Alumnus Brings Long-Time Friends, Colleagues to U of A School of Law

Photo Submitted

Top: (l-r) Charles Smith, Ann Smith, Stacy Leeds, Don Schnipper, Charles Salley, Mary Lou Salley, Mary Ann Schnipper and Kate Felton in the Six Pioneers Room. Bottom: The group has an impromptu visit with Chief Justice Howard Brill.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Former Arkansas Bar Association president (1985-86) and alumnus Don Schnipper (J.D. '64) brought former presidents of several state bar associations to the University of Arkansas School of Law in May as part of regular excursions the group has taken for more than two decades.

Schnipper, Jule Felton, Eldon Fallon, Charles Salley and Charles Smith served overlapping terms as state bar presidents of Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Louisiana and Texas, respectively.

"All of the participants were presidents of their respective states during my tenure as president of the Arkansas Bar Association," Schnipper said. "We met and traveled together for 26 years. We have been to everyone's home town numerous times, six cruises and numerous other meetings."

In the intervening years, the group has lost some of its members, resulting in lapses in their journeys, so Schnipper and his wife, Mary Ann, decided to host a reunion trip for the presidents and wives, Kate Felton, Mary Lou Salley and Ann Smith, to Northwest Arkansas — including a trip to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and a visit to campus.

Dean Stacy Leeds led a tour of the School of Law that included the Six Pioneers Room, E.J. Ball Courtroom, Richard B. Atkinson Memorial Courtyard, Norma Lea Beasley Entrance Hall, Arsaga's coffee shop, Fulbright Triptych and the Al Witte Classroom. The group also had an impromptu visit with Chief Justice Howard Brill.