Phil Johnson Dean's Advisory Board - Member

Phil Johnson graduated from Texas Tech University in 1965. Upon graduation, he entered active duty with the U.S. Air Force. He served as a pilot in Vietnam and as an instructor pilot at Reese AFB.  As a result of his Vietnam service, he was awarded the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross twice, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, and multiple Air Medals.  He was honorably discharged from active duty as a captain in 1972.

Following his active duty military service, Phil attended law school at Texas Tech and graduated with honors in 1975.  He then practiced law with the Lubbock firm of Crenshaw, Dupree, and Milam until he was elected to the Seventh Court of Appeals in Amarillo. He served as a Justice on the Seventh Court from 1999 until 2002, and as its Chief Justice from 2002 until March, 2005, when he was appointed to the Texas Supreme Court. He served on the Texas Supreme Court until he retired on December 31, 2018.

Phil has been active in church, civic, and professional organizations. He has served on the boards of directors or supervisory committees of organizations, including the Lubbock Area Foundation, Lubbock County Legal Aid Society, Trinity Christian Schools, and the Carillon Foundation. He has served as president of the Lubbock County Bar Association, on numerous committees of the State Bar of Texas, and as a member of the Texas Commission on Judicial Compensation. He is a member of the College of the State Bar, a life fellow of both the Texas and American Bar Foundations, and a member of the American Law Institute.

Among the awards Phil has received from the legal profession are the President’s award from the State Bar of Texas; the Outstanding Jurist award from the Texas Bar Foundation, the Distinguished Attorney award from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, the President’s award from the Texas Association of Defense Counsel; and the James G. Denton Distinguished Lawyer of the Year award from the Lubbock Area Bar Association. He has been designated as a distinguished graduate of Texas Tech University, Texas Tech Law School, and Texas Tech College of Arts and Sciences. He is listed in Marquis Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in American Law. 

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Board Member Since
2019

TTU Graduate
BA '65 Mathematics / JD '75 Law

Organization/Affiliation
Justice - Texas Supreme Court (retired)