Michael A. Olivas, William B. Bates Distinguished Chair of Law Emeritus

Professor Emeritus Michael A. Olivas, who died April 22 at his home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, will be forever remembered for his quick mind, legal acumen and generous spirit. Olivas served as a faculty member at University of Houston Law Center for 38 years, culminating in being named the William B. Bates Distinguished Chair in Law, director of the Institute for Higher Education Law and Governance and, for a time, acting president of University of Houston-Downtown.

“During his tenure, Professor Olivas was an excellent teacher and role model, a renowned scholar, academic entrepreneur and institution builder and a multiple award winner. In each of these roles, Professor Olivas advanced the rule of law, legal education and service to the community. His students cherished him, and he was a mentor and advocate for many of his former students,” remembers Leonard M. Baynes, dean of the UH Law Center.

A civil rights advocate, Olivas spent his life fighting to create pathways to higher education for all students and authored numerous books and law review articles to direct policy changes. Among his most enduring legal accomplishments, Olivas helped draft the Texas 10% plan that afforded students of diverse backgrounds automatic admission to the Texas public college of their choice. He also helped craft the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

He led from the front, serving on numerous national boards, including the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund Board of Directors, and as president of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS).

Olivas received the Esther Farfel Award in 2001 for overall career excellence, the highest honor given to a UH faculty member. In 2018, the AALS honored him with its Triennial Award for Lifetime Service to Legal Education and the Law. In 2019, he earned a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Houston Mexican Bar Association.

Michael A. Olivas, William B. Bates Distinguished Chair of Law Emeritus

A rock music aficionado, Olivas hosted a radio show called “The Law of Rock and Roll” on the Albuquerque National Public Radio station. He appeared as “The Rock ’n’ Roll Law Professor” and enthusiastically reviewed legal developments in music and entertainment law.

Olivas and his wife, retired Professor Emerita Augustina H. Reyes, generously gave of their time and talents to the many communities in which they were involved, including through significant philanthropy to the UH Law Center and its new building. A space at UH’s new John M. O’Quinn Law Building will be named the Olivas-Reyes Reading Room in their honor.

For the past 10 years, Shasta VI played a pivotal role in cherished university traditions. Each fall and spring prior to commencement ceremonies, Shasta VI guarded the rings of the graduating classes as well as all students who had recently received their class ring. All the rings would be placed in a UH-themed box, which would spend the day in Shasta’s habitat. Throughout the years, UH and the zoo have partnered to celebrate special occasions, such as Shasta’s birthday parties and live appearances via webcam at UH football games.

“With the help of the Houston Zoo, it was our honor at the UH Alumni Association to bring Shasta VI to the UH family,” says Mike Pede (’89), associate vice president for alumni relations. “Shasta’s service and symbolism of pride and school spirit will live on with all who went to see him, had their rings guarded by him or saw his handlers adorn his habitat with spirited notes of support. Rest easy, good friend.”

Shasta lived in the zoo’s cougar habitat alongside Haley, a female cougar who also serves as a UH ambassador. The duo loved the zoo visitors, which included generations of UH families, students and alumni. Shasta played an important role in educating guests about the important roles cougars play in the ecosystem.

Shasta VI follows a long line of mascots, dating back to 1947, who have helped showcase Cougar pride on campus and in the community. Between 1947 and 1989, five live cougars served as mascots. Since Shasta V’s death in 1989, costumed students have carried on the tradition on campus. With Shasta VI, the live mascot tradition was reimagined at the Houston Zoo.

The University of Houston extends our condolences to the UH Cougar and Houston Zoo families. We are grateful to the Houston Zoo, the UH Alumni Association and the generous donors who made Shasta VI’s presence at the zoo possible.