School of Law to Dedicate E.J. Ball Courtroom on Wednesday, June 29

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The Arkansas Supreme Court conducts an oral argument in the E.J. Ball Courtroom on April 7, 2011.

Chancellor G. David Gearhart, Dean Cynthia Nance and family and friends of the late E.J. Ball will dedicate the E.J. Ball Courtroom at the University of Arkansas School of Law at 4 p.m. Wednesday, June 29. A reception will follow at University House.

Ball, a 1950 graduate of the School of Law, achieved extraordinary distinction both in and out of the legal profession and was a remarkable friend and supporter of the University of Arkansas. He and law partner Ken Mourton grew their law firm into one of the most recognized in the state of Arkansas. Ball was the first counsel for the University of Arkansas men’s athletics department, was appointed as a special justice to the Arkansas Supreme Court, created the nation's first commercial variable-annuity life insurance company and was chosen as Outstanding Lawyer in Arkansas. He served as chairman of the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce; was a longtime director of McIlroy Bank; served on the board of the University of Arkansas Alumni Association; founded the Razorback Foundation, which honored him with a distinguished service award in 1992; was a founding member of the University of Arkansas National Development Council; founded the Law School Foundation; created the Wylie H. Davis Professorship and the Ethel Harper Phillips Scholarship Fund; and was founding chairman of the Chancellor's Society.

The E.J. Ball Courtroom was supported by the generosity of benefactors Jim Lindsey, Ken Mourton and Neal Pendergraft.