IRVING, Texas (Dec. 23, 2015) – Prominent Texas lawyer and philanthropist Joe Jamail, who was inducted into the NFF Leadership Hall of Fame in September, passed away early this morning. He was 90 years old.

“We were incredibly saddened to hear of the passing of Joe Jamail this morning,” said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. “He was a great advocate for college football and the NFF’s ideal of promoting scholar-athletes. We were extremely proud to have been able to honor his legacy when we inducted him into our Leadership Hall of Fame in September.”

“Higher education and college football have lost a great champion,” said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. “Joe Jamail had a profound impact on our nation’s legal system as well as numerous institutions that have benefited from his more than $256 million in charitable donations.  He was a true friend to college football and academics, as seen through his dedication and generosity to the University of Texas, and he will be sorely missed.”

Jamail was the undisputed “King of Torts,” having tried more than 500 cases and achieving more than 200 verdicts and settlements in excess of $1 million. He was most known as the famed trial attorney who won the landmark verdict in the 1985 Pennzoil v. Texaco case, resulting in a $10.53 billion verdict for Pennzoil Co.

Jamail graduated from the University of Texas School of Law in 1953, and he received numerous awards and honors throughout his life. His philanthropic efforts included multiple donations to his alma mater totaling more than $50 million, and more than 4,000 students are enrolled in or have graduated from the University of Texas thanks to scholarships donated by Jamail.

The field at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium was named Joe Jamail Field in his honor and he has two statues on the university’s campus. His generous support helped establish the Joseph D. Jamail Center for Legal Research, the Jamail Center for Clinical Education and Justice Under Law and the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swim Center at the university.

Click here for statements on the passing of Jamail from University of Texas Men’s Athletics Director Mike Perrin and former Men’s Athletics Director DeLoss Dodds.