The Distinguished Legal Service Award, formerly the Distinguished Judicial Service Award, is presented, annually, at Red Mass. The award is given to an individual who exemplifies the mission of Gonzaga University School of Law and is well connected to the Gonzaga Law community. The award honors those who show longevity of service, an active role in the judicial community and/or strong public service commitment.
Meet the 2019 Recipients: J. Donald ('60) and Va Lena ('58) Curran
Don and Va Lena have always believed it is more blessed to give than to receive and they have given generously to Gonzaga University and the Spokane Community for over 50 years.
The Currans met in a law school class in 1953 and were married at St. Aloysius Church in 1961. They have three sons, one of whom, Kevin, is a 1988 graduate of Gonzaga Law School.
in 1960, Don co-founded the Spokane law firm now known as Delay, Curran, Thompson, Pontarolo & Walker and limits his practice to platiffs' personal injury and representing lawyers with disciplinary issues. A past president of the Spokane County Bar Association, he is a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers. He has received professionalism awards from the Washington State Young Lawyer Section (1992) and the Spokane County Bar Association (1995). In addition, for over 20 years he has been an invited speaker at seminars on ethics, professionalism, and discipline.
Va Lena graduated from Gonzaga Law in 1958 and has served on the Law School's Board of Advisors for over 30 years, as well as on the Law School Foundation board for six years. She served on the Catholic Charities Board for 10 years and on the Catholic Charities Foundation Board for 6 years. She has also served as a Regent of Gonzaga University for 18 years.
Former Recipients
1993
The Hon. William J. Grant, ’54
The Hon. George Shields
1994
Justice James Andersen
The Hon. Richard F. Wrenn, ’60
1995
The Hon. Harold D. Clarke, Jr., ’57
The Hon. Franklin D. Burgess, ’66
1996
The Hon. John J. Ripple, ’50
The Hon. Marcus M. Kelley, ’57 (posthumously)
1997
The Hon. J. Benjamin McInturff, ’52
The Hon. Philip J. Thompson, ’62
1998
The Hon. James M. Dolliver
The Hon. John F. Wilson, ’56
1999
The Hon. Anita G. Dupris, ’81
The Hon. Joseph A. Thibodeau, ’66
2000
The Hon. Richard P. Guy, ’59
2001
The Hon. Richard J. Richard, ’56
Ms. Kathleen M. Taft
2002
The Hon. Robert J. Doran, ’57
2003
The Hon. John Schultheis, ’61
2004
The Hon. Richard J. Schroeder, ’63
2005
The Hon. Paul A. Bastine, ’64
2006
The Hon. Cynthia Imbrogno, ’79
2007
The Hon. Neal Q. Rielly, ’75
2008
The Hon. Richard B. White, ’80
2009
The Hon. Kathleen M. O’Connor, ’75
2010
The Hon. Patricia C. Williams, ’74
2011
Justice Debra Stephens, ’93
Justice Mary Fairhurst, ’84
Chief Justice Barbara Madsen, ’77
2012
The Hon. Gregory D. Sypolt, ’76
2013
The Hon. Ellen K. Clark, ’82
2014
Thomas W. Hillier, II, ’73
2015
The Hon. James M. Murphy, ’73
2016
The Hon. Justin L. Quackenbush, ’57
2017
Howard Herman, ’62
2018
The Hon. Annette S. Plese, '91
2019
J. Donald Curran, '60
Va Lena Curran, '58