Texas Border Business
Richard A. Cantu of Mission received the 2024 Terry Lee Grantham Memorial Award from the Texas Bar Foundation. The Terry Lee Grantham Memorial Award was endowed through the Texas Bar Foundation in 2014 in honor and memory of Terry Lee Grantham by his family and friends who were so richly blessed by his love, friendship and presence in their lives.
As an enduring tribute to Mr. Grantham’s life and work in the practice of law, this award is made annually to an outstanding Texas lawyer. The award celebrates Mr. Grantham’s life as a gifted and committed man and lawyer who devoted himself completely to every task he undertook. The recipient of this award exemplifies the qualities of an accomplished, talented and dedicated practitioner, a servant of the profession and an advocate for those we serve, demonstrating dedication and service with the same passion that defined Mr. Grantham’s life and work.
Richard “Richie” Cantu grew up in Rio Grande City, Texas, received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Texas A&M University in 1992, a Juris Doctor degree from Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law in 1996, and married his beautiful wife, Attorney Elizabeth “Liz” Cantu, in 2000. They are blessed with three wonderful children. He attributes his understanding of family values and the importance of improving the community to his parents. However, he is still trying to figure out how Liz seems to have unselfishly mastered the balance between family, friendships, work, and community service.
Richie is proud to be a member of the State Bar of Texas and the Texas Bar Foundation and has had the privilege of collaborating with many outstanding attorneys during his career. He currently serves as a Director of the Valley Alliance of Mentors for Opportunities and Scholarships (VAMOS) and has served as a director, leader, member, or coach in various organizations for over 25 years.
He and Attorney Rebecca Lopez operate a boutique real estate law firm in Mission, Texas. He represents individuals, businesses, financial institutions, and governmental entities in a wide variety of real estate matters, including litigation and mediates real estate disputes.
Mr. Cantu will be publicly recognized and be presented the Terry Lee Grantham Memorial Award at the Texas Bar Foundation Annual Dinner held on June 21, 2024 at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas. Texas Tech University School of Law will receive $5,000 in honor of Mr. Cantu’s receipt of the Terry Lee Grantham Memorial Award.
Founded in 1965 by attorneys determined to assist the public and improve the profession, the Texas Bar Foundation has become the largest charitably funded bar foundation in the country. The Texas Bar Foundation relies on the contributions of its Fellows to improve the lives of Texans. To date, through the generosity of the Fellows, the Texas Bar Foundation has awarded more than $26 million in grants to numerous organizations across the state.
Election to the Fellows of the Texas Bar Foundation is one of the highest honors that can be bestowed upon a member of the State Bar of Texas, representing one-third of one percent of Texas attorneys. Selection is based on an outstanding record in the legal profession as well as proven commitment to support the community at large. For more information about the Texas Bar Foundation, please visit www.txbf.org.
