Galen Sparks and Susan Rocha Awards for Outstanding Public Service

AS OF OCTOBER 10, 2019, CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR THESE AWARDS:

  1. City Attorneys are now eligible.
  2. Division by city size has been eliminated.
  3. The awards now recognize in-house (Galen Sparks) and outside counsel (Susan Rocha).

Galen Sparks served as an assistant city attorney and dedicated public servant for the City of Dallas for over 27 years. He distinguished himself in a variety of areas of municipal law and generously shared his time and expertise in a way that substantially enhanced the professionalism of his fellow municipal lawyers.

The TCAA Galen Sparks Award for Outstanding Public Service is intended to recognize and honor a current or former city attorney or assistant city attorney for significant and distinguished career achievements in the field of municipal law. The TCAA board grants one award each year for an in-house city or assistant city attorney.

Susan Rocha served as an assistant city attorney for the City of San Antonio early in her career, and went on to be a trailblazer in municipal law. She served as president of both the Texas City Attorneys Association and the International Municipal Lawyers Association, and was a mentor and role model for many attorneys in the field due to her hard work, many achievements, and – of course – irrepressible personality.

The TCAA Susan Rocha Award for Outstanding Public Service is intended to recognize and honor any current or former city attorney or assistant city attorney for significant and distinguished career achievements in the field of municipal law. The TCAA board grants one award each year for outside counsel serving as a city attorney or assistant city attorney.

The recipients of these awards will be honored at the TCAA Summer Conference. In addition, TCAA will provide complimentary registration for the conference. The deadline to submit a nomination is April 26, 2024. For downloadable criteria and an application form, click here.

Recipients

2024: Galen Sparks Award- Applications Are Open
Susan Rocha Award- Applications Are Open
2023: Galen Sparks Award- No Nominations Received
Susan Rocha Award- Wayne Olson, Olson & Olson LLP
2022: Galen Sparks Award- No Nominations Received
Susan Rocha Award- Monte Akers, Messer, Fort & McDonald PLLC
2021: Galen Sparks Award – No Nominations Received
Susan Rocha Award – No Nominations Received
2020: Galen Sparks Award – Trevor Fanning, Baytown
Susan Rocha Award – Bryn Meredith, Taylor Olson Adkins Sralla & Elam, L.L.P.
2019: Galen Sparks Award – No Nominations Received
Susan Rocha Award – Victor Flores, Plano
2018: Galen Sparks Award – Deidra Penny, Houston
Susan Rocha Award – No Nominations Received
2017: Galen Sparks Award – Ross Crow, Austin
Susan Rocha Award – Donna Fairweather, Galveston
2016: Galen Sparks Award – David Barber, Arlington
Susan Rocha Award – Janet Spugnardi, Irving
2015: Galen Sparks Award – Savita Rai, San Antonio
Susan Rocha Award – David (Mitch) Satterwhite, Lubbock
2014: Galen Sparks Award – Patricia (Trish) Link, Austin
Susan Rocha Award – Kinley Hegglund, Wichita Falls
2013: Galen Sparks Award – Donna Edmundson, Houston
Susan Rocha Award – Annette Jones, Waco
2012: Galen Sparks Award – Elaine Hengen, El Paso
Susan Rocha Award – Theresa James, Abilene
2011: Big Cities – Linda Frank, Arlington
Other Cities – Sarah Garder-Cox, Temple
2010: Big Cities – Don Knight, Dallas
Other Cities – Steven Kean, Tyler
2009: Big Cities – Peter Merkl, Corpus Christi
Other Cities – Jerikay Gayle, Round Rock
2008: Brenda McDonald, Irving
2007: Lisa Aguilar, Corpus Christi
2006: No Nominations Received
2005: Dorothy Palumbo, Denton
2004: Bill Wood, San Antonio
2003: Jeanene McIntyre, Arlington
2002: Lynn Nunns, Carrollton
2001: Ed Snyder, Denton
2000: Roxanne Nemcik, College Station
1999: Chad Weaver, Midland
1998: Claud Drinnen, Amarillo
1997: Michael Bucek, Denton
1996: Robert Diaz, Arlington
1995: Donald VanDiver, Lubbock
1994: Tom Finlay, San Antonio
1993: Nanette Williams, El Paso
1992: Tyrone Cooper, Beaumont