DISTINGUISHED ALUMNA OF THE YEAR AWARD
Hon. Vivian Torres, Arts ’80, Law ’83
Rio Medina, Texas
After her family left everything behind to escape Cuba for America, Vivian Torres found her way to Marquette, first graduating with an Arts degree and then in what would become her life’s passion — law. As a senior judge for Texas’ Medina County Court at Law, now retired, she routinely applies the values she learned from her family and Marquette.
“I was very attracted to the Jesuit Mission, the pursuit of excellence, knowledge and the promotion of justice,” Vivian says of her decision to attend Marquette. “And, of course, a life of faith and basketball!”
After earning her law degree, Vivian passed the Texas Bar and served as general counsel for Pizza Management Inc., the company her father founded and, with Vivian's help, grew into a true American success story that owned nearly 240 Pizza Hut and Taco Bell franchises. The company eventually sold to PepsiCo, and Torres moved into private practice.
With more than 19 years of private practice under her belt, she was elected in 2003 as the first Hispanic woman to serve on the judiciary court in Medina County, Texas.
Vivian retired from the bench three years ago and now sits by assignment for other judges who need help.
“At this point in my life,” she says, “I measure success by how I left things. Are things better than before I got there?” Vivian is grateful for how Marquette instilled in her the importance of service and a sense of justice. Throughout her long service as judge, she says she wanted to “give back to my community and my country in the best way that I could.”
Name someone (past or present) with whom you'd like to have dinner.
Ronald Reagan
What is one of your favorite Marquette memories?
Camping out for basketball tickets my freshman year! (The year we won the NCAA championship.) Which probably contributed to my academic woes that first semester.
Leave a congratulatory message for Vivian!