Baylor Law Courtyard Dedicated in Memory of Distinguished Alumnus

Daughter’s gift creates Charles E. Wallace Family Courtyard, recognizing family legacy at Baylor

Media Contact: Lori Fogleman, Baylor University Media and Public Relations, 254-710-6275
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WACO, Texas (April 26, 2019) – Baylor Law dedicated the Charles E. Wallace Family Courtyard at the Sheila and Walter Umphrey Law Center today in the memory of distinguished Waco lawyer Charles “Chuck” Wallace. The Wallace Family Courtyard was named in appreciation for a $2 million gift from Sherri W. and Robert “Bobby” L. Patton Jr. of Fort Worth in memory of Sherri’s father and in honor of her mother, Sandra Stoesser Wallace. In addition to enhancements to the courtyard, the gift helps underwrite the legal writing and pro bono programs within the nationally ranked Baylor University Law School.

Faculty, family and friends gathered in the shaded courtyard to honor the memory of the prominent Waco attorney and celebrate his legacy. Established in honor and in memory of Sherri Wallace Patton’s father, the Charles E. Wallace Endowed Fund for Legal Writing supports programming in Baylor Law’s Legal Writing Center and the Baylor Law Review, preparing Baylor Law students with practice-ready writing skills. The Sherri W. and Robert L. Patton Jr. Endowed Fund for Pro Bono Clinics and Programs provides overall support for the award-winning pro bono clinics and initiatives at Baylor Law.

“The Wallace family has a rich history at Baylor Law, and we are so grateful for Sherri and Bobby Patton’s decision to further that legacy through this transformational gift,” said Baylor Law Dean Brad Toben. “Chuck was highly respected in his practice at Wallace & Smith and in the Waco and Central Texas communities. This is a family of Baylor graduates, and we truly appreciate Sherri and Bobby’s decision to honor their family connections to Baylor, while also providing resources to develop Baylor Lawyers who have the strength of character and the practical skills needed to assume leadership positions in a profession charged with responsibility for maintaining and improving our nation’s system of justice.”

After earning a Bachelor of Business Administration from Baylor in 1955, Charles graduated from Baylor Law in 1960 and went on to a distinguished legal career as a partner in the Waco law firm Wallace and Smith, which later became Wallace, Fisher and Neville. In addition to his law practice, Charles was a businessman and served as an adjunct professor at Baylor Law and in the Hankamer School of Business. He also was involved in numerous civic and charitable causes. During his studies at Baylor, he served on the editorial board of the Baylor Law Review, playing an important role in furthering the prestige of the publication.

“We are proud that the courtyard bears the name of a Baylor Law graduate who led his community with integrity, with excellence and with the values that we still teach and instill in our students today,” said Baylor President Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D. “Charles Wallace is a wonderful example of what our students aspire to be: pillars of their communities, making a difference in this world. I am grateful for Sherri and Bobby Patton and their desire to enrich the academic experiences of our students while honoring their family’s legacy here.”

Sherri Wallace Patton graduated from Baylor University in 1984 with a Bachelor of Science in interior design. She subsequently studied at the Southern Methodist University Deadman School of Law, where she earned a juris doctor in 1988. She retired from a successful career in law that included serving as an assistant district attorney in Dallas.

Robert “Bobby” Louis Patton Jr. earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas. In addition, he earned a law degree from St. Mary’s University and a Master of Laws from Southern Methodist University. He operates oil and gas properties and has holdings in insurance, real estate and other sectors. Additionally, the Pattons are involved in many joint business ventures, including co-owning the Los Angeles Dodgers. They have two children, Robert and Rachel Patton.

ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 17,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 90 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.

ABOUT BAYLOR LAW

Established in 1857, Baylor Law was one of the first law schools in Texas and one of the first west of the Mississippi River. Today, the school has more than 7,500 living alumni. Accredited by the American Bar Association and a member of the Association of American Law Schools, Baylor Law has a record of producing outstanding lawyers, many of whom decide upon a career in public service. Baylor Law boasts among its notable alumni two governors, members or former members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, two former directors of the FBI, U.S. ambassadors, federal judges, justices of the Texas Supreme Court and members of the Texas Legislature. In its law specialties rankings, U.S. News & World Report ranked Baylor Law’s trial advocacy program as among the best in the nation at No. 2. Baylor Law School also is ranked No. 48 in the magazine’s 2020 edition of “America’s Best Graduate Schools.” The National Jurist ranks Baylor Law as one of the “Best School for Practical Training” and No. 4 in the nation in its most recent “Best Law School Facilities” listing. Business Insider places Baylor Law among the top 50 law schools in the nation. Baylor Law School received the 2015 American Bar Association Pro Bono Publico Award, making it only the third law school in the nation to be honored with the award since its inception in 1984. Learn more at baylor.edu/law.