Morris Atlas
1926-2015
Morris Atlas graduated from The University of Texas School of Law in 1950. He was Founder and Senior Partner of the Atlas & Hall law firm in McAllen, Texas. He was a Director of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce, a Director of the Rio Grande Valley Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Gulf Coast Advisory Council on Water Resources. He represented his community at the 1968 and 1972 Democratic National Conventions and was Chairman of the Hidalgo County Democratic Executive Committee. As Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Pan American University Board of Regents, he was instrumental in the successful effort to bring that institution into The University of Texas System. Mr. Atlas was a member of the Development Board of The University of Texas at Austin and was a Life Trustee and past Chairman of the Board of the Law School Foundation
Morris Atlas’ dedicated service to the Rio Grande Valley region and to the State of Texas earned him the 1991 Border Texan of the Year Award from the Hidalgo Chamber of Commerce. In 1993, he received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from The University of Texas Ex-Students’ Association. He acted as Special Counsel for the Texas Senate Committee on Tort Reform and he was also a Fellow of both the American Bar Foundation and the American College of Trial Lawyers. He served as Chairman of the UT Law School Foundation Board of Trustees from 1994-1998.