Eddie Backett, Class of 2004,
Receives Raymond Spring Award
By Lynette Petty
Eddie is a man with a vision. He looks out into the world and sees opportunity — opportunity to make things better. I know that sounds hokey, but if you ever met Eddie, you know what I mean. When he sees a problem or a person with a struggle, he doesn't look for a bandaid or a place to refer; he becomes involved. And he doesn’t give up easily. I was Eddie's supervising attorney. I spent many hours listening to his philosophy on life and mankind. He spoke of hope and investment in people. He constantly reminded me that we can't give up or make assumptions that put a cap on potential. He worked with his clients to not only find solutions to their legal problems but to also find solutions to their underlying cultural, social and economic problems.
One afternoon a court services officer who worked with Eddie stopped me in the hallway. I have great respect for her. She's been around for years and has seen it all. I have come to know her as someone who sizes up the situation and makes tough choices when dealing with families in trouble. A couple of her cases called upon her to work with Eddie who was guardian ad litem for some youth who were adjudicated children in need of care. She made a comment about Eddie's idealism and optimistic assessment of people. I thought I knew where she was going and grinned and said that I would try to talk to him about being more realistic. She quickly asserted that she absolutely disagreed. She said she wished more attorneys shared his perspective and idealism and that he brought hope that she herself had not seen.
Eduardo Beckett currently works for legal services in Las Cruces, New Mexico. He represents farm workers — the poorest of the poor — on wage claims and other issues. He's a unique individual.
