HBA Milestones
Phyllis Tucker, Dorothy Weatherly, and Marjorie Werlein. On April 18, 72 women were present as the new auxiliary adopted a constitution, elected Virginia Noel as president, and set annual dues at $2. On May 10, charter memberships were designated for 199 women and the HBAA held its first regular meeting at River Oaks Recreation Center. Over the next two years, HBAA members were integral to the development and organization of some of the Houston Bar’s largest events. In addition to the State Bar Annual Meeting, the HBAA, which had grown to well over 300 members, organized, planned and executed four major events for the HBA and the Junior Bar; devised a cutting-edge registration system for large conventions; orchestrated social events, including transportation; and hosted a style show in conjunction with the National Association of Attorneys General.2 By Tara Shockley In 1949, the HBAA was instrumental in organizing the first Harvest he Houston Bar Association Auxiliary (HBAA) was founded Party, which would become the legal community’s premier fall social in 1947.1 World War II was over, and many women who had event, attracting more than 1,000 attorneys and guests each year. The entered the workHBAA continues to play a role force during the war in what is now known as the found themselves Harvest Celebration, which in once again homemakers, as job 2009 became the main fundpreference went to those who raiser for the HBA’s pro bono had served in combat. The U.S. program, Houston Volunteer economy was thriving, and the Lawyers. legal profession followed suit, When the HBA first decided although there were still few Photos from the State Bar of Texas Convention and a luncheon for spouses during the to have an annual dinner in National Association of Attorneys General Convention in the 1940s. women lawyers. 1961, the HBA Board called The State Bar of Texas on the Auxiliary to help orwas planning to hold its anganize it at the Houston Club. nual meeting in Houston in Today, the HBAA president 1948, and HBA President and spouse sit at the head taPalmer Hutcheson believed ble at the annual dinner, and women could provide the orthe president of the Auxiliary ganization, guidance and serves as an ex officio member leadership to ensure a successof the HBA Board of Directors. ful convention. Social events By the 1980s, the HBA and that appealed to both lawyers the HBAA acknowledged “a Five of the original 12 Organizing Members of 2019-2020 HBAA President Keisha and their spouses were planned. the HBAA. Seated: Nancy Collie Reed, Maxine Phillips presents the HBAA Jaworski pervasive negativism about the Hutcheson asked Virginia Noel, Cook and Phyllis Tucker. Standing: Elsie Award to Stewart Gagnon in March legal profession, a loss of es2020. who was herself a lawyer, and Pressler and Marjorie Werlein. teem for practicing attorneys, Reagan Cartwright, then servand a lack of respect for the law ing as president of the Houston and the U.S. system of justice Junior Bar Association (now the by citizens.”3 The HBA realized Houston Young Lawyers Assothat lawyers needed to be more ciation) to organize a Women’s engaged with their community Auxiliary to the HBA. through pro bono legal service, Noel gathered 12 women support for local nonprofits, who would become known as The 1st place team from Hughes Watters Askanase at the February 2020 Chili and Pie and public education about the Organizing Founders at the Cookoff, benfiting the law school scholarship program of the HBAA Charitable Fund. the law. The HBAA established Houston Club on February 27, 1947. In addition to Virginia Noel, those the Houston Bar Auxiliary Charitable Fund, Inc. and developed its own women were Ruth Brown, Jean Cartwright, Maxine Cook, Nancy Colcommunity service projects. The Auxiliary created a library of law-related lie, Caroline Hutcheson, Mildred Patterson, Elsie Pressler, Lorna Terrell, video tapes for use in schools and community organizations, organized
Houston Bar Association Auxiliary:
A History of Service to the Bar and Community
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November/December 2020
thehoustonlawyer.com
