When Jo Anna Dale married John Richard Dale, III, she married The University of Texas. Born and raised in East Texas, Richard was a graduate of the UT College of Liberal Arts (’47) and School of Law (’50). He was a very loyal alumnus who loved the University and his cherished Longhorns. He and Jo Anna always discussed endowing a chair in the School of Law, and Jo Anna decided to create the Richard Dale Endowed Chair in Law in her husband’s honor after his untimely death on September 5, 2006.

Interested in genealogy, he was kind, patient, and gentle, with a great sense of humor and a twinkle in his eye. He never liked having his picture taken. It was a cherished dream of his to have an endowed chair named in his honor so it could bring qualified teachers to UT to pass on the ideals and lessons in which he believed.