Northwest Arkansas Martin Luther King Jr. Planning Committee
2010 Banquet Speaker:
The featured speaker will be Marlen D. Whitley


Marlen D. Whitley is an attorney in the Houston, Texas office of Thompson & Knight, LLP, an international law firm, where he practices in the firm’s Corporate & Securities Law Section.

Marlen received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin, where he was named a Dean’s Distinguished Graduate of the College of Liberal Arts. During his senior year he was elected to serve as the student body president of the University of Texas. He also served as one of the co-conveners of the African American Male Summit and was one of the students serving on the committee to construct the historical statue of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the university’s east mall. He later received his Doctorate of Jurisprudence from the University of Texas Law School. While attending the University of Texas, Marlen served as a member of the Men’s Intercollegiate Athletics Council.

In February 2003, Marlen was the youngest member appointed to serve on the University’s Commission of 125, a master plan committee for the university’s infrastructure, educational, and teaching and research goals.

Marlen has served on the boards of the Chestnut Neighborhood Revitalization Corporation, the Open Door Preschools, and the Morning Star Rising Youth Empowerment Program. He is a coordinator of the Upward Basketball ministry at Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Houston’s historic Third Ward community.

Mr. Whitley is currently a member of the American Bar Association, the National Bar Association, and the Houston Lawyers Association. He also serves as on the board of directors of the Houston Citizen’s Chamber of Commerce, where he chairs the economic development committee, the Texas Black Expo and the Houston Chapter of Texas Exes.

Marlen, a native of North Little Rock, Arkansas, is married to Laura Whitley, formerly a news reporter with Houston’s ABC affiliate, KTRK Channel 13, and is the proud father of two sons, Jackson Elijah and Jordan Christopher.

  • September 1996 – African American Male Summit Closing Ceremony Keynote Address

  • September 1997 – Featured on BET Tonight with Tavis Smiley

  • February 1998 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Statute Ceremony Announcing Commissioned Artists

  • May 1998 – University of Texas at Austin Commencement Address (20,000+ in attendance)

  • June 1998 – Texas State Democratic Party Convention – Address on Education and introduction of Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr. (50,000+ in attendance)

  • October 1998 – African American Cultural Committee Black Max Extravaganza Gala Keynote Speaker

  • October 1998 – Schreiner College Leadership Symposium Keynote Speaker

  • January 1999 – Martin Luther King Citywide Celebration Speaker, Austin Texas

  • February 1999 – Holy Cross Catholic Church Black History Month Celebration Keynote Speaker

  • September 1999 ¬– Official Martin Luther King, Jr. Statue Unveiling Ceremony, University of Texas at Austin East Mall

  • October 2000 – Delta Sigma Theta’s Annual Women’s Leadership Retreat Featured Speaker

  • October 2001 – Student African American Brotherhood Conference Keynote Speaker

  • September 2002 and 2005 – University of Texas Martin Luther King Statute Anniversary Celebration, Keynote Speaker

  • November 2003 – Texas State Legislature: African American Legislative Affairs Conference, Featured Speaker

  • January 2006 – Martin Luther King Citywide Celebration Keynote Address, Austin Texas (20,000+ in attendance)

  • January 2008 – Martin Luther King Citywide Celebration Keynote Address, Austin Texas (20,000+ in attendance)