Our veterans have made enormous sacrifices - and in some cases the ultimate sacrifice - in serving and protecting our country. They have fearlessly worked and fought to protect our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This Veterans Day, we especially take the time to remember and honor our veterans and remind ourselves that without them, we would not have the safety and security that we have come to expect as a nation.

Veterans Day is celebrated on November 11 and was initially called Armistice Day, indicating the end of the fighting of World War I on November 11, 1918. It became a federal holiday in 1938, and in 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower officially changed the name to Veterans Day following World War II and the Korean War to honor veterans of all wars. Today, multiple countries celebrate veterans around this same day, including Canada, Great Britain, France, and Australia.

In honoring our veterans, I would like to specifically recognize one of our exemplary alumni who spent time in service and is now an outstanding attorney. A nationally acclaimed lead trial lawyer, alumnus Brian Melton, UHLC 1999, has built a distinguished career and reputation as one of the best in the legal profession. Melton has spent his entire legal career at Susman Godfrey, where he went to work as an Associate upon graduating second in his class at the Law Center. He is now Partner and also sits on the Executive Committee. A United States Military Academy at West Point graduate, Melton served as an infantry officer and attained the rank of captain. During his military service, he was in command of two platoons and served as the aide-de-camp to the Commanding General of the Fourth Infantry Division.

Throughout his legal career, Melton has secured several notable wins, including a milestone victory for Steven Lamar, the designer of Beats headphones. The lawsuit garnered national media attention, as it was filed against Dr. Dre, Jimmy Iovine, and Beats Electronics. The case involved a breach of contract regarding the design of the headphones. Melton won a $25.25 million jury verdict in California federal court for Lamar, later spent time convincing the Judge to double the judgment value, and then settled with Apple for a confidential amount. Additionally, after three trial wins in a less-than-two-year period, the National Law Journal named Melton a “Winning Litigator” in 2017. Melton is also spearheading a drive to increase Dean’s Society membership at the Law Center.

This Veterans Day, we take a moment to celebrate Melton’s extraordinary accomplishments as well as acknowledge many other alumni who also bravely served our country.

In commemorating our veterans this Veterans Day, let’s never forget the sacrifices they have made for our country. Let us continue to support our veterans, no matter what profession they pursue.

Sincerely,

Leonard M. Baynes
Dean & Professor of Law
University of Houston Law Center

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