United States Jaycees Honors Alum Robert J. Witte '90 as One of the Ten Outstanding Young Americans

TULSA, OKLAHOMA – The United States Junior Chamber (Jaycees) is pleased to announce that Robert J. Witte has been named as one of the 2009 Ten Outstanding Young Americans. The presentation of the 71^st annual black-tie awards ceremony will be held September 26, 2009, in the Orlando, Florida Ramada Inn Orlando Celebration Resort & Convention Center.

Partner practicing business litigation with the prestigious Strasburger & Price, LLP, law firm in Dallas, Robert J. Witte, 41, is known as one of the top attorneys, and most outstanding business leaders, in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Witte is a noted author and speaker, who helped launch the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers (DAYL) Leadership Class.  Now in his 13^th year as the program’s lead facilitator, Witte has mentored more than 500 attorneys who have participated. Today, most rising leaders in the Dallas legal community are DAYL Leadership Class alumni.

Since starting his legal career in 1993, Witte has served in numerous leadership roles within the Dallas civic and philanthropic community.  As co-chair of the Dallas Heart Ball, the DHB doubled its membership and tripled its net revenue, raising more than $500,000 to fund the Dallas Heart Ball Chair in Cardiology at UT Southwestern Medical Center.  When Witte joined the Make-A-Wish Foundation of North Texas board of directors in 1996, the organization granted less than 100 wishes annually. In Witte’s 12 years on the board, including two years as Board Chair, MAWFNT granted more than 3,000 wishes.  Witte co-founded the “Wish Night” Gala, which has raised over $8.3 million since 1997.  He has also chaired philanthropic initiatives for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the Dallas Summer Musicals, the OU Club of Dallas, and more.

Recipient of numerous awards such as 2003 Dallas Outstanding Young Lawyer, D Magazine’s Best Dallas Lawyers, and 2008 DAYL Foundation Award of Excellence, Witte is a leader in his profession and community.  An avid vocalist, he has performed at venues ranging from the 1986 World’s Fair in Vancouver to Carnegie Hall in New York City.

Robert J. Witte is a 1990 graduate of the University of Oklahoma  and a 1993 graduate of the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law.  Witte is a 1990 alum of TWC participating in the Leaders on Leadership & Inauguration: Transfer of Presidential Power Seminar.

Witte, his wife Deborah, and children Brandon and Courtney, reside in Plano, Texas.

The Ten Outstanding Young Americans program (TOYA) is one of the oldest and most prestigious recognition programs in America. Annually since 1938, The United States Jaycees has sought out the ten young men and women who best exemplify the finest attributes of America’s youthful achievers.

The TOYA selection process begins in the spring of each year. Following the submission deadline, all nominations are forwarded to a panel of screening judges who, working independently, select and rank their top twenty choices. The top twenty point getters become the finalists. The finalists’ nominations are forwarded to a panel of finalist judges who rank their top ten choices. The task of judging the nominations is arduous.