Bob Latham
2015
Chairman's Award
Inductee
Bob Latham began his rugby career as a student at Stanford University in 1978. He continued to play while in law school with the Virginia Rugby Club, then played for 13 years with the Dallas Harlequins. He was selected to play for various representative sides during his playing career, including the Texas Rugby Union.
As his playing career wound down, he became active in rugby administration, joining the USA Rugby Board in 1994. He is a two time Chairman of USA Rugby and is the longest serving board member in USA Rugby history. He led USA Rugby’s efforts to become a member of the United States Olympic Committee in 1998 and was a member of the USOC Board of Directors from 2000-2004. He also led the restructuring of USA Rugby to a nine member board in 2006.
Bob is currently on the World Rugby Council (formerly International Rugby Board) and on the World Rugby Executive Committee, the first American to be elected to such a position. He is the Chairman of the World Rugby Regulations Committee and was a strong advocate for the admission of Rugby 7’s into the Olympic program. From 2009 to 2013, he was the President of the North American Caribbean Rugby Association, and he is currently the Vice Chairman of the Pan American Rugby Association.
He has practiced law with Jackson Walker L.L.P. in Dallas for 32 years.