Founding Faculty Honored at Open House Celebration

Faculty members who helped found the UC Davis School of Law 40 years ago were honored at a special School of Law Open House and Founding Faculty Ceremony on October 10 in the King Hall Mabie Law Library Reading Room.  The event, which was part of both the UC Davis Centennial Celebration and the commemoration of King Hall's 40th anniversary, featured a welcome address by Dean Kevin R. Johnson, remarks by founding faculty member Professor Floyd Feeney, and the dedication of a plaque honoring the contributions of the founding faculty.

Dean Johnson made his first formal address in King Hall as dean.  He touched on several milestones and achievements in the history of the Law School and thanked the founding faculty for their contributions. 

"None of this would have happened were it not for the leadership, active engagement, and enthusiasm of our founding faculty," Johnson told the faculty, alumni, students, and staff in attendance.

Dean Johnson also quoted from the plaque, which will be placed to commemorate the original entrance to King Hall.  The plaque lists all members of the founding faculty and states that "their efforts laid the foundation for the excellence and national recognition the school has attained."  The dean recognized the founding faculty in attendance and introduced Professor Feeney, who shared his recollections of the early days of King Hall.

Present for the celebration were founding faculty members Professor Feeney, Professor Dov. M. Grunschlag, Professor Emeritus James Hogan (and his wife Janice), Professor Emeritus Ed Rabin (and his wife Jane), Professor Emeritus Mortimer D. Schwartz, and Professor Gerald Adler, as well as Assistant to the Dean Thelma Kido.  Also in attendance were Dan Dykstra, son of founding faculty Professor Dan Dykstra, his wife Mitty Dykstra, daughter of founding faculty member Professor John W. Whelan, and her mother Maryrose Whelan, wife of Professor Whelan.

Completed in the fall of 1968, King Hall was named for the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  The building is in the midst of the King Hall Expansion and Renovation Project, a $30 million effort to expand and upgrade the facility, which has not had a significant structural update since construction was completed 40 years ago.  The project is expected to be completed in 2010.

 

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