Santa Clara University School of Law is recognizing three of its distinguished alumni with the Alumni Special Achievement Award and the Edwin J. Owens Lawyer of the Year award at this year’s Spring Awards Banquet on April 27 at the Leavey Center on the University’s campus.
The Alumni Special Achievement Award was established by the Law Alumni Association at Santa Clara University for the purpose of publicly recognizing outstanding achievements of its alumni. Recipients have distinguished themselves in their profession, in the community, and in service to humanity. This year’s recipients of the award are Theodore J. Biagini ’62, J.D. ’64, and William T. Loris ’68, J.D. ’72.
Theodore J. Biagini ’62, J.D. ’64
Ted Biagini entered Santa Clara University in 1958 after graduating from Bellarmine College Preparatory in San Jose. He earned his bachelor’s degree in commerce in 1962 and stayed at the University to pursue his legal education. In law school, Biagini was a member of the Santa Clara Law Review and served as president of the Student Bar Association. In 1964, he earned his juris doctorate and was named the winner of the Chargin Award, an honor given to the graduate with the highest grade point average. More recently, he earned a master’s degree from Stanford University. Biagini practiced law as a partner with diLeonardo, Blake, Kelly, Aguilar & Leal in Sunnyvale, and with Berliner, Cohen & Biagini in San Jose. He was Of Counsel with Pillsbury Madison & Sutro, and with Hopkins & Carley, both in San Jose. He and his wife, Nancy, live in the Willow Glen area of San Jose.
William T. Loris ’68, J.D. ’72
During Bill Loris’ junior year at Santa Clara University, he studied in Rome where he met his future wife, fellow Santa Clara student Lynne Jackson ’70. There he also met Lynne’s late father, Roy, a U.N. official who introduced Loris to the problems of developing countries. In 1968, Loris completed his bachelor’s degree in history; he stayed at SCU and earned his juris doctorate in 1972. Two years later, he entered the U.S. Foreign Services as a legal officer for the U.S. Agency for International Development and was immediately sent to West Africa. His endeavors with USAID over the next decade included working on the program of assistance to Egypt, which came out of the Camp David Accords. In 1983, Loris and two other lawyers formed the International Development Law Organization. He and his colleagues convinced a number of countries, including the United States, to establish the organization through an international convention. He served as IDLO’s legal advisor and as director of its assistance programs throughout developing countries. He and Lynne are the parents of one son, David, and live in Rome.
The Edwin J. Owens Lawyer of the Year Award was first presented in 1966. The award is named for its first recipient, Edwin J. Owens, dean of Santa Clara University School of Law for 20 years and later judge of the Superior Court. The award honors a lawyer who has distinguished him/herself in the profession. He or she should be a person of high moral character and recognized intellectual ability, who is devoted to the highest ideals of professional responsibility and has made significant contributions to the University, the community, and the law. This year’s recipient is the Honorable Raymond J. Davilla ’69, J.D. ’72
Raymond J. Davilla ’69, J.D. ’72
Raymond J. Davilla Jr., was born and raised in San Jose. He was the first graduate of St. Christopher’s School in Willow Glen, where he is still an active member of the parish. Davilla graduated from Bellarmine College Preparatory, then earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Santa Clara University in 1969. That summer, he married Mary Jane Muri; just two weeks after their wedding, he started law school at Santa Clara. In addition to his studies, Davilla participated in athletics at SCU; he rowed crew for one year as an undergraduate, and in law school, he was a member of the intramural softball team "Roggia’s Rats," led by undergraduate and law school classmate Rich Roggia. After earning his juris doctorate and being admitted to the California State Bar in 1972, Davilla started his law practice at diLeonardo, Blake, Kelly, Aguilar & Leal in Sunnyvale. He became a state certified family law specialist in 1981, and was appointed to the bench of the Santa Clara County Superior Court in 1995. Davilla has served as supervising judge of the Family and Juvenile Delinquency Divisions, and is currently the supervising judge of the Unified Family Court. He and his wife have four children, two of whom have also graduated from Santa Clara University.
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