The South Texas College of Law Houston Gala 2024, supporting student scholarships, will be co-chaired by three members of the Vick family — all alumni, all trial attorneys, and all partners in separate law firms.
“We are so excited to co-chair this year’s gala,” said Gabe Vick ’07. “South Texas was the only law school I applied to. That’s where my dad had gone, and it’s where I wanted to be. I met my wife Bridget there, and we met our closest, lifelong friends there. In fact, now our alumni friends’ kids are friends with our kids.” Gabe handles complex litigation matters as a partner at Gray Reed.
The Gala is scheduled Sept. 21 at The Astorian, where guests will enjoy a program that celebrates South Texas Law, then dance the night away with friends, colleagues, and alumni to the music of The Suffers. The Suffers are a big, brassy Gulf Coast band from Houston that electrifies crowds with their combination of classic American soul and rock-and-roll. They have been featured in SPIN, Rolling Stone, and The New York Times.
“We hope you will join us for this incredible evening celebrating the history and future of the law school we love — and raising funds for scholarships for the next generation of South Texas attorneys,” said Bridget Vick ’09, partner at Hicks Thomas. “Buy a table and bring lots of your friends; they’ll have a great time!”
Bridget represents networks, insurers, employers, and administrators in managed care litigation and advises clients in the managed care industry in all phases of litigation. She shares Gabe’s perspective on the lifelong connections they made at South Texas Law and also notes the value the alumni bring to Greater Houston. “There’s a big community of South Texas lawyers who care for each other and look out for each other in Houston and beyond.”
The South Texas Law connection stretches to the Dallas-Fort Worth area through Gabe’s father, G. Thomas “Tom” Vick ’81 — a partner with Vick Carney LLP in Weatherford, the 2017-18 president of the State Bar of Texas, and a former mayor of Weatherford. He is certified in family law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, has published dozens of works on various aspects of the law, and has lectured widely. He is one of 100 diplomates in the nation of the American College of Family Trial Lawyers.
“I knew I wanted to be an attorney so I made an appointment with the dean at South Texas,” Tom said. “While my undergraduate grades weren’t ideal, I told Dean Walker, ‘I’m going to be a lawyer one day — a good lawyer.’ He let me in, and I took every extra class I could throughout the years to finish the part-time program in 27 months while working full time. I was serious about getting to work as a lawyer.”
Gabe describes South Texas Law as a place that gives people opportunities to succeed. South Texas gave him an opportunity to not only get a law degree, but also build the foundation for his career through the school’s advocacy program and the deep and abiding relationships that it fosters. He was introduced to Dean Gerald Treece by his dad.
“Dean Treece created a legacy of excellence and a legacy of successful students who are now successful alumni attorneys,” Tom said.
Bridget also was a national champion advocate in law school. “I couldn’t have better things to say about the Advocacy Program and the law school,” she said. “Graduates from South Texas hit the ground running.”
The trio encourage all their friends and colleagues to join them at this year’s gala to make a positive impact on the law school — and to have a great time. “There will be great food in a beautiful place with great people and a wonderful band,” Tom said. “What could be better than that?”
To buy a table or purchase tickets for The Gala 2024, go to: https://www.stcl.edu/event/gala-2024/ or contact us at gala@stcl.edu or by phone at 713-646-2968.
