Law School Alumni Relations
Distinguished Graduate
Each year, the Law School honors an outstanding alumnus whose achievements in their profession and their community brings distinction to Lewis & Clark. These alumni are people who value and serve the law school and represent the values of Northwestern School of Law of Lewis & Clark College, its faculty, students and alumni.
Past recipients include judges, legislators, community advocates and attorneys of excellence. Recipients are selected by the Alumni Board of Directors, based on nominations from faculty and alumni.
Nominate graduates who practice the high standards set by our law school in their profession.
The 2020 Distinguished Honors Awards
(L - R) 2020 Recent Graduate Council Rising Star Recipient Zach Pilchen ’13, Recent Graduate Council Community Spirit Recipient Amanda Caffall ’11, Dean Jennifer Johnson, Honorary Graduate Professor Susan Mandiberg, Distinguished Graduate award winner Alan Merkle ’82.
Past Distinguished Graduate Award Recipients
1973: Hon. Phillip J. Roth ’48
1974: Nels Peterson ’39
1975: Keith Burns ’58
1976: Wendell Gray ’34
1977: no award given
1978: John D. Ryan ’50
1979: Gen. Chester E. McCarty ’29
1980: Hon. Jean L. Lewis ’38
1981: Lester W. Spillane ’37
1982: Hon. Ralph L. Holman ’37
1983: Jack L. Kennedy ’51
1984: Moe M. Tonkon ’28
1985: Hon. Robert E. Jones ’53
1986: Hon. Charles S. Crookham ’51
1987: Lofton L. Tatum ’42
1988: Hon. Betty Roberts ’66
1989: Bernard Jolles ’61
1990: Hon. Herbert M. Schwab ’39
1991: Neva M. Elliott ’35
1992: Hon. Mercedes F. Deiz ’59
1993: Hon. Julie E. Frantz ’75
1994: Joyce Ann Harpole ’79
1995: Walter J. Cosgrave ’47
1996: Duane Vergeer ’35
1997: Charles P. A. Paulson ’58
1998: Hon. Garr M. King ’63
1999: Garry L. Kahn ’62
2000: Hon. Anna J. Brown ’80
2001: Hon. Roosevelt Robinson ’76
2002: Mark G. Tratos ’79
2003: Congressman Earl Blumenauer ’76
2004: Thomas C. Sand ’77
2005: Katherine Huff O’Neil ’77
2006: Hon. Henry Kantor ’79
2007: Stella Manabe ’92
2008: M. Christie (Chris) Helmer ’74
2009: Matthew P. Bergman ’89
2010: Hon. Jack Landau ’80
2012: Charles S. Tauman ’77
Nancy S. Tauman ’78
2013: Sandra A. Hansberger ’82
2014: Hon. Michael McShane ’88
2015: Margaret D. Kirkpatrick ’82
2016: Governor Kate Brown ’85
Associate Dean Martha Spence ’84
2017: Dan Harmon ’85
2018: Betsy Johnson ’77
2019: Judith Johansen ’83
Stephen Manning ’01
2020: Alan Merkle ’82