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Texas Association of Legal Professionals

Awards & Recognition

Legal Professional of the Year

Honoring Excellence in the Legal Support Profession 

In 1975 Texas ALS began recognizing one of its members as being the personification of a professional legal secretary.  Below is a list of those members who have qualified as the best of the best—the Texas ALS Legal Secretary of the Year.  Once the name changed in 2003, they were recognized as the Texas ALP Legal Professional of the Year.

2025-2026

Beatrice Duenez 
(Lubbock ALP)

The 2026 Legal Professional of the Year is BEATRICE DUENEZ!  According to her employer, Keil Swan, General Counsel of Lubbock Power and Light Company, Beatrice shows intuitive understanding of legal issues.  She utilizes excellent logic and reasoning skills to resolve problems within the legal department.  Beatrice proactively tackles problems and works toward resolution.  She tirelessly takes on new tasks at work and continuously takes new opportunities to deepen her legal expertise.

Beatrice also goes above and beyond to contribute to her community through her involvement with South Plains Food Bank, Lubbock Impact, and United We Read.

Beatrice joined the National Association for Legal Professionals as a student in the Legal Studies Program with South Plains College in 2018.  After graduation, she joined Lubbock Legal Professional Association and our tri-level organization in March 2024.  She is the President-Elect for Lubbock LPA for 2025-2026.

Beatrice stated in her application for LPY that she loves being part of a profession where organization, service, and community impact come together every day.

CONGRATULATIONS TO BEATRICE DUENEZ, Texas ALP’s 2026 Legal Professional of the Year!

Previous LPY Award Winners

2025-2026 Beatriz Duenez (Lubbock ALP)

2024-2025  Diane (Dee) Martinez (Corpus Christi ALP)

2023-2024      Sylvia Juarez (Lubbock LPA)

2022-2023     Jerri Locknane (Lubbock LPA)

2021-2022     Emily Folsom (Waco LPA)

2020-2021     Laura DeLeon (Waco LPA)

2019-2020     (No award given)

2018-2019     Faynell Poe, PP, PLS (El Paso ALP)

2017-2018     Cheryl Wenzel, PP, PLS (San Antonio LSA)

2016-2017     Mary Teague, PP, PLS (Waco LPA)

2015-2016     Patricia M. Nuhn, PLS (Austin LPA)

2014-2015     Theresa Ann Alba, PLS (Austin LPA)

2013-2014     Daniele Y. Mitchell, PP, PLS (Lubbock LPA)

2012-2013     Helene L. Wood, PP, PLS-SC, TSC-RE (Houston ALP)

2011-2012     Anne Hoover, PLS (San Antonio LSA)

2010-2011     Tina Hurley, PP, PLS (Dallas ALP)

2009-2010     Kristy Turner, PP, PLS, CLA, TSC-CL/RE (Waco LPA)

2008-2009     Julie A. Abernathy, PP, PLS (Austin LPA)

2007-2008     Patricia T. Heaney, PLS (Austin LPA)

2006-2007     Leslie G. Stokes, PP, PLS, TSC (Fort Worth ALP)

2005-2006     Nikkie A. Rice, PP, PLS (El Paso County LSA)

2004-2005     Judy Golden-Bentley, PLS (Austin LPA)

2003-2004     Debbie Wheeler, PLS, CLA, TSC (NALS of Amarillo)

2002-2003     Barbara Griffin, PLS, TSC (El Paso County LSA)

2001-2002     Kathie Jean (Keys) Capeheart, PLS (Corpus Christi ALP)

2000-2001     Reynetta DeVeau, PLS, TSC (Austin LSA)

1999-2000           Alexis Montgomery, PLS, TSC (Austin LSA)

1998-1999     Sylvia P. Vela, PLS, TSC (Austin LSA)

1997-1998     Elizabeth G. Wells, PLS (Austin LSA)

1996-1997     Cindy Curry, PLS, CLA (Cameron County LSA)

1995-1996     Judith Smith, PLS, CLA (San Antonio LSA)

1994-1995     Ruby Higgins, PLS, CLAS (Fort Worth LSA)

1993-1994     Barbara Sucsy, PLS (Lubbock LSA)

1992-1993     Gina Estrella Picasso, PLS (El Paso County LSA)

1991-1992     Olivia Johnson, PLS, CLA (Waco LSA)

1990-1991     Jovita Lopez Smith, PLS (Greater Houston LSA)

1989-1990     Myra J. Miles, PLS (Houston ALS)

1988-1989     Rhita Koches, PLS, CLA (Tyler LSA)

1987-1988     Sharon Beall, PLS (Longview LSA)

1986-1987     Loretta Day, PLS (Taylor County LSA)

1985-1986     Donna Dendy, PLS, CLA (Waco LSA)

1984-1985     Carol Linck, PLS (Dallas ALS)

1983-1984     (No award given)

1982-1983     Joan Gardner (Austin LSA)

1981-1982     Ella Mae Marlowe (Tyler LSA)

1980-1981     Iris Bills, CLA (Taylor County LSA)

1979-1980     Margaret Fenlon (Fort Worth LSA)

1978-1979     Anne Smith, PLS (Dallas ALS)

1977-1978     Bernice Hightower Smith, PLS (Fort Worth LSA)

1976-1977     Karol McVay, PLS, CLA (Lubbock LSA)

1975-1976     Beth Walker, PLS, CLA (Amarillo LSA)

1974-1975           Mildred Sheffy, PLS, CPS (Deaf Smith-Castro Counties LSA) 



CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW FOR THE APPROPRIATE RULES & REGULATIONS AND NOMINATION FORM.

Rules and Regulations
Nomination Form 2026-2027

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