Alumni News

Joe K. Longley ’63 Elected State Bar of Texas President-Elect Tau alumnus Joe K. Longley is the new president-elect of the State Bar of Texas, winning with the largest number of votes received by a candidate for this office in the 77-year history of the State Bar. Longley will assume the presidency June 2018.

At age 29, while serving in the Texas Attorney General’s Office, Longley co-authored and was instrumental in passing the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices-Consumer Protection Act. When signed into law in 1973, it was one of the strongest consumer protection laws in the nation and is today the state’s primary consumer protection statute.   In 1975, he established a private law practice with a focus on insurance bad faith litigation, deceptive trade practices and commercial litigation. He has argued cases before the Supreme Court of Texas, the Texas Court of Appeals and United States Courts of Appeals.   He has authored numerous seminar papers, taught insurance law at The University of Texas School of Law (where he earned his JD degree), served on the State Bar of Texas Board of Directors, and as chair of the State Bar Consumer Law Section, now called the Consumer and Commercial Law Section.  In 2000, Texas Lawyer named him to its elite list of “100 Legal Legends” and, in 2002, recognized him as its “Number One Go-To Lawyer for Insurance Law” in the state. In 2011, the State Bar Insurance Section honored him with its prestigious Insurance Legend Award.

The Texas House of Representatives adopted a resolution on May 28, 2017 to congratulate him on his election win. House Resolution 2642, authored by State Rep. Yvonne Davis of Dallas, stated “… Joe Longley has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to furthering the mission of the State Bar of Texas, and the vision and breadth of experience he brings to his new role as president are sure to benefit the organization.”

Longley was chosen as Tau Man of the Year in 2002. He and his wife, Maggie, live in Austin and have three grown children and five grandchildren.

Buy a Legacy Paver Today and Support the Tau Chapter Now you have the opportunity to buy a personalized legacy paver displaying your own name or the name of someone you choose to honor. Your personalized paver will be permanently displayed in the walkways leading up to the entrance of the Residence and the Lodge. Click here to purchase your paver in one of three sizes.