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Highlights from 2003's Superconference |
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Each year the Section chooses a humorous theme for the Environmental Superconference. In honor of Willie Nelson's 70th birthday, "On the Road Again," was the theme for the 15 th annual Environmental Superconference which took place August 7-8, 2003. Willie sent a video greeting to the 500 attendees of the sold-out conference and his songs introduced each speaker. For example, "Blue Skies" introduced a panel on air issues, |
| and “If You’ve Got the Monday, honey, I’ve Got the Time,” set the tone for a panel discussion on Brownfields and revitalization issues. |
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Jeff Civins (pictured left:
Jeff Civins, Chair of the Environmental Superconference, dons his Willie Nelson wig to introduce the first panel of speakers.) and his 23-member committee planned a fast-paced, fact-filled conference, which featured 50 speakers. Click here for the 2003 program! |
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Attendees competed to complete the “Guess the Willie Song Title” game. There also was the Willie Nelson Super Trivia Quiz with such stumpers as “Why did Willie decide to move to Austin in 1971?”
(pictured left: one of the clues for the “Guess the Willie Song Title” game: “Mama’s Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys.”)
Jeff Civins, the head of the Environmental Superconference planning committee, was honored |
by the Environmental and Natural Resources Law Section for his extensive contributions. The Section presented Mr. Civins with a commemorative chair at the State Law Library in his name.
Under Mr. Civin’s leadership, the Environmental Superconference has evolved into the Environmental and Natural Resources Law Section’s most high-profile event. Jeff was one of the founding members of the Section, and served as the chair in 1993-1994. He is the editor of the Section’s treatise, Texas Environmental Laws, published by West. |
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Professor Frank Skillern, a long-time environmental law professor at the Texas Tech University School of Law, was honored for his contributions to Texas environmental law. Professor Skillern had retired a couple of |
| months earlier as the George W. McCleskey Professor of Water Law. Willie Nelson is Professor Skillern's favorite artist so it was particularly appropriate to present the award to him during the Superconference where the theme was Willie’s “On the Road Again.” Professor Skillern was one of the early members of the Environmental and Natural Resources Law Section, and served as the Chair in 1983-1984. |
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| Professor Skillern has written extensively on environmental law topics of interest to Texas practitioners, including his treatise on Texas Water Law. Connie Westfall, Chair of the Section, presents Professor Skillern (pictured above left) with a plaque that recognizes him as a Legend in Texas Environmental Law. |
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