Friends, Family and Colleagues Join in Formal Retirement Send-off for Beloved Dean

(4/26/07) Like the beloved general in the holiday film classic, White Christmas, friends, family and colleagues came from far and wide to give tribute to retiring Dean Parham Williams at the Pacific Club in Newport Beach. The black tie affair drew faculty, former and current students, trustees, judges and a host of VIP guests, with presentations by notables such as Pepperdine Dean Kenneth Starr and former Riverside District Attorney Grover Trask.

The evening was a lively event, highlighted by a custom tribute film produced by film school Alumni, Jeff Cole and his top-notch production team. After nearly two hours of tributes and gift presentations by his many admirers, the Dean was honored with a Presidential Medal by Chapman President, Jim Doti. The Dean was named Inaugural Director of the new LL.M. in Prosecutorial Science program at the law school. It was also announced that a new Scholarship in Public Interest Law will be named in the Dean's honor. The evening culminated with the unveiling of a beautiful new portrait of Dean Williams that will hang proudly in the law school lobby.

Dean Williams is Honored at Law School Reception

(3/8/07) Retiring Dean Parham Williams was honored in a standing room only retirement reception that overflowed the law school lobby on March 8. The event was attended by alumni, faculty, students, University trustees and campus leaders. Also in attendance were more than 200 judges from around the nation, who were on campus for the 2-day Brookings Judicial Symposium on Construction Defect Litigation.

Dean Williams was formally honored by University President Jim Doti, Dean Scott Howe, Dean John Eastman, Leatherby Library Dean Charlene Baldwin, Diana Todaro (class of '03) and a surprise presentation by Jim Hathcock, a friend and owner of the Gallery on Glassell. Mr. Hathcock helped to unveil a special gift from the law school faculty. The gift, a painting entitled "Coming Storm," has special meaning to the dean, and was a piece that he has long admired. This painting hung in the marble foyer of the law school for the first six months of its existence, on loan from the gallery. It depicts a cowboy heading west into the mountains, leading a mule train.  As Professor Ernesto Hernandez noted when he saw the painting, "It should be renamed to 'A Dean Goes West to Found a Law School!'" The dean and his wife Polly were genuinely surprised by the gift.

Dean Williams then did what he does best: he gave an eloquent and moving speech thanking his friends, colleagues and special guests. It was an emotional moment for all involved, but especially for the dean. Professor Rosenthal summed it up in a follow-up email: "...it appeared to me that as he concluded his remarks, the heretofore unflappable gentleman who is our dean got a little choked up."

The dean then replied as only he can:

"I must confess to a moment of weakness, a moment triggered by a glance at Larry’s cherubic countenance, wreathed in guileless innocence, raptly intent upon the torrent of eloquence flowing from the rostrum.  Even the most imperturbable mien would shatter under such circumstances."

Yes, we are really going to miss him!