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AUGUST 2025
THE UNLIKELY START TO A LAW CAREER My College Days at Texas Tech
When I think back on my time at Texas Tech, many memories come to mind. College was fun, and it was exactly what you’d expect in many ways. There were some good classes, some questionable decisions, and more than a few lessons I didn’t know I was learning at the time. I got off to a strong start thanks to one class in particular: chemistry. That probably sounds strange coming from a lawyer, but I had a professor who made it hard not to enjoy. He looked like Albert Einstein — white hair flying everywhere — and had the energy that made you sit up and pay attention. He was animated, a little wild, and incredibly smart. I still remember his name. It was Dr. W.B. Guerrant. His class was held in one of those big, classic auditorium rooms, with a chalkboard stretched across the front and tables stacked with beakers and lab gear. It felt like the college experience you see in movies. I made an A in that class, and I don’t think it was just because I liked the subject. I was engaged and kept up with the work. And I didn’t procrastinate, which was a big deal for me then. That first semester ended up being my best GPA in all of college, and it taught me something that’s stuck with me ever since. I learned that when you stay on top of things, the pressure goes down and results go up. I wish I could say I kept that up the whole way through, but like many people, I had my moments. My major was wildlife management. At the time, I thought I would work for the Forest Service or the BLM. The real dream was to live in the mountains and ski every day. I just hadn’t figured out how to make a living doing that. I stuck with the major and finished it, but eventually realized it wouldn’t pay the bills as I needed it to. That’s when law school started to look like a better option.
Part of the shift came from my cousin, who was in law school while I was still an undergrad. I’d talk to her about what it was like, and it sparked my interest. But what really sealed the deal was getting a traffic ticket on campus. I decided to set it for trial and represent myself. I cross-examined the officer and pointed out a few mistakes, and the judge dismissed the ticket right then and there. That was the first time I thought, “Maybe I’d be pretty good at this.” I stuck with Texas Tech for law school, too. I joined a legal fraternity, played intramural sports, and competed in mock trial and moot court. Overall, it was a great experience. But if I’m being honest, law school didn’t really teach me how to be a lawyer. It just gave me a foundation. The real learning happened after I started practicing. If I could give any advice to students heading off to college this fall, it would be simple: Keep up with your work, don’t cram everything at the end, and show up to class. Sit at the front and ask questions. And don’t pick a class just because the professor is known for being easy, especially not if it starts at 7:30 in the morning. I made that mistake once. Let’s just say I didn’t exactly earn an A. College was a great time, and I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. It taught me discipline, gave me direction, and — once or twice — showed me what I was capable of in life.
–Gary L. Medlin, Esq.
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Desert Hero Rancher’s Dog Rescues Toddler Lost in the Desert
A tiny desert town along Route 66 in Arizona is home to a new hero — a big, shaggy ranch dog who rescued a toddler lost in the desert this past April.
from his ranch, with Buford’s paw prints beside them. “That’s what he does,” Dunton said of Buford. “He loves kids. I can imagine he wouldn’t leave him when he found him.” Dunton’s discovery of the little boy ended an anxious 16-hour search by more than 40 search-and-rescue volunteers, sheriff’s deputies, and state public-safety officers. Wearing only a tank top and pajama pants, Boden had wandered away at about 5 p.m. into rugged desert terrain, where two mountain lions were spotted later that night. Boden’s frantic parents had reported his absence to the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office.
Two-year-old Boden Allen was missing from his Seligman, Arizona, home for 16 hours when a 6-year-old Anatolian Pyrenees named Buford appeared in his master’s driveway with the child at his side — 7 miles from Boden’s home. Buford’s owner, Scotty Dunton, had heard about the child’s disappearance. “I noticed my dog was sitting by the entrance (to his ranch),” he said, “and the little kid’s standing there with my dog!” He calmed the child, who was unharmed except for a few scrapes and nicks, and gave him water and food while calling authorities. Dunton was overjoyed. “I was ecstatic that he was okay and that my dog found him,” he said.
Dunton says he wasn’t surprised by Buford’s protective behavior. “He is a guardian dog. He patrols all night and keeps coyotes
away,” he says. The Anatolian Pyrenees is a crossbreed, a combination of a Great Pyrenees and an Anatolian shepherd, known for its intelligence, gentleness, and protective nature.
Dunton asked Boden if he had been walking all night, and the child told him no, he had been lying under a tree. “Did my dog find you?” Dunton asked Boden.
In appreciation for their neighborhood hero, Buford’s admirers piled chew toys, bones, and other gifts on Dunton’s doorstep for days after the rescue.
He wasn’t surprised when the child said yes. Dunton traced the little boy’s tracks more than a mile
Job Hunting With a Criminal Record KNOW YOUR RIGHTS BEFORE YOU APPLY Looking for a job is stressful enough without worrying about what might appear on a background check. If you have a criminal record, it’s natural to wonder whether it could hold you back. The truth is, it depends. A record can complicate things, but doesn’t always close the door. You still have options.
