Jordan was elected to the board’s executive committee in 2000, and he served as chair of the board from 2003 to 2008. Through the years, he demonstrated philanthropic leadership and spearheaded efforts to increase the effectiveness of the board.

“Don Jordan has provided extraordinary leadership and service for more than 30 years on the law school’s board,” said Genora Boykins ’85, chair of the South Texas College of Law Houston Board of Directors. “His commitment has been unfailing, and he has tirelessly given of his time, wisdom, and counsel to the board and administration — directly and positively impacting past and future students, faculty, and staff.”

A resolution unanimously adopted by the law school’s board of directors at the Dec. 13 meeting commended Jordan for “his dedication to the mission, success, and achievement of South Texas College of Law Houston.” The board also extended its heartfelt thanks for his service and commitment and congratulated him on his retirement.

Jordan is the former chairman and CEO of Reliant Energy, the Houston-based international diversified energy services company. Joining the company in 1956 when it was called Houston Lighting & Power Company, Jordan moved up to ever higher management positions and was CEO from 1977 until his retirement in 1999.

Through the years, Jordan’s community leadership and service included chairing the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and roles on many corporate and nonprofit boards, including the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), Association of Electric Companies of Texas, the World Energy Council, AEGIS Services, Inc., BJ Services Co., the Texas Medical Center, and the Texas Heart Institute.

His many honors include being named Distinguished Alumnus by the University of Texas and South Texas College of Law Houston, Distinguished Non-Alumnus by the University of Houston, South Texan of the Year by the Texas Chamber of Commerce, Father of the Year by Community Partners, Outstanding Proud Partner by Keep Houston Beautiful, and Man of the Year by the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.

He also has received the Community Service Award from the Houston Citizens Chamber of Commerce; the Distinguished Citizen Award from the Rotary Club of Houston; and the Executive of the Year award from World Cogeneration Magazine.

Jordan was a 2001 inductee into the Texas Business Hall of Fame, 2006 honoree for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Ben Johnson Memorial Classic, and Honorary Chairman of CCFA’s 2007 Winter Ball.

A Corpus Christi native, Jordan received a bachelor’s degree in industrial management from the University of Texas and a law degree from the South Texas College of Law Houston in 1969. He is married to Barbara Jordan and has three daughters: Leslie Hazelwood, Lisa Cunningham, and Laura McNear.

Ruthie White ’97, South Texas College of Law Houston board member since 2016, passed away Nov. 30.

“Ruthie was a perceptive and engaged member of our board, and we were blessed by her leadership, wisdom, and wit over several years,” said Genora Boykins ’85, chair of the STCL Houston board of directors. “She taught and mentored our students as an adjunct professor, taught multiple CLEs, and mentored many young lawyers about important topics, including diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession. Her life made a positive impact on so many, and she will be greatly missed.”

White regularly volunteered her time and expertise on behalf of student at South Texas Law. She served on the board executive committee and chaired the board’s effectiveness and nominating committee in 2021. In addition, White regularly contributed pro bono legal services to the Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program.

She was a partner, and the labor and employment practice group leader, at Spencer Fane in Houston. White’s broad in-house and outside-counsel background gave her the ability to counsel employers on a wide range of labor and employment issues.

White was passionate about diversity in the workplace, as well as fairness and equality in all areas of life. She founded The Downtown Group, a 200-member networking organization of African American female lawyers, and she contributed pro bono legal services to the Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program. She was a frequent speaker at continuing legal education seminars for law schools and bar associations.

White earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin, her J.D. from South Texas, and her MBA from the University of Houston.

Her wisdom, sense of humor, mentorship, and friendship were legendary. Read her official obituary and share your condolence reflections here: Ruthie White ’97 Obituary

South Texas College of Law Houston recently received notification that the “Prelude to the Centennial” video produced by the Office and Marketing and Communications and Limelight Films in fall 2022 was selected as one of four Best of CASE District IV winners in the category of Videos: Promotional (Long).

The video was produced for the Office of Advancement and Alumni Engagement and shown at The Gala of South Texas Law in September 2022, and it currently is featured on the law school’s Centennial microsite.

The project was co-led by Terri Parris, director of strategic communications, and Ken Kosub, director at Limelight Films, in coordination with Dr. Michelle Morris, associate vice president for marketing and communications.

According to CASE, the “Best of District IV Awards celebrate the best work in educational advancement in the Southwest region and acknowledge superior accomplishments that have lasting impact, demonstrate the highest level of professionalism, and deliver exceptional results.”

Winners are showcased in the winners gallery on the CASE website. CASE District IV represents 260 educational institutions in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.

CASE is the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, a global nonprofit association dedicated to educational advancement professionals — in alumni relations, communications, development, marketing, and advancement services — who share the goal of championing education to transform lives and society.