Walker, Orville C.

St Mary's University School of Law Digital Repository

St. Mary's Law Journal Volume 21 Number 4 Article 3 1-1-1990 Dedication. Orville C. Walker Follow this and additional works at: https://commons.stmarytx.edu/thestmaryslawjournal  Part of the Environmental Law Commons, Health Law and Policy Commons, Immigration Law Commons, Jurisprudence Commons, Law and Society Commons, Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility Commons, Military, War, and Peace Commons, Oil, Gas, and Mineral Law Commons, and the State and Local Government Law Commons Recommended Citation Orville C. Walker, Dedication., 21 ST. MARY'S L.J. (1990). Available at: https://commons.stmarytx.edu/thestmaryslawjournal/vol21/iss4/3 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the St. Mary's Law Journals at Digital Commons at St. Mary's University. It has been accepted for inclusion in St. Mary's Law Journal by an authorized editor of Digital Commons at St. Mary's University. For more information, please contact egoode@stmarytx.edu, sfowler@stmarytx.edu. ST MAR Y'S LAW JOURNALquired student-teacher ratio to 20-1; budgeted competitive salaries; es-tablished, and funded through gifts, endowed professorships andscholarships.Many of the foregoing accomplishments were made possible by thevery efficient fund raising activities of the dean.Under the dean's administration and largely through his direction,we saw the erection of the famous Sarita Kenedy East Law Librarywith a volume growth from 90,000 in 1978 to 250,000 in 1989.The former library building was converted into lush faculty offices,and additional class and seminar rooms.To my friend and hunting companion, thank you for eleven goldenyears of progress-may this heal the heartaches that accompanydeanship.ORVILLE C. WALKER*On May 1, 1955, Jim Castleberry and I began our first day of teach-ing at St. Mary's University School of Law. Both of us were exper-iencing our first day as law professors. We faced the future withanticipation and, on my part, with some anxiety. Dean Ernest Rabahad hired us at the time and I am sure he had no misgivings as to hischoice of Professor Castleberry. He came to the law school with out-standing credentials. During World War II and the Korean Conflicthe served as a senior pilot and instructor in instrument flying. He alsowas an instructor in military law at the United States Air Force Can-didate School. He received his law degree, with honors, from St.Mary's University in 1952. Professor Castleberry served as AssistantAttorney General of Texas until 1955.In my thirty-four years of association with Professor Castleberry Iobserved him setting at least two goals for himself: (1) teaching excel-lence and (2) high law student standards. In the first category, heimmediately dedicated himself to the study of law. He demanded* Professor of Law (Retired), St. Mary's University School of Law.[Vol. 21:7611Walker: Dedication.Published by Digital Commons at St. Mary's University, 1989DEDICATIONmuch of himself in preparing for each class. He became recognized asan authority on oil and gas law and water law. He is one of the co-authors of a seven-volume treatise, Water and Water Rights. He haslectured at state and national institutes on mortgages and real prop-erty. In recognition of his achievements, he was elected as the 36thPresident of the International Legal Fraternity of Phi Delta Phi.Professor Castleberry not only has a depth of knowledge of the sub-ject matter, but also possesses the ability to impart that knowledge tothe students. He loves the law and enjoys teaching it.As for his second goal of high student standards, let it be said to hiscredit that he has never lost sight of the law school's obligation to thepublic. He believes strongly that the client is entitled to a competentlawyer and that this can only be accomplished by placing great expec-tations upon the law student. Professor Castleberry has an aversionto mediocrity. While he is demanding of himself, he likewise is de-manding of the student and takes pride in the fact that St. Mary's is ahighly regarded law school.It was inevitable upon the retirement of Dean Raba that DeanJames Castleberry was chosen to succeed him. He seemed to havebeen made for the job. The law school continued to grow in statureduring his tenure. He worked tirelessly in enhancing the image of thelaw school. He was outstanding in his efforts to keep in close contactwith the law alumni over the state and in making frequent trips topersonally meet with them.Dean Castleberry was and is now truly devoted to the betterment ofthe law school. His association with the law school both as a profes-sor and as dean has been a long-standing love affair. He is now retiredas dean but may his continued association with the law school be longand fruitful.It is most fitting that this issue of the Law Journal be dedicated toDean Castleberry. No one could deserve it' more.1990]2St. Mary's Law Journal, Vol. 21 [1989], No. 4, Art. 3https://commons.stmarytx.edu/thestmaryslawjournal/vol21/iss4/3

Dedication.

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