In Texas, many employers run background checks, especially for permanent positions. But they can’t look at your entire life history in most cases. If a job pays less than $75,000 a year, they are generally limited to reviewing the last seven years of criminal history. For higher-paying jobs, they may go back further. People often misunderstand that employers can’t hold an arrest against you if it didn’t lead to a conviction. If you were charged but found not guilty, or if the case was dismissed, that should not factor into their decision. What they can consider are convictions and guilty or no-contest pleas. Still, not every employer applies these rules in the same way. Some are more flexible about giving people a second chance. Others may be less forgiving. That is why it helps to know what shows up on your record and what you can do about it.
In some cases, it’s possible to clear your record through expunction. If you qualify, your arrest will be erased, and you can legally say it never happened. If you are not eligible for expunction, you might still qualify for an order of nondisclosure. That seals the record from public view, which keeps most employers from seeing it. Whether each option is possible depends on the details of your case. This is one area where it pays to get good legal advice. If you are unsure what might come up on a background check or want to explore clearing your record, talk to someone who knows the process inside and out. Having a record does not mean you are out of the running for a good job. Many Texans with past mistakes on their records have gone on to build strong careers. It takes some effort and patience, but there is a way forward. Knowing your rights and options is a good place to start.
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Getting stopped for suspected DWI is a moment where stress kicks in fast. When an officer asks you to take a breath test, it can feel like there is no good choice. Some drivers wonder if refusing the test might be the safer bet. The answer is not that simple. Texas has an implied consent law. If you are lawfully arrested for DWI, the law says you have already agreed to submit to a chemical test. Depending on the situation, that could be a breath, blood, or urine test. You can refuse, but the choice comes with consequences. The first thing to know is that refusing a breath test will trigger an automatic driver’s license suspension. For a first offense, that suspension lasts 180 days. If you have prior alcohol-related contact on your record, it can stretch to two years. You have the right to contest the suspension, but you only have 15 days from the date of arrest to request a hearing. If you miss that window, the suspension will take effect immediately. Beyond the license issue, refusal can also come back to haunt you in court. Prosecutors can argue that your refusal shows you were trying to hide something. In some cases, officers can obtain a warrant to take a blood sample, even if you refused the breath test. There are other factors to think about, too. A suspended license can make it hard to get to work or school. Insurance rates often climb. You may face additional court costs and, in some cases, be required to install an ignition interlock device. Before making any decision in a DWI stop, it helps to understand the full picture. Refusing the breath test does not guarantee you will avoid a DWI charge. In fact, it can create additional hurdles. If you find yourself in this position, talk with an experienced attorney as soon as possible.
SHOULD YOU REFUSE A BREATH TEST? What Refusal Means for Your License
STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE ICE CREAM BARS
Ingredients • 1 pt strawberry ice cream • 1/4 cup strawberry preserves • 1 pt vanilla ice cream • 1 5.25-oz package crispy sugar cookies • 1 0.8-oz package
Directions 1. Stir strawberry ice cream in a large bowl until spreadable. Fold in preserves until evenly streaked throughout. 2. Stir vanilla ice cream in a separate large bowl until spreadable. 3. Spoon 1 1/2 tbsp of the strawberry mixture into the bottom of 8 (1/3-cup) popsicle molds. Spoon 1 1/2 tbsp of the vanilla mixture on top of the strawberry mixture into the molds. Repeat, alternating the 2 mixtures, until each mold is full. 4. Place sticks into the popsicles and freeze until solid, 4–6 hours. 5. In a large zip-lock bag, crush sugar cookies with a rolling pin until pieces are rice-size; pour into a shallow dish. 6. Repeat with freeze-dried strawberries and stir the pieces together. 7. Run the ice cream molds under warm water to release popsicles from molds. 8. Coat bars evenly with cookie mixture. 9. Eat immediately or place on a cookie sheet and freeze.
freeze-dried strawberries
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1. Finding My Path at Texas Tech
2. Against All Odds, a Ranch Dog Brings a Lost Toddler Home
Getting Hired With a Record in Texas
3. The Risks of Refusing a Breath Test
Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Bars
4. The Nuttiest Car in America
Food on Wheels: The Nutty Cruiser Rolls Out
Food companies have tried every trick in the book to get your attention, but few can beat the simple charm of a giant snack rolling down the street. It all started early in the 20th century when people dressed up cars with quirky decorations to drum up business. The most famous example came in 1936, when the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile hit the road and turned heads everywhere it went. The tradition is still alive today, and the newest edition is as nutty as they come. Blue Diamond’s Nutty Cruiser is a 20-foot-long almond on wheels, designed to spread the love for almonds across America. It even has an almond cannon that will shoot small bags of almonds on tiny parachutes, just in case the giant almond wasn’t enough to grab your attention. Inside, it has room for 10,000 snack packs, making it one of the tastiest vehicles on the highway.
The Nutty Cruiser tours state fairs, sporting events, and festivals and draws a crowd wherever it goes. Drivers say it handles surprisingly well, thanks to its smooth, aerodynamic design — though they still get pulled over by curious police officers who just want a closer look. From hot dogs to nuts, food-shaped vehicles have a strange way of sticking around. Maybe it’s because they’re fun, a little bit ridiculous, and impossible to ignore. In a world full of billboards and pop-up ads, there’s still something special about spotting a giant almond cruising down the highway.
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