Alan W. Houseman Class of 1961, “Colorado Boy at Heart,” retreats to his mountain home in Colorado every chance he gets when he leaves the chaos of a busy life in Washington D.C. where he began his career in 1981. Alan became a Law Professor, Legal Representative of the Poor, and Researcher. He serves as the Executive Director for the Center for Law and Social Policy: the oldest public interest law firm in the US. His steadfast commitment to legal representation of low income persons is just one of his many noteworthy accomplishments.

Alan was Valedictorian of his class and an active participant in band, choir, drama, orchestra and golf during his high school years. His father Murl taught Chemistry, at CSHS and his mother Opal taught at North Junior High School. Music and Religion played important roles in young Alan’s life and nurtured his belief in social justice.

As a student at Oberlin College, where he received his BA in 1965, Alan served as Chairman of Student Council, and ACLU. He was a member of the Student Educational Policy Committee, the Oberlin Action for Civil Rights, and the Concert Band.

Alan served as a Field Fellow in Social Welfare Law and the Hays Civil Liberties Program 1967-1968. His Law Degree was granted in 1968 by New York University School of Law.

He’s a member of the Bars of the State of Michigan, District Columbia, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan, the District of Columbia and the Supreme Court of the United States.

His professional life includes being Counsel for the National Legal Aid and Defender Association 1981-present, Director of The Research Institute on Legal Assistance, Director and Founder of the Michigan Legal Services, a statewide legal service program providing assistance to low income persons. In the years 1965-68, He was a Reginald Heber Smith Fellow, Neighborhood Legal Services, Detroit Michigan, A Legal Research Assistant to Mrs. Eleanor Norton, American Civil Liberties Union and to Edward Sparer, Center on Social Welfare Policy and Law. He served as National Assistant Director, Law Student Rights Research Council, Director of VISTA Associate Program, and Law Students Civil Rights Research Council for the Cleveland Legal Aid Society.

Mr. Houseman served as Adjunct Professor of the Georgetown Law School from 1985-1999. He served as a consultant and Lecturer for the National Institute for Education in Law and Poverty (welfare, consumer, and prisons) His American Bar Association activities include Staff member of Commission to Civil Legal Aid, Task Force for Revision of Standards for Providers of Civil Legal Aid to the Poor, Policy Development Committee, Advisory Committee Comprehensive Legal Needs Study and a Standing Committee on Mentally Disabled.

On the International scene, he’s led an American Team in helping develop a civil legal assistance program in Karelia, Russia and serves as a member and participant with the International Legal Aid Group. He’s a sought after speaker and accomplished writer of legal Service Programs and Welfare Reforms as well as a visionary for the future.

His tireless work on behalf of the poor has greatly improved public assistance programs, enacted effective welfare reforms, improved child support enforcement, expanded child care and early education programs and improved systems of work force programs, child welfare and other public policy issues which affect the economic security of low-income families and children.

His Awards, almost as numerous as his accomplishments, include 1972 Michigan Welfare Rights Organization Award Spirit of Detroit Award, Special Achievement Award Coalition for Legal Services, The National Clearinghouse for Legal Services 25^th Anniversary special honoree, Distinguished Achievement Award, Oberlin, College. Alan is an extraordinary person with extraordinary career, whose most valued rewards are his wife and two children.

Thousands of persons, particularly children, live a better life due to his concern, dedicated efforts, and intense desires to serve humanity.