Texas Longhorns

Legendary Texas lawyer and Longhorns benefactor Joe Jamail dies at 90

Published Dec. 23, 2015 1:20 p.m. ET

foxsports

Legendary Houston lawyer and major benefactor to University of Texas athletics and academics, Joe Jamail has died at the age of 90.

The outspoken lawyer is known as one of the greatest trial lawyers in American history. His most famous case was in 1985 when he won an $11 billion verdict for Pennzoil in its suit against Texaco. Through the years, Jamail has been a constant contributor to Texas athletics. The Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swim Center is named in his and his wife's honor. Lee Jamail passed away in 2007.

The Longhorns’ football team plays on what’s known as Joe Jamail Field at Darrell K. Royal-Memorial Stadium.

Via the Austin American-Statesman, former Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds released a statement: “I don’t think the University of Texas has ever had a better friend than Joe Jamail. When something needed to get done on campus, you could count on him to help. Joe wasn’t a guy wanting to give advice or get his way — he just wanted to know what he could do to be part of the solution. Joe was a dear friend of mine and our coaches. He was very close to Darrell and Edith Royal and Mack and Sally Brown. He shared in our national championships and we are proud his name is on our field — it’s very deserving."

In one of his last interviews with the Statesman, Jamail expressed his passion for Longhorns fans: "You’re asking me why Texas fans are upset?” Jamail said in a story about then-athletic director Steve Patterson. “I represented Darrell Royal, and fans have been upset long before that.

"They’re born with the red ass.”

Patterson, who was fired as Texas' athletics director in September, told the Statesman on Wednesday: "We’ve been friends for 35 years. Just love the guy. It’s a loss for the city, the state, the university and everybody that was great friends with him. You go his office and see the cases he won and all the names. He’s just a giant. Great American success story.”