Endowed Gift Establishes Faculty Fellowship in Business Law

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Bob Neece (left) and friend and fellow alumnus Marvin Franklin.

A $500,000 gift will establish the Robert B. Neece Endowed Faculty Fellowship in Business Law at the U of A School of Law. The fellowship will seek to attract top faculty, enhance university support and provide resources for teaching, research and public service. The endowment will also cover salary supplements, graduate assistant stipends, administrative support and travel expenses.

"This contribution serves as a fitting tribute to Robert’s enduring dedication to legal scholarship and education,” said Cynthia Nance, dean of the School of Law and the Nathan G. Gordon Professor of Law. "The fact that his dedication to Arkansas and the School of Law and to his practice area will be preserved by the faculty receiving this fellowship is deeply meaningful."  

“This fellowship strengthens our ability to recruit outstanding faculty, ensuring the continued growth and success of the School of Law,” said Chancellor Charles Robinson. “Robert Neece’s commitment to legal education will have a meaningful and enduring impact on our university, our students and communities across our state and nation.”  

Neece was an accomplished lawyer with a distinguished career in business law. Throughout his career, he was committed to the legal profession, both in practice and academia. His professional career was marked by his work at the law firm Sherman & Howard and more recently, at Burns Wall Smith and Mueller, a Denver, Colorado, law firm. He established himself as an expert in business law, mergers and acquisitions, corporate law, commercial law, and securities. 

Suzanne O’Neill, Neece’s partner and executive director of the Colorado Wildlife Federation, recalled, “What set Bob apart from other attorneys was his ability to quickly identify what truly mattered to the client and assess the best options available. He excelled at focusing on the client’s real needs, often helping them clarify those needs through thoughtful discussions.”    

In addition to his practice, Neece contributed to legal scholarship and education. His academic roles included visiting professorships at Willamette University College of Law and the University of Denver College of Law, where he lectured on corporate law. As an author, Neece published "Corporate Acquisitions" in Negotiating Business Transactions (Wiley, 1988) and Considerations in Buying or Selling a Business in Colorado, published by the National Business Institute in 1991. Outside of work, he was an accomplished outdoor photographer and an internationally recognized ham radio operator, a hobby he took up at the age of 14. 

“Robert’s and Suzanne’s generosity expands interdisciplinary business law research and learning and will make a significant impact on our faculty recruitment and retention efforts,” said Scott Varady, vice chancellor for advancement. “We are immensely grateful for their dedication to legal education and the University of Arkansas.”

Neece earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1970 from the University of Colorado and pursued legal studies at the U of A, graduating with a Juris Doctor with high honors in 1978. He continued his legal education at Columbia University School of Law from 1978 to 1979.

Neece's family had long-standing roots in Arkansas, which played a key role in his decision to attend law school at the U of A. His connection to the School of Law was bolstered by his gratitude for former Dean Wiley Davis, whom Neece credited with helping him secure a scholarship during his time at the university.  

Neece wanted to see the U of A become nationally competitive and often suggested that the School of Law focus on recruiting top students from liberal arts colleges in neighboring states. He emphasized the importance of providing students with an excellent legal education and skills for success and believed his time at the law school was pivotal to his own successful career, which he credited to earning his law degree at the U of A. 

After Neece’s passing last year, O’Neill was determined to see his wishes fulfilled. “He loved Arkansas,” O’Neill said. “His family was from Howard County in Arkansas. He loved wildlife and geography and loved showing me everything when we visited Fayetteville and Eureka Springs. He only ever mentioned the university in terms of leaving something and he wanted it to be meaningful. He wanted a faculty endowment. He was resolute about that, and I was motivated to get it done.”       

Endowed faculty positions help sustain universities through named chairs, professorships and faculty fellowships — all powerful tools for recruiting and retaining teachers and researchers who are among the most distinguished scholars in their fields.  

About University Advancement: University Advancement advances the mission of the University of Arkansas by raising private gift support from alumni, friends, parents, foundations, corporations, and other institutional supporters. Working in philanthropic partnership with academic leaders and volunteers, Advancement team members are determined to advance the people, work, and impact of the greater whole at the University of Arkansas.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $3 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.