The Texas Supreme Court Historical Society (TSCHS) is a
nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to the collection
and preservation of information, papers, photographs, and significant
artifacts relating to the Supreme Court and the appellate courts
of Texas. The Society sponsors scholarship relating to the
history of the Texas judiciary and furthers efforts to raise
public awareness about the judicial branch of government and
its role in the development of Texas. On behalf of the court,
the Society acts as conservator for the judicial portrait collection
and other paintings and valued historic items belonging to
the court.
Established in January 1990 on the Sesquicentennial of the
first session of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Texas,
the Society’s incorporation papers were filed with the Secretary
of State by three former Chief Justices: Robert Calvert, Joe
R. Greenhill and Jack Pope. The founding president, Judge
Jack Hightower, then serving as Justice on the Texas Supreme
Court, enlisted the support of the court for creating the Society
and procured the cooperation and assistance of the State Bar
of Texas.
Soon after its creation, the Society sponsored ceremonies
dedicating the new Price Daniel Sr. building in 1993 and the
renovations to the Tom Clark building in 1996.
Membership is open to all individuals, organizations, institutions,
and corporations interested in advancing the Society’s purposes.
Information about joining the Society is available under Get
Involved.
Officers
| Chair: |
Chief Justice Joe R. Greenhill (Ret.) |
| President: |
Mr. Stephen G. Tipps |
| President Elect: |
Mr. Larry P. McNeill |
| Vice-President: |
Chief Justice Jack Pope (Ret.) |
| Secretary: |
Vacant |
| Treasurer: |
Justice Jack Hightower (Ret.) |
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Stephen Tipps is the 7th president of the Society.
Board of Trustees
Prof. Maxwell Bloomfield
Judge Jeff Brown
Justice Murry B. Cohen (Ret.)
Ms. Berry P. Crowley
Judge Mark Davidson
Mr. J. Chrys Dougherty
Justice Craig T. Enoch
Judge William L. Garwood
Judge Joseph H. Hart
Mr. Mike Hatchell
Ms. Robbi B. Hull
Ms. Karen R. Johnson
Mr. Darrell E. Johnson
Ms. Lynne Liberato
Mr. Steve McConnico
Mr. John McFarland
Professor Joseph W. McKnight
Mr. W. Frank Newton
Mr. Mance Michael Park
Professor James W. Paulsen
Mr. Richard Pena
Chief Justice Thomas R. Phillips (Ret.)
Mr. James B. Sales
Justice Bea Ann Smith (Ret.)
Mr. Charles L. Smith
Justice Rose Spector (Ret.)
Mr. Andrew Weber
Professor Steven H. Wilson
The members of the Board of Trustees are elected by the Society’s
general membership at their Annual Meeting held each October.
Trustees serve staggered three-year terms. To fill vacancies,
the Board of Trustees may elect interim appointees until the
general membership election.
Staff
Executive Director
Bill Pugsley was hired by Judge Joe R. Greenhill as the Society’s
third Executive Director effective March 1, 1999. A graduate
of Southern Methodist University, Pugsley received his Masters
degree in American Studies from the University of Texas at
Austin in May 1995. He was the founder and president of Texas
Information Network, a freelance historical research cooperative
based in Austin. In that capacity he prepared historical research
for several dozen books written by authors from three countries.
Pugsley has written one book himself, along with three plays,
and numerous articles and papers; he has also conducted dozens
of oral history interviews and shot hundreds of photos documenting
historic sites. His finest production, bar none, was his son,
Sean Pugsley, born December 2003 with some essential help from
his loving and patient wife, Margaret Schlankey, who is the
reading room supervisor at the UT Austin Center for American History.
Associate Editor
Marilyn Duncan joined the staff as Associate Editor of the History Book Project in October 2006. Before that she was Director of Communications and Publications at the University of Texas at Austin’s LBJ School of Public Affairs for more than twenty-five years. In addition to her contract work for the Society, she is a freelance publications consultant and editor for a number of organizations and faculty members.
Staff Writer
Jim Cullen, a retired Texas history teacher, is a reporter for the Hays Free Press and an active member of the Hays County Historical Commission in addition to his work as staff writer for the Society. His primary assignment is preparing judicial biographies for the second volume of the History Book Project.
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