Rep. Craig Eiland Named Baylor's 'Young Lawyer of the Year'

by Alan Hunt

State Representative Craig Eiland of Galveston has been honored as the 1999 Baylor University Young Lawyer of the Year. Eiland received the award at the annual meeting of the Baylor Law Alumni Association, held recently in Fort Worth.
The Young Lawyer of the Year Award was created in 1995 to recognize an outstanding graduate under 40 years of age who has brought honor and distinction to Baylor Law School and to the legal profession. Recipients of the award are selected by the Baylor Law Alumni Association.
Eiland, a native of Stanton, Texas, graduated from Baylor with a business degree in 1984 and also lettered in football while at Baylor. He received his law degree from Baylor in 1987.
After working on a ranch in the Australian Outback, Eiland moved to Galveston in 1988 and joined the law firm of Mills, Shirley and Bassett. After two years, he left the firm to work for Houston attorney Ernest H. Cannon. In 1992, Eiland opened his own law practice, with offices in Houston and Galveston. He was recently named to the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, after obtaining three multi-million dollar verdicts.
A Democrat, Eiland was elected to represent District 24 in the 74th Legislature, his first public office. He served on the business and industry committee as well as the state, federal and international relations committee in 1995. During the 75th Legislative Session, Eiland served on the appropriations and insurance committee. And during the 1999 76th Legislature, Eiland retained his position on the appropriations committee and was named vice-chairman of the insurance committee.
Eiland has been recognized by a number of local and statewide organizations for his legislative efforts, including Texas Medical Association, Texas Monthly, Texas Public Health Association, Texas Association of Builders, and the Boys and Girls Club.
Brad Toben, dean of Baylor Law School, said Eiland is recognized as an "up and comer" in the Legislature. "He is making a real mark--at a rather young age--on the public life of our state. Baylor lawyers always have loomed large on the landscape of public affairs in Texas. Craig holds remarkable promise, based upon his many past achievements, to continue with distinction this great Baylor tradition."
Eiland and his wife Melissa have a daughter, Blake, and a son, Tucker. They live on the west end of Galveston Island and are members of Moody Memorial First United Methodist Church in Galveston.