The law firm of Hepler, Broom, MacDonald, Hebrank, True & Noce has provided a $100,000 endowment to the Southern Illinois University School of Law in memory of former partner Lisa K. Franke.

A 1982 graduate who died in Dec. 28, Franke was a trial attorney with Hepler Broom, which has offices in Edwardsville, St. Louis, Chicago and Springfield.

Partners Larry E. Hepler and Theodore J. MacDonald Jr. said that establishing the scholarship in her honor is a fitting legacy.

“Lisa Franke was so respected and so beloved by all members of our firm, we wanted to find a way to preserve her legacy and to promote her ideals,” MacDonald said.

“With her love of the law and her commitment to providing education for young women, we have established a way to make a wonderful and lasting tribute to Lisa.”

The scholarship will generate a minimum of $3,500 annually for a student enrolled in the law school’s combined juris doctor/master of social work program or participating in the Domestic Violence Clinic.

Recipients will reflect Franke’s endless enthusiasm, outgoing personality, strong leadership ability, commitment to civic and charitable causes, and ability to motivate others to become involved in important causes.

The law school and law firm will continue raising funds to bring the endowment to $250,000, proceeds from which will cover the current one-year tuition cost.

“We are hopeful that others will join this effort so that the award will be sufficient for a full scholarship in Lisa’s name for a worthy student,” Hepler said, so that in 20 years there are 20 special “Lisas” practicing law.

Dean Peter C. Alexander said the law school is “very, very honored that the Hepler Broom law firm chose to remember Lisa in this very significant way. We have a number of alumni who work at the firm and we feel a special connection with the lawyers in that office.”

Alexander, who chairs the ISBA Committee on Delivery of Legal Services and serves on the Committee on Legal Education, Admission and Competence, said the inaugural scholarship would be presented in April.

A classmate of Franke in political science when they were undergraduates at SIU, Alexander recalled her outgoing and friendly personality. He added that she was a nurturing senior lawyer to younger attorneys.