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FROM THE EDITOR
The Question of Why? As I find myself rushing to another meeting, furiously dialing in to another conference call, or sending emails in the midst of a hectic day, all for various activities to which I give my time, I can almost feel the puzzled looks of my co-workers and family. To be sure, both are very forgiving of my time away from them as I pursue my volunteer efforts. However, there is inevitably the hidden question, never quite verbalized, “Why?” Internally, I ask the question myself at times. Often, I hear the voice in my head of Alec Guiness, playing Comrade Zhivago in the classic film Dr. Zhivago, intoning the memorable line, “Happy men don’t volunteer.” Which brings me to answering the question: “Why?” Personally, it is a question of gratitude. I count myself lucky to have spent my life around my wonderful family, spouse, neighbors, and fellow lawyers for the past four decades. I also count myself lucky to have spent my life living in this great state, and having been born in the great city that is Houston. In my mind, one of the things that has bestowed upon us both our community’s unsung quality of life and magnificent legal system is the willingness of dedicated people to give their time to make both better. Over the years, volunteers have shared my sense of good fortune and gratitude and worked to give something back. What makes me proud is that quite often it has been the same group of people promoting both the community’s quality of life and the legal system. Specifically, I am referring to the lawyers of Houston. This month’s special issue is devoted to volunteerism, with a particular focus on those lawyers giving their time to help families, children and pets. Ruth Piller, a shareholder with my law firm, and Professor Maxine Goodman of South Texas College of Law have served as our guest editors for this issue. Both deserve a hearty thanks for their efforts in putting this issue together. I hope each reader takes the time to read about each attorney whose efforts are spotlighted in this issue, as they are truly local heroes. Speaking of heroes, I would be remiss if I did not thank the volunteer members of our editorial board for their efforts. I am proud of our issues this year, and prouder still to be associated with these outstanding members of our profession. If you have enjoyed our magazine, please take the time to read the names of our board members and thank them when you see them in the course of your practice. Thanks also to our managing editor, Tara Shockley, for her efforts year in and year out to make this publication better. Serving as Editor in Chief of this publication has been one of the great honors of my career, and I am grateful to have had this opportunity. With respect to such gratitude, if Comrade Zhivago were to read this special issue, I like to think that he would amend his observation to, “Grateful people volunteer.”
The 2007-2008 Editorial Board of The Houston Lawyer: seated from left, Associate Editor Ann Zeigler, Editor in Chief David Wilson and Associate Editor Fred Simpson. Standing, from left, Maxine Goodman, Mark Trachtenberg, Robert Painter, Janet Moore, Nelson Ebaugh, Linhuyen Pham, Michelle Cash, Judy Ney, Tamara Stiner, Scott Lemond, Crystal Parker, Don Rogers, Ruth Piller, Al Harrison, John Gray, Hon. Leslie Brock Yates, Mark Schuck, Jim Paulsen, and Stephan Selinidis. Not pictured: Associate Editor Sharon Cammack, Associate Editor Mark A. Correro, Bradford Crockard, Don D. Ford, Sara Keegan, Steve Gyeszly, Kevin Jewell and Jocelyn LaBove.
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