Seven Fellows were announced as part of the 2025 slate of awards being presented by the Texas Bar Foundation. Andrew L. Kerr, Judge Ruby Kless Sondock, and Luther H. ‘Luke’ Soules III will be honored with the Outstanding 50-Year Lawyer Award. Georganna L. Simpson is the recipient of the Dan Rugeley Price Memorial Award, William H. Ford is the recipient of the Ronald D. Secrest Outstanding Trial Lawyer Award, Senior Justice Debra Lehrmann is the recipient of the Samuel Pessarra Outstanding Jurist Award, and Jeffrey S. Levinger is the recipient of the Gregory S. Coleman Outstanding Appellate Lawyer Award.
The Outstanding 50 Year Lawyer Award was the first award established by the Texas Bar Foundation and recognizes attorneys whose practice spanned fifty years, as of January 1st of the year of the award, or more, and who adhere to the highest principles and traditions of the legal profession and service to the public. Andrew Kerr is currently a member at Clark Hill, out of their San Antonio office, where he prosecutes and defends lawsuits involving a wide variety of claims for clients in the energy, oil and gas, and banking industries. Judge Sondock was the first woman to serve on the Texas Supreme Court in a regular session of the Court, after becoming the first woman district court judge in Harris County and the first woman appointed to the 234th District Court. Luther H. ‘Luke’ Soules III founded the firm Soules & Wallace and, during his 57 years as a lawyer, chaired several important committees for the Supreme Court of Texas and the State Bar of Texas.
The Dan Rugeley Price Memorial Award honors the qualities of an accomplished legal writer and researcher, a talented and dedicated practicing lawyer, a servant of the profession as a volunteer and an advocate on its behalf. Georganna L. Simpson is currently Of Counsel at McClure Law Group, where her practice focuses on family law appeals and trial support.
The Ronald D. Secrest Outstanding Trial Lawyer Award highlights an active trial lawyer who, by his or her practice, has demonstrated outstanding trial and advocacy skills, has demonstrated high ethical and moral standards, and has demonstrated exceptional professional conduct, thus enhancing the image of the trial lawyer. William H. Ford is a Shareholder at Ford Murray, where his practice over the past 44 years has covered a broad range of cases focused on unique issues.
The Samuel Pessarra Outstanding Jurist Award honors an active Federal or State Judge and the honoree should exhibit an exceptionally outstanding reputation for competency, efficiency and integrity. Justice Debra Lehrmann is the Senior Justice on the Supreme Court of Texas and the Court’s longest-serving woman justice in Texas history.
The Gregory S. Coleman Outstanding Appellate Lawyer Award honors an attorney an outstanding appellate practice while maintaining a strong commitment to providing legal services for the underserved, along with a dedication to mentoring young attorneys. Jeffrey S. Levinger is the founder of Levinger PC and has been a Texas appellate lawyer for over 35 years.
Read more about the awards here.