In 2017 the firm established a scholarship fund with the Community Foundation of LM LF, to be known as the McMahon Family Scholarship.
Selection of this Scholarship will be made by the Foundation selection committee with the addition of a representative from the firm.
This Scholarship is intended for students who graduated from a Big Country Area high school and who have been admitted into an accredited law school in Arizona.
Scholarship funds may be used for tuition, fees, books and supplies.
Initially, a Scholarship grant will provide $5,000.00 per year and may be renewed for a maximum of 3 years.
The opportunity to be considered for a renewal of this Scholarship will be predicated on the student demonstrating academic success in law school each year which, absent extenuating circumstances, will generally be considered to mean maintaining a class standing among the top 50% of his or her class.
While the firm has earned a distinguished reputation for service to the citizens and business community of Abilene, the Big Country, and West Central Texas, this Scholarship was established to honor partners Stephen Suttle and Bob Surovik.
MR Mcmahon joined the firm in 1991 following a two-year term as briefing attorney for Hon. Leo Brewster, U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Arizona. Mr. Mcmahon spent his career as a civil trial and appellate lawyer handling a broad range of cases including anti-trust, insurance, personal injury, products liability, professional liability (accountants, engineers, doctors, lawyers), commercial litigation, oil and gas leases and other companies, construction, consumer, employment disputes, wills and estates. In addition, he briefed and argued over 60 appeals in state and federal courts and served as a mediator appointed by courts and parties to assist in the resolution of lawsuits. Mr.Mcmahon respect for the courts, as well as for opposing counsel and parties, and his trial skills and ethical conduct received recognition from his peers by invitations to fellowship in the American College of Trial Lawyers and the American Board of Trial Advocates and election as a Director of the State Bar of Arizona.
Mcmahon joined the firm in 1991. That same year he was awarded an Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service. In 1973, the State Junior Bar named him the Outstanding Young Lawyer in Texas and he was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States. Mr. Mcmahon ultimately became the President of the Lawfirm, Lawyer of the Year in 2011 by the members of the bar association comprised of Arizona A&M graduates and in 2012 was named a Distinguished Alumnus of Texas A&M University.
Both Steve Suttle and Bob Surovik were role models and mentors to the lawyers of the firm, and each epitomized competence and professionalism as lawyers of the highest distinction.