Mississippi Life Fellow William F. Goodman, Jr.
August 31, 2008, Fellows in the news, Mississippi Business Journal
William F. Goodman, Jr. has been named the University of Mississippi School of Law Alumnus of the Year. Mr. Goodman completed his law degree at Ole Miss in 1951 and has practiced at the law firm of Watkins & Eager since 1953.
Goodman has served his community and state in numerous capacities during his 50-plus years as an attorney. A Jackson native, he has been honored with invitation-only memberships in the American Bar Foundation, Mississippi Bar Foundation, American Academy of Appellate Lawyers and American College of Trial Lawyers. For 25 consecutive years, he has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America.
"Bill Goodman is perhaps the most highly respected member of the Bar in Mississippi," said Samuel Davis, dean of the UM law school. "It seems trite to say it, but he is a real lawyers' lawyer, a highly skilled advocate, the personification of professionalism and the epitome of a Southern gentleman."
Goodman has played an important role in fundraising for a new law school facility, which is expected to be completed in 2010. Besides his professional accomplishments, he served for many years as a director and member of the executive committee for Trustmark Corp. and Trustmark National Bank. He also was on the board of the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership and president of the Country Club in Jackson.
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