Memorials

GABE THOMAS “TOM” VICK JR.

a black and white headshot of Hon. Tristan Belew Ellis Vick, 71, of Weatherford, died August 23, 2026. He received his law degree from South Texas College of Law and was admitted to the State Bar in 1981. Vick opened the law practice known today as VickCarney with his father, Gabe T. Vick Sr., in Weatherford, remaining there for the entirety of his career, and was mayor of Weatherford from 1982 to 1986. He served as the 137th president of the State Bar of Texas in 2017-2018; was recognized for his work through two State Bar Presidential Citations, the State Bar Family Law Section’s Dan R. Price Award, the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists’ Judge Sam Emison Award, the Outstanding Citizen Award from the Weatherford Chamber of Commerce, and Austin College’s Distinguished Alumni Award; and served as a trustee for Weatherford College and the Weatherford Independent School District. He is remembered for his integrity and humility and for his love for his hometown, profession, and family, all of which shaped a life of meaningful service. Vick is survived by his son, attorney Gabe Thomas Vick III; daughter, Vanessa Lee Lester; brothers, John Randol Vick and Michael Frederick Vick; and three grandchildren.

PRESTON STEVENS

a black and white headshot of Hon. Tristan Belew Ellis Stevens, 80, of Mayhill, New Mexico, died July 23, 2026. He received his law degree from Texas Tech University School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1970. Stevens was the Wheeler County attorney in Shamrock and first assistant district attorney of Ector County in Odessa. He was a member of the Texas District & County Attorneys Association and was honored with the proclamation of Preston Stevens Day on January 8, 2004, in Odessa. Stevens is remembered for his love of spending time with his family, fly
fishing, and reading. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Valerie Stevens; son, James Stevens; daughter, Jennifer Spaulding; sister, Nonie Cawthon; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

HON. MICHAEL R. THOMAS

a black and white headshot of Hon. Tristan Belew Ellis Thomas, 81, of Fort Worth, died April 14, 2026. He received his law degree from Baylor Law School and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1969. Thomas was an assistant district attorney with the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office in 1970, a criminal defense attorney from 1972 to 2003, and judge of Criminal District Court No. 4 in Tarrant County from 2002 to 2022. He was a life fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation and a member of the College of the State Bar; active with several law-focused organizations, including the Tarrant County Bar Association, the Tarrant County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, and the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association; and the recipient of the Tarrant County Bar Association’s Silver Gavel Award for judicial excellence. Thomas is remembered for presiding over the bench with class, dignity, and integrity and for his reputation as a solid, consummate, and prominent criminal defense practitioner. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Patsy Thomas; sons, Michael Thomas Jr. and Brandon Thomas; daughter, Anne Thomas Smith; and four grandchildren.

JAMES M. LOVELESS

a black and white headshot of Hon. Tristan Belew Ellis Loveless, 81, of Fort Worth, died August 11, 2026. He received his law degree from South Texas College of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1974. Loveless was an attorney with the Webb Family Law Firm in Dallas. He was certified in family law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and contributed to family law continuing legal education for 50 years; president of the Texas Academy of Law Specialists; and an active member of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, serving as president of the Texas chapter and serving on the House of Governors. He is remembered for telling stories with such meticulous detail that you felt as though you were right beside him; his love of spending time outdoors with his boys, Lon and Miles; and riding his Harley-Davidson with his wife, Mary Kathryn “Kitty” Evans Loveless, through Europe, Canada, and Sturgis, North Dakota, and riding with the Boozefighters Motorcycle Club. Loveless is survived by his wife, Kitty; sons, attorney Lon and Miles; sister, Marilyn Winfree; and five grandchildren.

JOHN R. REBMAN

a black and white headshot of Hon. Tristan Belew Ellis Rebman, 94, of Houston, died April 21, 2026. He received his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1957. Rebman was also a member of the Oklahoma, New York, Connecticut, and District of Columbia bars. He served in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955. Rebman was an attorney with the Phillips Petroleum Company from 1957 to 1970; an attorney with the Humble Oil and Refining Company, later ExxonMobil, from 1970 to 1997; associate general counsel to ExxonMobil; general counsel to ExxonMobil’s worldwide chemical operations; and assistant general counsel to the Exxon Company, USA. He was active with the American Bar Association, serving as chair of the Section of Natural Resources, Energy, and Environmental Law and as a delegate to the ABA House of Delegates. Rebman is remembered for cherishing his time with family and friends and for achieving his personal goal of playing golf in all 50 states. He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Gina Rebman; son, Bob; daughters, Kim and Jennifer; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

GREGORY VINCENT NOVAK

a black and white headshot of Hon. Tristan Belew Ellis Novak, 63, of Houston, died December 11, 2024. He received his law degree from Texas Tech University School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1988. Novak was also a member of the Federal Bar Association, Southern District of Texas, and the District of Columbia Bar. He was the founder of the Novak Druce Center for Professional Service Firms at the University of Oxford Saïd Business School, a founding and managing partner in Novak Druce + Quigg in Houston from 2004 to 2022, and a managing partner in Novak Druce Carroll in Houston in April 2022. Novak was a board member of the Saïd Business School and sat on Oxford’s Business Advisory Council, a board member of the Max Planck Florida Foundation, and a private investor in Chain Bridge Capital Partners. He is remembered for his quick wit, kindness, and his devotion to mentoring young lawyers and supporting student entrepreneurship. Novak is survived by his partner of 38 years, Tracy Druce, and mother, Rita Novak.

DARRYL L.J. FANELLI

a black and white headshot of Hon. Tristan Belew Ellis Fanelli, 78, of Houston, died January 9, 2025. He received his law degree from the University of Houston Bates College of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1977. Fanelli was primarily a solo attorney in areas such as real estate, trust and probate, financial contracts, and oil and gas rights and leases. He is remembered for his love of travel and adventure, country and western music, and storytelling, creative writing, and literature. Fanelli is survived by his wife of 19 years, Ludmila Fanelli; daughter, Sarah T. Fanelli; stepson, Jagger Hardy; and two grandchildren.

HAROLD METTS

a black and white headshot of Hon. Tristan Belew Ellis Metts, 94, of Houston, died July 22, 2026. He received his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1958. Metts served in the U.S. Navy from 1952 to 1955. He was a briefing attorney for the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in 1959, an attorney with the Law Offices of Tom Wheat in Liberty from 1960 to 1964, and an associate of Baker Botts in Houston from 1964 to 1972, a partner from 1973 to 1997, and an administrative partner from 1974 to 1984. Metts was active with the State Bar of Texas as a member of the Board of Directors; chair of the State Bar Real Estate, Probate, and Trust Law Section; and member of the Ad Hoc Committee on Insurance and was president of the Houston Bar Association. He is remembered as a lawyer’s lawyer, who never seemed flustered, no matter the challenge, and for his integrity and practicality. Metts is survived by his wife of 31 years, Martha Metts; son, attorney Mark Metts; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

DALE BARRON

a black and white headshot of Hon. Tristan Belew Ellis Barron, 75, of Allen, died July 4, 2026. He received his law degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1987. Barron was a prosecutor in Pulaski County, Arkansas; an assistant district attorney in Dallas County; an attorney in private practice; an attorney with the Texas Department of Insurance before returning to private practice; and an attorney with the Texas State Securities Board. Barron is remembered for his love of music, movies, and “putting con men in prison.” He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Judy; son, Matt; daughter, Pam; and two grandchildren.