For one evening, the Post Oak Hotel in Uptown channeled the charm of New Orleans as the University of Houston Law Center’s Alumni Association hosted its 48th Annual Law Gala and Auction. With a French Quarter-inspired theme and more than 600 guests in attendance, the black-tie affair raised an impressive $779,000 in support of scholarships, advocacy programs, and faculty research.
Decked out with nods to the Crescent City’s spirit, the evening brought together alumni, faculty, students, and community leaders. Co-chairs Mary and Weston O’Black and Brian Melton helped steer the celebration, which also honored standout alumni through the UH Law Alumni Association’s 2024-2025 awards.
Among those recognized were Tony Bonilla Sr., Justice Ruby Sondock, and William Sim, who received Dean’s Awards, while Alan Levin was named Alumnus of the Year. Mini Timmaraju earned the President’s Award, and other honorees included Andrew Gratz, DeAndrea Washington, Maryam Ghaffar, and Simone Bray, among others.
Dean Leonard Baynes called the evening a celebration of “faculty, staff, graduates, and students,” and praised the behind-the-scenes leadership of Associate Dean Sondra Tennessee and event director Samantha Martin.
As for the auction’s crowd favorites? A Maltipoo puppy named Beignet and a week in Telluride drew major attention during.
In the crowd were Karen White, Judge Phyllis Randolph Frye, Megan Daic, Judge Ravi and Kelly Sandill, Benny Agosto Jr., Jeff Cody, James Lawrence, and Alamdar Hamdani.