Don D. Jordan — energy executive, civic leader, and highly respected family man — served South Texas College of Law Houston and its board of directors with unfailing devotion and leadership for more than three decades — serving from December 1991 to December 2023.
Jordan was elected to the board’s executive committee in 2000, and he served as chair of the board from 2003 to 2008. Through the years, he demonstrated philanthropic leadership and spearheaded efforts to increase the effectiveness of the board.
“Don Jordan has provided extraordinary leadership and service for more than 30 years on the law school’s board,” said Genora Boykins ’85, chair of the South Texas College of Law Houston Board of Directors. “His commitment has been unfailing, and he has tirelessly given of his time, wisdom, and counsel to the board and administration — directly and positively impacting past and future students, faculty, and staff.”
A resolution unanimously adopted by the law school’s board of directors at the Dec. 13 meeting commended Jordan for “his dedication to the mission, success, and achievement of South Texas College of Law Houston.” The board also extended its heartfelt thanks for his service and commitment and congratulated him on his retirement.
Jordan is the former chairman and CEO of Reliant Energy, the Houston-based international diversified energy services company. Joining the company in 1956 when it was called Houston Lighting & Power Company, Jordan moved up to ever higher management positions and was CEO from 1977 until his retirement in 1999.
Through the years, Jordan’s community leadership and service included chairing the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and roles on many corporate and nonprofit boards, including the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), Association of Electric Companies of Texas, the World Energy Council, AEGIS Services, Inc., BJ Services Co., the Texas Medical Center, and the Texas Heart Institute.
His many honors include being named Distinguished Alumnus by the University of Texas and South Texas College of Law Houston, Distinguished Non-Alumnus by the University of Houston, South Texan of the Year by the Texas Chamber of Commerce, Father of the Year by Community Partners, Outstanding Proud Partner by Keep Houston Beautiful, and Man of the Year by the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.
He also has received the Community Service Award from the Houston Citizens Chamber of Commerce; the Distinguished Citizen Award from the Rotary Club of Houston; and the Executive of the Year award from World Cogeneration Magazine.
Jordan was a 2001 inductee into the Texas Business Hall of Fame, 2006 honoree for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Ben Johnson Memorial Classic, and Honorary Chairman of CCFA’s 2007 Winter Ball.
A Corpus Christi native, Jordan received a bachelor’s degree in industrial management from the University of Texas and a law degree from the South Texas College of Law Houston in 1969. He is married to Barbara Jordan and has three daughters: Leslie Hazelwood, Lisa Cunningham, and Laura McNear.
