Last modified: Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Barrister’s Ball renamed in honor of beloved alumnus
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 25, 2009
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The Black Law Student Association (BLSA) at the Indiana University Maurer School of Law has voted unanimously to rename the school's annual Barrister's Ball after alumnus Rapheal Prevot Jr., who died last June at the age of 49.
A devoted supporter of the school, Prevot served for 15 years as labor relations counsel for the National Football League in New York. Though his demanding schedule kept him busy year-round, Prevot would return regularly to Bloomington to advise and encourage law students about their futures. The 1984 graduate mentored hundreds of Indiana University law students and graduates, and was a fixture at the Barrister's Ball despite living on the East Coast.
Rapheal Prevot Jr.
BLSA President and second-year law student Gillian Crowl said Prevot was always willing to help a student in need.
"He was always giving professional advice, always telling us to get on the right track as soon as possible," Crowl said. "He truly believed in the legacy of giving back to where he came from. We were lucky to have someone like him serve as a role model."
The 2009 Barrister's Ball, which BLSA both sponsors and organizes, took place Friday, Feb. 20, at the Indiana Memorial Union. Lauren Robel, dean of the IU Maurer School of Law, presided over a brief ceremony officially renaming the Ball in Prevot's honor during the event.
"Rapheal's incredible dedication to the law school was unmatched," Robel said. "He was a great friend and was a central part of many of the school's most cherished traditions. Through another great tradition, the Barrister's Ball, we'll now honor his great legacy every year. Though it is a bittersweet moment, generations of students to come will now have the chance to learn of Rapheal's selfless contributions to our school and to honor his memory every February."
Before joining the NFL, Prevot worked as an assistant state attorney and division chief for Janet Reno in the Dade County, Fla., State Attorney's Office and as a litigator for Florida-based Adorno & Zeder. Prevot was a dedicated member of the National Bar Association and was inducted into the Hall of Fame for the group's Entertainment, Sports and Art Law section.
Prevot served on the Law School's Alumni Board and its Board of Visitors and received the school's Distinguished Service Award in 2004.
