Robert E. Beck
Professor of Law Emeritus

Biography

Professor Beck joined the SIU Law Faculty in the Fall Semester of 1976 and retired in August 2002. Since retirement, Professor Beck has taught one course per academic year, usually in the Spring Semester, alternating between Natural Resources Law (focusing on an energy theme) and Water Law. Professor Beck authored chapters for, and served as Editor-in-Chief of, Waters and Water Rights (6 vols, Lexis/Nexis), from 1991 through 2008. He will continue authoring several chapters. At the 53rd Annual Institute of the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, held in Vancouver, British Columbia, July 2007, Professor Beck was presented by the Board of Trustees with the Clyde O. Martz Teaching Award, the seventh recipient of the award since it was introduced in 1994. The Board's resolution recognizes Professor Beck as the "author/coauthor of several leading treatises/publications in natural resources law" and as having "distingushed yourself in coal, oil and gas, water, and environmental law."

Professor Beck holds JB.S.L., 1958, and LL.B., 1960, degrees from the University of Minnesota, and an LL.M. degree, 1966, from New York University. In addition to his long service at Southern Illinois University School of Law (1976-present), he was an assistant professor, professor, and the Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor at the University of North Dakota School of Law from 1962 to 1976.