South Texas College of Law Houston’s 2025 graduating class will soon find themselves part of a powerful, lifelong network — one that extends far beyond classrooms, casebooks, and courtrooms. Few stories exemplify the strength of this alumni community better than a group of graduates from the late 1970s whose journey to South Texas Law was rooted not just in ambition, but in a foundation of friendship.
Fifty years ago, hailing from Tampa, Florida, Joe Lopez ’78 made the bold decision to attend law school far from home — not alone, but alongside a tight-knit Tampa group of 14 friends, some who’d been together since early childhood.
“Three of us went to kindergarten, grade school, high school, college, and law school together,” Lopez said. “We were always helping each other. That was a constant.”
The joint decision to attend South Texas Law together was anchored in trust and a shared commitment to success and each other. They helped each other study, lived in the same apartment complex, and even pooled money for groceries and gas.
“We all shared what we had,” Lopez recalled. “If I didn’t have enough money to buy groceries, I’d borrow it from one of them, and vice versa. It was like having a home away from home. We were a community within ourselves.”
Post-South Texas Law, that spirit of support extended far beyond graduation. Many in the group returned to Tampa, where they remained close both personally and professionally. “Hardly a week goes by that I don’t engage with one of these folks, either to assist them or to ask for assistance,” Lopez said. “That’s been the case for 47 years.”
They became colleagues, co-counsel, and, in many cases, judges. At one point, Lopez noted, “South Texas Law had more people sitting on the bench in Hillsborough County, Florida, than any other school in the nation.”
Beyond their shared history and deep bond, what holds them all together is a common thread: a belief in paying it forward, instilled in them by one influential figure — The Honorable E.J. Salcines ’63, a Tampa legal legend and champion of law students from Florida. “E.J. had a hand in every one of our careers,” Lopez said. “He told us, ‘Make me proud.’”
For the soon-to-be graduates stepping into the next chapter of their lives, Lopez and his to-this-day tight-knit group showcase that South Texas Law connections will endure. “That kind of support is something you carry with you for the rest of your life,” he said. “It is the best support group that anybody can have.”
To the Class of 2025, congratulations! The friendships and community you’ve found here at South Texas Law aren’t ending at graduation — they’re just beginning.
Learn more about Commencement at stcl.edu/commencement.
