Read, Frank T.

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University of Tulsa College of Law

Tulsa Law Review Volume 15 Issue 3 Energy Symposium Spring 1980 Memorial: Eric B. Jensen Frank T. Read Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.law.utulsa.edu/tlr  Part of the Law Commons Recommended Citation Frank T. Read, Memorial: Eric B. Jensen, 15 Tulsa L. J. 409 (2013). Available at: https://digitalcommons.law.utulsa.edu/tlr/vol15/iss3/2 This Legal Scholarship Symposia Articles is brought to you for free and open access by TU Law Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Tulsa Law Review by an authorized editor of TU Law Digital Commons. For more information, please contact megan-donald@utulsa.edu. I)EIC(ATiONIn the spring of this year the College oflaw lost Ei B, Jlensen toan utidmely death. He served The University of Tuls' Co)llege of Lawas professor from 1975 and as assistant cean fron 1978 until his death.This issue is dedicated to him.As tribute to Eric Tenser we ofei these corime its of he deanunder whoi he served Onr nemoiy shall r ot pass wi.h s death.1Read: Memorial: Eric B. JensenPublished by TU Law Digital Commons, 1979ERIC B. JENSEN: IN MEMORIAMEric Jensen was a short, stubby little guy with a twinkling eye, andalmost fully developed mustache, a rapid walk and an absolutely inci-sive mind. He was also one of the finest human beings I have everknown. Eric was one of the first appointments made to the Tulsa LawFaculty after I became dean. A Harvard law graduate, a fact we neverlet him live down, Eric had a background of private law practice inCalifornia, with a two year stint as a professor of business law at Cali-fornia State University at Northridge. In the Spring of 1975, ProfessorBill Gregory, a faculty colleague and a classmate of Eric's at Harvard,suggested Eric's name for a late-developing teaching vacancy; wequickly checked Eric out, came up with glowing recommendations, andhired him as a one year visiting professor of law, sight unseen. It was agamble that paid spectacular dividends.Eric taught corporations, property, and water rights. As a teacher,Eric had few peers. He was always prepared, displaying an unusualinsight into his subject matter for a scholar so young. He was alwaysboth entertaining and demanding. He was a master at the socratictechnique, the art of forcing students to think on their feet by asking aseries of penetrating questions. From the day he began teaching, heplayed to rave reviews in his student evaluations. As a scholar he wasrapidly making a name for himself as one of the nation's premierfigures in water and natural resource law. He wrote very well indeed,with a crisp, yet natural style. In short, Eric was an intellectual in thebest sense of that term; to say he was bright is to understate; he was anextremely intelligent man. He was a thinker with a conscience. Idrafted Eric to be my assistant dean, despite his preference for theclassroom, because I needed him so desperately. He was an admirableadministrator. He gained the respect of both colleagues and students inone of the most difficult assignments in legal education. He was bothhumane and firm. He was committed to high standards and he was notafraid to enforce rules designed to foster high standards. Yet he hadcompassion and an understanding of the foibles of human nature. Heliked everyone, students and colleagues alike, and his warmth was re-ciprocated.But above and beyond his professional talents, I have not yet met2Tulsa Law Review, Vol. 15 [1979], Iss. 3, Art. 2https://digitalcommons.law.utulsa.edu/tlr/vol15/iss3/2ERIC B. JENSENany man who was Eric's match in integrity. Eric knew right fromwrong and he stood, always, for the right. I have witnessed him, timeand again, in a tense faculty meeting, go to the heart of the debate andstress the importance of doing the right, not the expedient, thing. Hespoke for right even as a junior faculty member, despite the fact that hesometimes found himself in a minority position. He did not waiverwhere principle was at stake and yet, by his tact, his persistence, and hispersuasive ability he frequently won over his opponents. While a manof firm will, with a moral sense I have never seen exceeded in any per-son, he was also a man of great good humor. He had a dry, under-stated wit, a twinkling eye, and a smile for everyone. His nicknameamong law students was "Cubby", a name he loved and which wasintended to express the great affection and esteem in which he was heldby his students.Lastly, and above all else, Eric was a gentleman and a family man.His life was his family. His greatest pride was his wife and his sons; headored them. He was a deeply religious man and he lived the preceptsof his faith. He was, truly, a man for all seasons.I am enriched because I knew Eric Jensen. I hired him, I workedhim hard, and I admired him. I have never made a better employmentdecision. But Eric was more than my assistant dean and my colleague.He was my friend. I miss him deeply.FRANK T. READDeanIndiana University School of Law1979]3Read: Memorial: Eric B. JensenPublished by TU Law Digital Commons, 19794Tulsa Law Review, Vol. 15 [1979], Iss. 3, Art. 2https://digitalcommons.law.utulsa.edu/tlr/vol15/iss3/2

Memorial: Eric B. Jensen

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Memorial: Eric B. Jensen

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