Since 1955
Our History
Founded when Black attorneys were barred from the Houston Bar Association, HLA turned exclusion into an institution that has served Houston for seven decades.
The Houston Lawyers Association (HLA), an affiliate chapter of the National Bar Association, was founded in 1955 to address the needs of Black lawyers and the legal needs of the Black community in general. During this time, African American lawyers in the Houston area were not permitted to join the Houston Bar Association. In response to this reality, our founders Robert W. Hainsworth, W.M.C. Dickson, and F.S.A. Whittaker challenged the Houston Bar Association's rule of non-admission of African American lawyers, which resulted in the formation of the Houston Lawyers Association.
As part of its current program, HLA continues to provide its lawyers with a forum and an opportunity to address various issues that affect the Black community. HLA conducts continuing legal education seminars, evaluates judicial candidates, and distributes information of interest to its membership to foster the network necessary for professional growth and development. HLA acknowledges the contributions of its founders and expresses sincere appreciation to the lawyers who were pioneers in the beginning stages of the Association.
HLA Founders
HLA acknowledges the contributions of its founders and the lawyers who were pioneers in the beginning stages of the Association.
Weldon H. Berry
Founder
A 1952 alumnus of Texas Southern University School of Law. As a Cooperating Attorney with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, he tried many federal cases involving civil rights violations and was a plaintiff in the highly publicized case LULAC v. Attorney General of Texas. A former member of the judiciary, Judge Berry served the 80th Civil District Court of Harris County. His honors include Houston Men's Club "Man of the Year" in 1983 and "Alumnus of the Year" in 1984.
Robert W. Hainsworth
Founder
A 1930 Howard University graduate who returned to Houston, served as a night school principal, and was commissioned as an officer in the Army and later the Air Force Reserves. After earning his law degree from Howard University School of Law in 1949, he came home to practice. Witnessing the discrimination faced by Houston attorneys, he became instrumental in founding HLA and was the plaintiff in a suit challenging segregated seating in the city's law library, which required African American attorneys to use a designated table. He practiced law until his death in 1981. In 2021, the Harris County Law Library was renamed in his honor.
Roberson L. King
Founder
A native of Wichita Falls, Texas, and a 1948 graduate of the University of Chicago Law School. King became the first law librarian and faculty member at Thurgood Marshall School of Law, where he remained until his retirement in 1986, while maintaining a law practice with his partner Aloysius M. Wickliff, Sr. His honors include the Charles A. George Dental Society Award for Meritorious Service and Texas Southern University's Service Recognition Award for twenty years of service.
Matthew W. Plummer
Founder
A native of San Antonio and a graduate of the first class of Texas Southern University's law school in 1949. While practicing in Houston, he filed Plummer v. Derrington to desegregate the cafeteria of the Harris County Courthouse. A former Judge of the 133rd Civil District Court and former HLA President, he also founded the Texas Land Owners Association and the Tuskegee Branch of the NAACP, and received the Wiley A. Branton Award in 1992.
Aloysius M. Wickliff, Sr.
Founder
A native of Liberty, Texas, who graduated from Catholic University with a Bachelor of Laws in 1951 and joined Roberson L. King in practice. He served as President of the Harris County Council of Organizations and was deeply involved in the political life of the community. His honors include a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition for Outstanding Community Service and the Attorney General's Salute for Outstanding Service and Leadership.
Francis Williams
Founder
A native of Austin and 1950 graduate of Howard University School of Law who joined Henry E. Doyle in practice in Houston. One of his best-known lawsuits was the Houston Independent School District integration case. He also served as President of the NAACP Houston Branch, President of the Harris County Council of Organizations, and Chairman of the HISD Board of Education Legislative Committee.
Seven decades of leadership
Past Presidents
1950s
1959-1960
Robert Hainsworth
1958-1959
Henry Doyle
1957-1958
Aloysius Wickliff
1956-1957
Francis Williams
1955-1956
Weldon H. Berry
1960s
1965-1967
Surrey E. Davis
1962-1965
Kenneth S. Tollett
1961-1962
Barbara Jordan
1960-1961
Matthew Plummer
1970s
1979-1980
Marty Wickliff
1978-1979
Justice Shelvin Hall
1977-1978
Hon. Harrison Gregg Jr.
1976-1977
Earl Bush
1975-1976
Craig Washington
1980s
1989-1990
Benjamin Pigott
1988-1989
Algenita Scott Davis
1987-1988
Prince Cartwright
1986-1987
William Rice
1985-1986
Arthur Jackson
1984-1985
John Wiggins
1983-1984
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee
1982-1983
Donald Dewberry
1981-1982
Elwyn Lee
1980-1981
James Plummer
1990s
1999-2001
DeMonica D. Gladney
1998-1999
E. Jean Johnson
1997-1998
Hon. Alfred H. Bennett
1996-1997
Antoinette M. Jackson
1995-1996
Carroll G. Robinson
1994-1995
Charles L. Drayden
1993-1994
T. Deon Warner
1992-1993
Renee Y. Smith
1991-1992
Ray L. Shackelford
1990-1991
U. Lawrence Boze
2000s
2009-2010
Andrew Gavins McGee
2008-2009
Bertran “Bert” Jennings
2007-2008
Hon. Linda Dunson
2006-2007
Hon. Latosha Lewis Payne
2005-2006
J. Goodwille Pierre
2004-2005
Damon Edwards
2003-2004
TX Rep. Ron Reynolds
2002-2003
Troy Wilson
2001-2002
Gita P. Bolt
2010s
2019-2020
Nickolas Spencer
2018-2019
Robin L. Burgess
2017-2018
Modinat “Abby” Kotun
2016-2017
Alfred “Al” Benoit
2015-2016
Elverine “Rena” Felton
2014-2015
Danyahel “Danny” Norris
2013-2014
Jermecia A. Beachem
2012-2013
Deshonda Charles
2011-2012
Antoy Bell
2010-2011
Hon. Harrison Gregg Jr.
2020s
2025-2026
Elan Moore-Jones
2024-2025
Traci A. Gibson
2023-2024
Simone Bray-Albloshi
2022-2023
Marcus Esther
2021-2022
Tiffany M. Hill
2020-2021
Ramel “R.J.” Blue
Seven decades of Black legal excellence
From Barbara Jordan to today's bench and bar, HLA's past presidents and members have shaped Houston's legal landscape. Become part of the next chapter.