Many times, it's been said that if you get into trouble in the oil patch, you call Frank Douglass '54.

With his ability to handle monumental amounts of work and love it, and a great allegiance to his roots, Douglass has become a leader in his profession and among alumni of Southwestern.

In fact, he co-chaired the recently completed Leadership 2000 –The Southwestern Campaign, which surpassed its $75.5 million goal to raise nearly $92 million for faculty, scholarships, library, international programs, equipment and technology, current operations and facilities.

Douglass, nephew of J.N.R. Score, who was the 10th president of the University, is a fervent Southwestern advocate who gives generously of his time. He hosts events in his home for University alumni, sends handwritten notes to SU staff full of ideas for honoring people and underwriting projects and actively recruits prospective students.

He also serves on the University's Board of Trustees, has made a planned gift to the University and funds multiple student scholarships.

As a founding partner in the Austin law firm of Scott, Douglass and McConnico, L.L.P., his professional life has focused on the oil and gas industry.

"During the 46 years of my practice, I have given business advice, drafted or redrafted oil and gas instruments, including oil and gas leases, assignments, royalty deeds, farm outs, unit agreements, operating agreements, gas purchase and sales agreements, settlement agreements, etcetera," Douglass explains.

"I've participated in thousands of administrative hearings, arbitrations, mediations and lawsuits, usually as lead counsel. In addition to my work in Texas, I have handled oil and gas trial or hearing matters in the states of Utah, New Mexico, Louisiana, Delaware, Tennessee and Michigan."

He also has chaired the Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Advisory Committee to the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and the Oil and Natural Gas Exploration and Production Committee of the Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law Section of the American Bar Association.

Additionally, he serves as a member of the Advisory Board of the International Oil and Gas Educational Center of the Southwestern Legal Foundation, and is a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers. He was elected a Fellow in the Texas Bar Foundation in 1968 and later became a Sustaining Life Fellow.

He says Southwestern is an "outstanding small university that was a great influence on my adult life. It gave me an education. I felt obligated to help provide the highest quality education to all that wanted it at SU.

"I have tried to be a good student, good husband, good parent, good attorney and good Christian to make SU proud of my life."

In October 1998, his law firm threw him a party for what he has termed his "relivement," a time to renew and rekindle living life to its fullest. The City of Austin and its mayor, Kirk Watson, proclaimed October 29, 1998, Frank Douglass Day in honor of his ability to "nurture the best in us by encouraging us, finding the greatest of our talents and shining a light on them."

Douglass earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree cum laude from SU in 1954, then served nearly two years in the Air Force during the Korean War. He completed his Bachelor of Laws degree at UT-Austin in 1958 before embarking on his law career.

He and spouse Betty currently live in Dallas. They have six children and 13 grandchildren.

On October 1 1999, Southwestern University honored Douglass as the 1999 Distinguished Alumnus at a special service in Lois Perkins Chapel.