[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 74 (Thursday, May 23, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E732]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 MS. LISA TATUM, J.D. ELECTED FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN PRESIDENT OF THE 
                           STATE BAR OF TEXAS

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. AL GREEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 22, 2013

  Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to acknowledge 
the extraordinary accomplishment of Ms. Lisa Tatum, J.D. On June 21, 
2013, Ms. Tatum will be sworn in as the 133rd President of the State 
Bar of Texas, and thereby become the first African American to hold 
that position. With exceptional dedication, Ms. Tatum has risen through 
the ranks of the legal profession to become one of the preeminent 
lawyers in the State of Texas.
  Ms. Tatum grew up and still resides in San Antonio, TX, the product 
of an Air Force veteran father and a loving mother. In 1991, she 
received her Bachelor's degree from Smith College before going on to 
receive her Juris Doctor in 1994 from Santa Clara University Law 
School. Ms. Tatum quickly attained distinction in the legal profession, 
prosecuting over a hundred cases for Bexar County's Criminal District 
Attorney's Office before successfully transitioning to private 
practice. Eventually, Ms. Tatum established her own law firm, LM Tatum, 
PLLC, informally known as The Tatum Law Practice, in 2011. The Tatum 
Law Practice primarily handles cases related to corporate, public 
finance, financial transaction, employment, and estate contingency 
planning law. In addition to her remarkable career accomplishments, Ms. 
Tatum is a Leadership San Antonio graduate, lifelong supporter of the 
YMCA, and a Rotarian.
  Ms. Tatum's leadership has been consistently recognized by her 
colleagues: Ms. Tatum was honored with a Presidential Citation in 2006 
and named a Texas Rising Star by SuperLawyers in 2007. She also served 
on the Board of Governors of the National Bar Association, City of San 
Antonio Housing Authority Commission, the San Antonio Water System 
Citizen Advisory Panel, and as President of the San Antonio Black 
Lawyers Association.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have the opportunity to pay tribute to 
Ms. Tatum, an accomplished lawyer and public servant. She is a 
determined and driven individual who will bring her diverse skills and 
life experience to the presidency of the State Bar of Texas.

                          ____________________