David J. Beck Receives Texas Exes Distinguished Alumni Award

David J. Beck, a nationally recognized attorney and founder of Beck, Redden & Secrest, L.L.P., a Houston-based firm, will be recognized by the Texas Exes at their Distinguished Alumnus Awards Friday, Oct. 22, in Austin. The award, created in 1958, recognizes annually up to six graduates or former students of The University of Texas at Austin who have distinguished themselves professionally and through service to the university. The Distinguished Alumnus Award is the highest award given by the Texas Exes.

Beck received his bachelor of law degree in 1965 from The University of Texas at Austin. Before founding his own law firm, Beck was a senior partner of Fullbright & Jaworski, L.L.P. in Houston. In January 1992 Beck co-founded Beck, Redden & Secrest, L.L.P. with partners Joe Redden and Ron Secrest. The firm specializes in litigation involving energy, communications, investment, banking, insurance, drug and health care, chemical and high technology industries.

In 2004, Beck was appointed by Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist to the Judicial Conference Standing Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure, which is comprised of the nation’s leading judges, academicians and practitioners. In 2007, Chief Justice John Roberts appointed Beck to another three-year term on the committee.

Beck consistently makes the lists of top attorneys in the United States. The National Law Journal has named Beck as one of the top 10 trial lawyers in the United States. Texas Monthly has named him as one of Texas’ “Top 20 Super Lawyers,” and he has been recognized as one of “The Best Lawyers in America” by Woodward & White since 1990.

Beck also has been selected for premier leadership roles and special awards. He has served as president of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the State Bar of Texas. He also has received The University of Texas Law School Faculty Award and the State Bar of Texas Presidents’ Award for outstanding contributions to the legal profession. In addition, Beck was honored in 2005 with the Anti-Defamation League’s Jurisprudence Award. The award is presented each year to legal professionals who demonstrate a devotion to the principles that protect the U.S. Constitution, commitment to the democratic values of the U.S. and dedication to fair and equal justice for all.

The Texas Exes, the alumni association for The University of Texas, was founded in 1885. The mission of the Texas Exes is to unite, inform and involve alumni and friends for the purpose of promoting, protecting and preserving The University of Texas. Today there are around 90,000 members whom the association strives to connect to each other and to the past, present, and future of the university through career counseling, travel, reunions, continuing education, fellowship, legislative advocacy in support of higher education, and The Alcalde magazine. For more information on Texas Exes or to become a member, visit TexasExes.org.