Elect Amanda Arriaga, Secretary Justice Chari Kelly, Treasurer Mary-Ellen King, Immediate Past-President Kennon Wooten, AYLA President Rachael Jones, and AYLA President-Elect Blair Leake, who make up the executive committee for the 202122 bar year. Courreges agreed to be interviewed so the members of the Austin Bar could learn more about their new president and his plans for the organization in the coming year. AUSTIN BAR: Would you tell us about your background and your family? COURREGES: I grew up on a small horse farm in China Spring, Tx, which is located in McLennan County outside of Waco. I was raised by my mother,
Deanna, who was the office manager for a Waco-area anesthesiologist, and later became an enforcement officer for the Texas Comptroller. After graduating from China Spring High School (Go Cougars!), I attended McLennan Community College in Waco (Go Highlanders!), before attending the University of Texas at Austin (Hook ‘em!) where I graduated with a double major in government and history, both with an emphasis on “Texas,” and a minor in Danish. Det ere n lang, men interessant historie. While in college I began to work for my hometown State Representative Jim Dunnam, and continued to do so after graduation. I eventually moved to San Antonio to attend St. Mary’s University (Go Rattlers!) for law school and graduate school. While at St. Mary’s I developed an even greater love for public service through the Student Bar Association, and the myriad of
If I wanted to spend my life helping others solve their problems, I felt I would be best equipped to do so as a lawyer. I haven’t been disappointed—thanks primarily to the opportunities the Austin Bar has provided over the years.
Austin Bar President David Courreges with his daughter, McKenna, and wife, Erin.
community service opportunities the law school facilitated. My mother spent most of her youth and all of her adult life raising horses and teaching others to ride. Therefore, I spent most of my childhood and college years raising horses, and competing in the sport of “Eventing,” which is an Olympic sport that combines dressage, stadium jumping, and cross country. Growing up with horses defined my life. It taught me a different kind of work ethic, empathy for others, and—at least I think—gave me the ability to problem-solve and teach. It also provided me with a lifetime of stories and friends from all across the country and many parts of the world. My wife Erin and I just celebrated our 15th anniversary. We are the proud parents of an 11-year-old little girl, McKenna, who is a rising sixth grader and all-around amazing kid. Erin and I met at the Capitol as staffers and continued to work together
as staffers and lobbyists for over a decade. She worked for several state representatives and Speaker of the House Pete Laney before she moved into lobbying. Erin joined me in retirement from lobbying a few years ago and is now focusing on her retail business, “Bits of Courage,” and is also a travel planner. I openly admit that we are a Disney family and have been known to go two or three times a year. AUSTIN BAR: Why did you want to become a lawyer? COURREGES: The answer is a short one: Because I wanted to help people. I learned over the course of my youth that I received an enhanced feeling of personal satisfaction when I was able to help others achieve their goals. Once I found my way to the Texas Legislature as a staffer, I found that many of the individuals whom I considered to be continued on page 6
