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U. Lawrence Boze
Maker interview details
Interview
- November 3, 2004
Profession
- Category:
LawMakers
- Occupation(s):
Lawyer
Birthplace
- Born: November 1, 1949
- Birth Location: Houston, Texas
Favorites
- Favorite Color: Purple
- Favorite Food: Seafood
- Favorite Time of Year: Spring
- Favorite Vacation Spot: Caribbean; Jamaica
Favorite Quote
"The Good Life."
Biography
Houston attorney U. Lawrence Bozé, was born November 1, 1949, in Houston, Texas; his mother Iva Stewart Bozé's family operated Stewart’s Grocery, and his father, U.L. Bozé, founded Riverside Bank, Houston’s first African American controlled bank. Bozé graduated from Phyllis Wheatley High School in 1967. From there, Bozé went on to attend the University of Houston on a football scholarship, where he earned his B.S. degree in 1973. In 1978, Bozé became the first student to receive a master’s in finance degree and a J.D. degree from Texas Southern University in their joint degree program; he graduated Summa Cum Laude and was valedictorian of both programs.
Bozé served as the bankruptcy counsel for Chevron U.S.A./Gulf Oil Corporation from 1978 to 1987. As vice president/bankruptcy counsel for Allied Bankshares, Inc., Bozé formulated the bankruptcy section of Allied Banks of Texas, which consisted of fifty-two banks and handled a docket of over 700 pre-bankruptcy cases. Later, Bozé founded U. Lawrence Bozé and Associates, which specialized in environmental law, real estate, and commerce litigation. In addition, Bozé served as a closing attorney and tort litigator for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and is an AMI certified mediator. In 1994, Bozé became the first black fee attorney for Fidelity National Title.
Active in the National Bar Association (NBA) since 1987, Bozé served as the president of the affiliate, Houston Lawyers Association, in 1987. In 1991, Bozé founded and became the first president of the Texas Association of African American Lawyers. Bozé was elected the NBA’s 54th president in 1996; he served as a State Bar Examiner for the Texas Board of Law Examiners from 1997 on. Bozé is a recipient of the NAACP Distinguished Service to the Houston Community Award.
U. Lawrence Boze was interviewed by The HistoryMakers on November, 3, 2004.
Previews from the Digital Archive
Watch the full interview in the Digital Archive
- Slating for U. Lawrence Boze's interview
- U. Lawrence Boze lists his favorites
- U. Lawrence Boze describes his maternal family lineage
- U. Lawrence Boze talks about his maternal ancestors' migration from Haiti to the United States
- U. Lawrence Boze describes his mother's upbringing
- U. Lawrence Boze talks about his paternal family and his father's career
- U. Lawrence Boze describes his earliest childhood memory
- U. Lawrence Boze recalls his mother's inspirational success
- U. Lawrence Boze remembers the sights, sounds and smells of family trips growing up
- U. Lawrence Boze describes himself as a young boy
- U. Lawrence Boze remembers his parent's divorce
- U. Lawrence Boze speaks about his family's support for him and their religious affiliations while he was growing up
- U. Lawrence Boze narrates his photographs, pt. 1
- U. Lawrence Boze reminisces about his commitment to music as a young man
- U. Lawrence Boze remembers his experience at Phillis Wheatley High School in Houston, Texas
- U. Lawrence Boze remembers his mother's death when he was sixteen
- U. Lawrence Boze recalls his decision to attend the University of Houston in Houston, Texas
- U. Lawrence Boze remembers touring the Chitlin' Circuit as a performer in college
- U. Lawrence Boze talks about his experience on the football team at the University of Houston in Houston, Texas
- U. Lawrence Boze shares memories of playing high school and college football in Texas
- U. Lawrence Boze talks about the exploitation of college athletes and the football culture in Texas
- U. Lawrence Boze remembers how his football demotion led to his focus on academics at the University of Texas in Houston, Texas
- U. Lawrence Boze explains how he decided to enter a joint law and business program at Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas
- U. Patrick Boze remembers renting out the Astrodome for a black college All-Star game in the early 1980s
- U. Lawrence Boze recalls his time at Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas
- U. Lawrence Boze explains how big oil companies have stolen land from African Americans
- U. Lawrence Boze remembers the racism he faced as a young lawyer working for Gulf Oil
- U. Lawrence Boze speaks about meeting Clarence Thomas and Anita Hill
- U. Lawrence Boze remembers filing a discrimination case against Gulf Oil and Chevron Corporation in 1987
- U. Lawrence Boze recalls starting his own private practice
- U. Lawrence Boze talks about his most interesting case in private law practice
- U. Lawrence Boze narrates his photographs, pt. 2
- U. Lawrence Boze talks about the controversial decision to allow Clarence Thomas to address the National Bar Association
- U. Lawrence Boze remembers his law school and professional mentors
- U. Lawrence Boze remembers his work with the Jamaican banana boycott
- U. Lawrence Boze recalls his trip to Brazil with the National Bar Association
- U. Lawrence Boze describes the history and objectives of the National Bar Association, pt. 1
- U. Lawrence Boze describes the history and objectives of the National Bar Association, pt. 2
- U. Lawrence Boze talks about his work on environmental cases
- U. Lawrence Boze describes his family's accomplishments
- U. Lawrence Boze remembers the legal cases he is most proud of representing
- U. Lawrence Boze explains his legal philosophy
- U. Lawrence Boze narrates his photographs, pt. 3
- U. Lawrence Boze describes his concerns for the African American community
- U. Lawrence Boze talks about the importance of historically black colleges and universities
- U. Lawrence Boze talks about honoring the commitment of earlier generations with his efforts
- U. Lawrence Boze reflects upon his life
- U. Lawrence Boze reflects upon his legacy
- U. Lawrence Boze remembers being profiled for "flying while black" and his lawsuit against U.S. Air
- U. Lawrence Boze remembers his parents
- U. Lawrence Boze describes how he would like to be remembered
- U. Lawrence Boze sings
- U. Lawrence Boze narrates his photographs, pt. 4
- U. Lawrence Boze narrates his photographs, pt. 5