Bobby McDaniel (right) with Dean Richard Atkinson (left) of the School of Law.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A new practice trial classroom will be a reality for future University of Arkansas law students, thanks in part to alumnus Bobby McDaniel's $100,000 gift to the School of Law building project.

As part of the Campaign for the Twenty-first Century, the School of Law is raising funds for an addition in which the Bobby McDaniel Trial Practice Classroom will be located. The classroom, which will accommodate 60 students, can be converted into a courtroom where students can practice their trial skills.

Richard Atkinson, dean of the School of Law, said, "This will be a state of the art classroom, and I am excited about the opportunity to honor Bobby. Bobby is a trial lawyer of the highest caliber and one of our most distinguished alumni. Interestingly, Bobby was eager to write the check but was reluctant to let us publicly recognize his generosity. Fortunately his sons helped me to convince him that recognizing such gifts encourages others to give as well.

"This law school has given so much to me and my family. I have made my living and served thousands of clients for the last 31 years with the education I received here," McDaniel said. "It is a pleasure and a privilege, and, in my opinion, my responsibility to give back to the school that has helped me so much."

Bobby and Tonja McDaniel live in Jonesboro, where Bobby is the senior partner at McDaniel and Wells P.A. He is a 1972 School of Law honor graduate and a 1968 Sam M. Walton College of Business graduate with a degree in finance and banking. He currently serves on the School of Law's Campaign committee. Bobby has two sons, Brett and Dustin, who are both lawyers and both UA alumni. Dustin, who graduated from UALR School of Law in 1999, practices with Bobby in Jonesboro. Brett graduated from the University of Arkansas School of Law in 2002 and now practices with Rouse and Associates in Denver, Co.

This gift counts toward the $300 Million Challenge, the campaign-within-a-campaign to raise $300 million for academic purposes to match the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation's $300 million gift. Challenge funds must be raised between Jan. 1, 2002, and June 30, 2005, the end of the Campaign. The Challenge total stands at $124.3 million, and the overall Campaign total stands at $753.8 million as of Sept. 30, 2003. The School of Law has raised $18.3 million over its $18 million Campaign goal.