Mel Shinn Day is an activity day for the whole law school celebrating the memory of Mel Shinn. Mel Shinn was a law graduate in the very special class of 1966, which was a group of overachievers such as Harvey Perlman, Hal Daub, and Earl Scudder, as well as many others. Mel came to the University of Nebraska from Hawaii primarily to play baseball. Sports were a continuing interest of Mel’s throughout his life.
After graduating from the College of Law, Mel returned to Hawaii. He clerked in Senator Hiram Fong’s office in Washington D.C. during law school. His political connections led him to being counsel to the Hawaii State Senate. He had a successful law practice and enjoyed the good life of Hawaii. Among other things, he was on his way to becoming the head of the Hawaiian Open Golf Tournament.
Mel died unexpectedly in the spring of 1979 while in the middle of a jury trial. His classmates created a fund to help support recreational activities for law students. For a few years, there was a golf tournament in memory of Mel. Due to weather and the fact that students were spread out along the course, it was decided in 1985 to have a Mel Shinn 5K race.
By 1997, the event became Mel Shinn Activity Day. Along with the popular 5K race, events such as biking, tennis and basketball, and a 5K walk were added so that more students could become involved in the Day. Then bowling was added to the roster, assuring even greater participation by the students, staff and faculty. A picnic lunch is provided by the Law College