Appreciation

Legendary Houston attorney Joe Jamail is remembered for his generosity and salty wit

Bill Hobby, from left, Joe Jamail, Herb Kelleher and Rodney Ellis at the Bill Hobby Roast January 2015

Joe Jamail, second from left, cracked up the audience at a roast for former Lt. Gov. Bill Hobby, left, in January. Southwest Airlines Herb Kelleher and State Sen. Rodey Ellis also took part.

Photo by © Kim Coffman

Legendary Houston attorney Joe Jamail, whose courtroom prowess made him a billionaire and whose generosity helped transform his beloved alma mater the University of Texas at Austin, died Wednesday morning from complications of pneumonia, according to news reports.

He was 90 years old.

Known as the "King of Torts," Jamail was best known for representing Pennzoil in a bitter lawsuit against Texaco. He won a colossal $10.5 billion judgment in 1985 when a jury found that Texaco had interfered with Pennzoil's plans to acquire Getty Oil. Jamail's contingency fee was a reported $335 million.

The Houston native was a graduate of St. Thomas High School and received his BA at The University of Texas at Austin in 1950 and his JD from the University of Texas School of Law in 1953.

He was regularly on the Forbes list of richest Americans, ranking No. 368 on last year's list with an estimated net worth of $1.7 billion.

Jamail's generosity was renown. With his late wife Lee, he established the Lee and Joseph D. Jamail Foundation in 1986, through which he gave more than $250 million to education, medical research and the performing arts. In 2013, Baylor College of Medicine named its outpatient clinic the Lee and Joe Jamail Specialty Care Center in honor of the couple. In 2008, the $2.7 million Lee and Joe Jamail Skatepark opened near downtown Houston.

He gave millions to UT Austin. The football field at Darrell K. Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium is named Joe Jamail Field in his honor, and so is the Joseph D. Jamail, Jr. Pavilion at The University of Texas School of Law. The Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center is named for him and his wife and two statues were erected on the campus in his honor.

"I don't think The University of Texas has ever had a better friend than Joe Jamail," former University of Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds told BurntOrangeNation.com. "When something needed to get done on campus, you could count on him to help. Joe wasn't a guy wanting to give advice or get his way; he just wanted to know what he could do to be part of the solution. "

In a January article, Texas Monthly called Jamail "The Greatest Lawyer Who Ever Lived," and prefaced the story with this legal disclaimer: " 'Salty language' doesn’t begin to describe the words Jamail uses in this piece. If you read on, which we recommend, and find yourself offended, you will have no appeal."

Funeral arrangements are pending.

deaths

a new record

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo commits over $30 million to education

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo cattle exhibition

Courtesy of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

The money supports studies in fields such as animal husbandry.

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo continues its annual tradition of breaking its own record when it comes to educational endowments. On Giving Tuesday, the organization pledged to disburse $30,353,380 in 2026 in the form of scholarships, grants, and other funding.

“This milestone moment of reaching $30 million in a single year highlights the Rodeo’s unwavering dedication to Texas youth and education,” HLSR president and CEO Chris Boleman said in a statement. “Thanks to our loyal donors, sponsors, more than 36,000 volunteers and dedicated attendees, 2026 will reach historic heights in supporting the next generation of leaders, agricultural professionals and organizations that share the Rodeo’s mission.”

This brings the total of education funding provided by the Rodeo since 1932 up to $660 million. Last year's $28 million commitment also set a new record.

One innovation this year is the establishment of the Area Go Texan Vocational Scholarship, a program that expands on the relationship with 68 Texas counties through the Area Go Texan affiliate program. One student from each county will receive $6,000 toward a degree or certificate in a vocational field at a Texas nonprofit college or university. Another $500,000 in vocational scholarships will awarded to 10 schools in 2026. Guidelines for applying can be found at this link.

In total, the Rodeo will hand out $15,126,000 in scholarships, $11,273,500 to junior exhibitors, $3,430,880 in grants, and $523,000 in graduate assistantships. Grants will be awarded to 82 Texas institutions and organizations, such as Arts for Rural Texas, BridgeYear, The Bryan Museum, Diversity in the Arts and Entertainment, Greater Houston Partnership Foundation, Multicultural Education and Counseling through the Arts (MECA), Space Center Houston, Texas State University Development Foundation, and University of St. Thomas at Houston.

Money for the annual endowment is raised through the annual auctions, sales of livestock and art, and through charitable donations. The goal of the endowment program is to promote study and research in agriculture, animal husbandry, and other fields that directly benefit the Rodeo.

The Rodeo is scheduled to run from March 2 – 22, 2026. More information on performers, attractions, and vendors can be found at RodeoHouston.com. Scholarship applications are open through February 2, with funds being awarded in summer 2026.

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