[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 38 (Wednesday, April 10, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E480]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING MORRIS AND SCOTT ATLAS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN BENTSEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 10, 2002

  Mr. BENTSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Morris and Scott Atlas upon 
their receipt of the Karen H. Susman Jurisprudence Award from the Anti-
Defamation League (ADL). For 15 years, the Southwest Region of the 
Anti-Defamation League has recognized leaders within the legal 
community for exemplary contributions to the legal community and the 
award, named in memory of Karen H. Susman, a distinguished civic leader 
and former chair of the ADL regional board, salutes the recipient's 
outstanding civic activities and their continued dedication to the 
mission of the ADL.
  It is certainly fitting that this year's recipients are Morris and 
Scott Atlas. They have been long-time friends of my family and myself 
and are two of the most distinguished individuals I know. Morris Atlas 
is among the ``builders'' of today's Rio Grande Valley and a leader of 
the University of Texas School of Law, from which he graduated. His 
son, Scott Atlas, is among the most prominent litigators in Texas. His 
clients have included both powerful corporations and the least powerful 
within our society. Above all, Scott, like his father, has been active 
in the development of Houston as a world-class city.
  Morris Atlas is the Managing Partner of the McAllen, TX, law firm, 
Atlas & Hall, L.L.P., which he founded in 1952. Morris has worked hard 
to expand and improve higher education in the state of Texas. He 
chaired the Pan American University Board of Regents and was 
instrumental in the effort to bring that institution into the 
University of Texas System. His involvement was instrumental in 
securing $245 million in improvement funding for five South Texas 
universities in the UT System. He is a Life Member Trustee and part 
President of the UT Law School Foundation and currently chairs the 
Chancellor's Council of the UT System.
  Morris has long been committed to the delivery of health care and 
human services. He has served on the boards of McAllen General Hospital 
and the Vannie E. Cook, Jr. Cancer Center, the Scott & White Memorial 
Hospital Board of Visitors, the State Board of Public Welfare Task 
Force for the Evaluation of Medicaid, and the Senate Committee for the 
Study of Human Services Delivery. He was a leader in the efforts to 
bring a university rural health care program to South Texas.
  Scott Atlas' service to the community has earned him the praise and 
respect of his colleagues and neighbors. A partner at Vinson & Elkins 
L.L.P., Scott is a graduate of Yale and the University of Texas School 
of Law, where he was Editor-in-Chief of the Texas Law Review. He has 
built a reputation as an outstanding trial lawyer in business disputes 
and a leader and innovator in the delivery of pro bono legal services. 
He recently argued successfully before the U.S. Supreme Court, and 
obtained his client's release from a life sentence. He is currently 
Chair-Elect of the American Bar Association's 65,000-member Section of 
Litigation and previously served as a member of its governing Council 
and Executive Committee.
  Scott is largely responsible for Vinson & Elkins' national reputation 
as an innovator of pro bono legal services. The law firm has received 
numerous local, state and national awards for their work. In 1983, 
Scott organized the Texas Appointment Plan, which recruited and now 
coordinates over 125 law firms statewide to provide volunteer attorneys 
to indigents on federal court appeals. Scott has received the ABA's Pro 
Bono Award for ``contribut[ing] significant work toward developing 
innovative approaches to the delivery of volunteer legal services to 
the poor,'' and was named ``Lawyer of the Year'' by the Mexican 
American Bar Association of Houston.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend the Anti-Defamation League in recognizing the 
selflessness and commitment to the public good of Morris and Scott 
Atlas. The Atlas family tradition of service to the community is an 
example for future generations. The work of these two men gives life to 
the mission of the Anti-Defamation League--standing steadfast on the 
front-lines against racism, prejudice and bigotry of all kinds. I 
commend both Morris and Scott on receiving this award and more 
importantly, their work to promote tolerance and build respect among 
diverse racial, religious and ethnic groups.

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