'Celebrating King Hall' Event Honors Professor Imwinkelried, Remembers Professor Hogan

Professor Imwinkelried, Dean JohnsonProfessor Edward Imwinkelried was honored with the Distinguished Teaching Award at "Celebrating King Hall," an event that included recognition for scholarship recipients, donors, and staff, and remembrances of the late Professor James Hogan. The event, held March 13 at the UC Davis ARC Ballroom, featured remarks from Dean Kevin R. Johnson, Professor Floyd Feeney, Professor Imwinkelried, and Miles Prince '14.

Dean Johnson welcomed the audience and thanked the volunteers and donors in attendance for their support.  "As you know, legal education is in an era of change," he said. "Our law school is successfully addressing these challenges, yet remaining true to the community that is King Hall.  We are, and will remain, a world leader in legal education, committed to scholarly excellence and justice for all, and distinguished by our strong sense of community.  From our new building to the launch of new clinics and centers, we are making great strides.  With your continued support, I look forward to more great achievements in the years ahead."

Prince, who is a recipient of the Stephanie J. Blank Memorial Scholarship, delivered brief remarks thanking scholarship donors and emphasizing the ways in which financial support increases the opportunities available to King Hall students. He mentioned his participation in the UCDC Law Program, a semester-long externship in Washington, D.C. The program enabled Prince to spend the spring of his second year of law school working on domestic policy issues in the White House, and he acknowledged the donors who helped to make it possible. "Thank you to all of you who have supported student scholarships. These student opportunities that you make possible are what make King Hall great."

Following the student speaker, Dean Johnson presented a certificate of appreciation to Registrar Nicole Waterman, who is retiring after 39 years with the School of Law. He also delivered remarks in remembrance of the late Thelma Kido, the first staff member hired by founding Dean Edward L. Barrett and a central figure at the School of Law from its beginnings until her retirement in 1986.

Professor Feeney began his presentation with remarks on Professor Hogan, a founding member of the King Hall faculty and an outstanding scholar and teacher who died in December 2013. Professor Hogan, who was the first recipient of the Distinguished Teaching Award in 1980, set a high standard of teaching excellence that has served as an inspiration to King Hall faculty members through the years, Feeney said. He was also a colorful and charismatic individual, as Feeney related with a series of anecdotes. Professor Hogan would have been "pleased beyond belief" to know that Professor Imwinkelried was the recipient of this year's Distinguished Teaching Award, said Feeney.

"As an Evidence teacher himself, Jim knew all about and greatly admired Professor Imwinkelried's extraordinary work as an evidence scholar," said Feeney. "He knew how Ed had helped to revolutionize the law of evidence by his pioneering work related to DNA and by other outstanding contributions. What he valued more, however, was Professor Imwinkelried's humanity, his decency, his wonderful collegial spirit, and his extraordinary skill and devotion as a teacher."

Professor Imwinkelried spoke of how he and his colleagues were inspired by Professor Hogan's example, and announced that he would use the award to establish a study room at King Hall named in his honor. "It will not only be a tangible reminder of our institutional commitment to fine teaching, it will also be a permanent tribute to the most beloved teacher in the history of the law school," he said.

Professor Imwinkelried, who is the only King Hall faculty member to win the Distinguished Teaching Award three times, thanked his family, faculty colleagues, and King Hall staff before closing with remarks about the Law School's students. "It's your rare combination of idealism and intelligence that makes it such a rare privilege to be a member of this faculty," he said. "Over the years you've given me far more than I've given you, and I can never pay that back."

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