Burleson presented with adjunct award

William Burt Burleson was honored as the 2017 recipient of the Frederick J. Griffith III Adjunct Faculty Award at WMU-Cooley Law School on Veterans Day, Nov. 11. Burleson, a WMU-Cooley adjunct faculty member since 1990, teaches Law Office Management and Jurisprudence.

Now in its 20th year, the Frederick J. Griffith III Adjunct Faculty Award was established in memory of Rick Griffith, who taught as an adjunct for nearly two decades until he passed away at the age of 52.

The award is presented annually in recognition of a member of the adjunct faculty whose service best reflects the character and attributes of Griffith: dedication to the law school, excellence in teaching, passion for persuasive advocacy, compassion for law students and optimism about life and the future of legal education.

“In many ways, the adjuncts are the unsung heroes of this institution,” said Gary Bauer, WMU-Cooley Law School auxiliary dean, while presenting the award to Burleson.

In addition to teaching, Burleson is also a U.S. Marine. He joined the Marine Corps in 1974, which made him the youngest member on the Marine Corps’ 200th anniversary. Upon accepting the Griffith Award, Burleson said he could not have imagined that 42 years later, on the Marine Corps’ 242nd anniversary, he would be standing at a podium being honored with such a distinguished award.

Burleson was a Lansing city attorney before retiring in 2002, and then served in private practice for 15 years. Burleson specialized in Criminal Law and Family Law, and represented thousands of people on drug-related charges, drunk driving, minor in possession, criminal sexual conduct and numerous other felony and misdemeanor charges. Burleson now serves as a union representative for the Michigan Education Association, representing teachers and education support professionals throughout the state.

 The Griffith Award was endowed by contributions made in Griffith’s memory by his family, friends and associates. The award carries with it an engraved plaque, a $500 stipend and a commemorative ceramic tile created specifically for this award by Detroit’s Pewabic Pottery.

––––––––––––––––––––
Subscribe to the Legal News!
http://www.legalnews.com/Home/Subscription
Full access to public notices, articles, columns, archives, statistics, calendar and more
Day Pass Only $4.95!
One-County $80/year
Three-County & Full Pass also available