Hey, He Looks Familiar! William Howard Taft Comes to Life for Law Anniversary Kickoff Event

A familiar figure not seen on campus – well, except in statue form – in more than 75 years returns Friday, Sept. 28, to the University of Cincinnati for the kick-off celebration of the 175th anniversary of the UC College of Law.

William Howard Taft, a graduate and former dean of the college (as well as U.S. president and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court), will join UC President Nancy Zimpher and College of Law Dean Louis Bilionis on stage as the sparklers are lit, the Bearcat goes wild and the UC pep band strikes up a chorus of "Happy Birthday" for the country's fourth oldest continuously operating law school.

Friday's event, planned for 2 pm on the lawn north of the College of Law, begins the anniversary celebration of the founding of the law school, the first west of the Alleghenies.

Taft will be there in the person of actor Greg Procaccino, a veteran of Cincinnati’s Playhouse in the Park and the artistic director of the New Edgecliff Theater. He will be portraying the man schoolchildren know as the largest U.S. president in history, but who is also the only individual to have served the country as both U.S. president and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. (A large statue of Taft graces the lawn outside of the college).

Festivities continue with a dinner on Saturday evening, featuring famed legal commentator Arthur Miller of New York University as emcee and six UC College of Law alums whose careers span much of the college’s recent history:

• Cincinnati attorney Robert Stachler, Class of '57
• Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Mickey Barker, Class of '67
• Washington attorney Billy Martin, Class of '76
• Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune, Class of '83
• Hamilton County Municipal Court Judge Fanon Rucker, Class of '96
• UC law student Sarah Sparks, member of the 175th graduating class

As part of its anniversary celebration, the college will present academic symposia and lectures during the year. Continuing a focus on the college's most famous graduate, a lecture entitled " Mr. Taft Takes Charge" will be delivered by Yale Law Professor Robert Post on Thursday, Oct. 4,  at 2 p.m. at the College of Law. 

A gala dinner featuring author John Grisham, taking place on January 25, 2008, will be the centerpiece of the anniversary year celebrations.

This week will also witness the installation of a grand timeline of the college’s history, which will remain on display in the college’s atrium and highlight significant events from the college’s lengthy history.