J. EVANS ATTWELL – A LEADER FOR RICE AND HOUSTON

During the critical 1980s and ‘90s, J. Evans Attwell helped Rice University choose a president, grapple with the impact of athletics on campus, and steer a course for the 21^st century.  Mr. Attwell earned a bachelor of arts degree from Rice in 1953 and served on the Board of Governors for the University from 1982 to 1996.  Mr. Attwell was a member of the William Marsh Rice Society and was a major individual donor during Rice’s record-breaking 1989-90 private-giving campaign.  Attendance at Rice was something of a tradition for Attwell, who had four cousins, two uncles and an aunt graduate from the University.  Mr. Attwell served as a vice chair of the University’s Baker Institute for Public Leadership Committee, served on the Rice University Fund Council and was a contributing life member of Rice Associates.

After earning his bachelor’s degree at Rice, J. Evans Attwell received his law degree in 1956 from the University of Texas.  In 1965, Mr. Attwell became the youngest partner in the history of the Vinson and Elkins law firm, and served as managing partner from 1981 to 1991.  The law firm has a 10-year term limit for its managing partner under a rule that was written by Attwell himself.  He was a Fellow of the Texas and American Bar Foundations and a member of the American Law Institute.  This fellowship honors his extraordinary legacy and a lifetime of dedication to Rice University.

The J. Evans Attwell Fellowship is supported by an endowment, established from both Rice University and Welch Foundation funds, which is sufficient to make the award attractive to the best young Ph.D. recipients in nanoscience and nanoengineering-related fields.  The goal is to attract and retain leading nanoscientists, thus further augmenting the level of basic scientific research, not only for Rice University, but also for the State of Texas.