Bowen Law to Recognize Four Honorees at Annual Luncheon
The UA Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law will honor four individuals at its annual Distinguished Alumni Luncheon on Friday, Nov. 14, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Little Rock Marriott. All proceeds directly benefit the Bowen Law student scholarship fund.
2025 Honorees
The program will celebrate alumni and friends whose leadership exemplifies Bowen’s values of access to justice, public service, and professionalism. This year’s honorees were selected by the Bowen Law School Alumni Board.
Leslie Rutledge ’01, Distinguished Alumnus Award. Arkansas Lieutenant Governor and the state’s first female Attorney General, Rutledge has devoted her career to public service through roles that include deputy counsel in the Governor’s Office, deputy prosecuting attorney, and attorney for the Division of Children and Family Services.
Brig. Gen. John Payne, U.S. Army, retired ’97, Outstanding Alumnus in Public Service. A veteran of Operation Just Cause and former commander of the 77th Aviation Brigade, Brigadier General (Ret.) Payne currently leads the Civil Division in the Office of Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin. His military awards include the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star Medal.
Edith Chavez De Oseguera ’20, Emerging Leader Award, A partner at United Law Group and an immigration and family law attorney, Chavez De Oseguera serves as a contractor for Arkansas Access to Justice, manages the Arkansas Free Legal Answers program, and supports the Mexican Consulate and nonprofits across the state. She has been recognized with Bowen’s Dean’s Distinguished Public Service Award and LALSA’s Alumni of the Year Award for Public Service.
Byron M. Eiseman, Jr., Friend of Bowen Award, A longtime partner at Friday, Eldredge & Clark and an adjunct professor at Bowen Law for 50 years, Eiseman helped found the Tax Section of the Arkansas Bar Association and has held leadership roles across civic, faith-based, and cultural organizations, including the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and the Baptist Health Foundation.
“These four honorees reflect the best of Bowen Law. Their leadership and service strengthen Arkansas and the legal profession,” said Colin Crawford, dean of the law school. “We are proud to recognize their achievements and the example they set for our students.”
“The Alumni Luncheon is more than a celebration of our accomplished honorees,” said Molly McNulty ’12, director of development and external relations. “It’s a bridge between Bowen’s proud history and the future we’re building through our students. Every ticket, every table, every gift is an investment in the next generation of lawyers. This event brings our community together to honor excellence and extend opportunity.”
Tickets are available at ualr.at/bowenluncheon.