Memorials October 2023
Submit a memorial at texasbar.com/memorials or call (512) 427-1830. For information on closing a deceased attorney’s practice, go to www.texasbarcle.com/materials/closingapractice.html.
James R. "Jim" Lovell
Lovell, 96, of
Amarillo, died July 4, 2023. He received his law degree from Southern
Methodist University School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in
1951. Lovell served in the U.S. Navy from April 1945 to August 1946. He
was an associate of C.D. Bourne in Dumas from 1951 to 1953; principal in
Lovell & Lyle in Dumas from 1953 to 2016; and of counsel to Lovell,
Lovell, Isern & Farabough in Amarillo from 2016 to 2020. Lovell was
a State Bar of Texas director from 1972 to 1975; the recipient of
several awards, including the State Bar of Texas President’s Award in
1979; and was respectively the founder, inaugural president, director,
and chair of the Texas Lawyer’s Insurance Exchange from 1978 to 2009. He
is remembered for his unrelenting optimism; love of his family; and
serving his community, church, and profession. Lovell was survived by
his daughters, paralegal Nita Dyslin, Laura Taylor, and Leslie Hawkins;
sons, attorney John Lovell, Jim Lovell, attorney Joe Lovell, Jeff
Lovell, and Jesse Lovell; stepdaughters, Carol Colunga, Linda Wolever,
and Jenny Zeller; and 26 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.
Rudy Mack Groom
Groom, 91, of Mabank, died May 22,
2023. He received his law degree from the University of Houston School
of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1961. Groom served in the
U.S. Navy. He was a partner in Engel, Groom, Miglicco & Sullins in
Houston from 1963 to 1967; a partner in Engel, Groom, Miglicco &
Gibson in Houston from 1967 to 1985; a shareholder in Rudy M. Groom,
P.C., in Houston from 1985 to 1988; and a shareholder in Groom &
Groom, P.C., in Mabank from 1988 to 2018. Groom is remembered for his
love of hunting, fishing, and watching his beloved Texas Longhorns. He
is survived by his wife of three years, Glenda Groom; sons, Mike Groom
and William Groom; daughters, Deborah Massey, Kathleen Durante, and
Laurie Carder; brother, Donnie Groom; 13 grandchildren; and numerous
great-grandchildren.
Kenneth Gerald Biddle Joyce
Joyce, 83, of Mt.
Juliet, Tennessee, died
August 15, 2023. He
received his law degree
from the University of
Texas School of Law
and was admitted to
the Texas Bar in 1965.
Joyce was also a member of the
Tennessee Bar. He served in the U.S. Air
Force in the Judge Advocate General’s
Corps from 1966 to 1996. Joyce was an
attorney at Phan Rang Air Base in the
Republic of Vietnam; assistant staff
judge advocate at Bitburg Air Base in
Germany; head lawyer at the Air Force
Military Personnel Center in Texas;
chief of personnel law at Headquarters
United States Air Force at the Pentagon;
chief of military law at Air Combat
Command; staff judge advocate at the
Air Force Communications Command;
and staff judge advocate at the Air
Education and Training Command. He
received numerous military decorations,
including the Bronze Star Medal, the
Vietnam Service Medal, the Meritorious
Service Medal, and the Legion of Merit;
served on the Brookstone Homeowners
Association Board of Directors; and was
an usher, elder, and member of the
Mission Team at Emmanuel Lutheran
Church in Hermitage, Tennessee. Joyce
is remembered for his love of collecting
miniature automobile and aircraft
models, spending time with his
grandchildren, and taking walks and
trips with Mary. He is survived by his
wife of 58 years, Mary Ann Joyce; son,
Scott Hardin Joyce; daughter, Kristen
Joyce Parrish; brothers, Stuart Joyce and
Christopher Joyce; sister, Debbie
Dewey; five grandchildren; and two
great-grandchildren.
John Elzie Simpson III
Simpson, 74, of
Lubbock, died August
3, 2023. He received
his law degree from
Texas Tech University
School of Law and was
admitted to the Texas
Bar in 1974. Simpson
was also a member of the Virginia State
Bar. He was an associate of the Splawn
Law Firm from 1974 to 1978; a partner
in Splawn and Simpson from 1979 to
2004; a partner in Splawn Simpson Pitts
from 2004 to 2021; and of counsel to
Craig, Terrill, Hale & Grantham from
2022 to 2023. Simpson received the
Justice James G. Denton Distinguished
Lawyer Award from the Lubbock Area
Bar Association and the Distinguished
Service Award from Texas Tech
University School of Law and served on
the American College of Trial Lawyers
and the American Board of Trial
Advocates. He is remembered as an avid
golfer; a fierce fan of Texas Tech sports;
and having an ongoing curiosity for
history, religion, and music. Simpson is
survived by his wife of 50 years,
Carolyn; daughters, Corey Simpson
Booker and Mary Kendall Simpson;
sister, Dixie Cook; and four
grandchildren.
Carla Jo Bishop
Bishop, 72, of Houston,
died April 24, 2023. She received her law degree from the University of
Texas School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1976. Bishop
was an attorney with the U.S. Department of Energy; the Coastal
Corporation; Conoco Inc.; Coburn and Croft; and Marathon Oil Company.
She was recognized by the National Law Journal in 1990 for her
defense work. Bishop is remembered for being passionate for animal
welfare, the environment, and human rights. She is survived by her
brother, Mark Bishop and wife Luann; sister, Patricia Hollingsworth and
husband Jay; and nieces, Kristin, Melissa, and Lauren.
Swanson "Rocky" Woodson Angle
Angle, 82, of Frisco, died
January 2, 2023. He received his law degree from the George Washington
University Law School and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1998. Angle
served in the U.S. Air Force. He was also a member of the Virginia Bar.
Angle was a NATO trial observer in Turkish criminal courts; a judge
advocate, advising the commander and staff of the largest tactical wing
in Europe; senior legal member of the Strategic Air Command at Offutt
Air Force Base, Nebraska; private legal counsel specializing in
contracts in St. Louis, Missouri, and Dallas; and retired as general
counsel to Dallas Area Rapid Transit. Angle received the Commendation
Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, and National Defense Medal from the
U.S. Air Force. He is remembered for his devotion to loved ones; his
love of music, especially the Eagles; and his appreciation of slapstick
humor. Angle is survived by his wife of 55 years, Karen; son, Brian;
daughter, Jill; and three grandchildren.
John Michael Thoma
Thoma, 78, of Centerville,
died January 22, 2023. He received his law degree from the University of
Houston School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1969. Thoma
served in the U.S. Army from 1969 to 1971 as a Signal Corps group legal
officer stationed in the Republic of Vietnam. He was an attorney in the
Galveston District Attorney’s Office in 1971; an attorney with Tramonte
& Tramonte in 1974; an attorney with the Galveston District
Attorney’s Office a second time from 1978 to 1981; judge of Galveston
County Court at Law No. 1 for three terms; a private practitioner with
David Cook from 1994 to 2000; and a solo practitioner from 2001 to 2014.
Thoma was a fellow of the College of the State Bar of Texas; served with
the Texas Forestry Association; and received the Bronze Star Medal,
Meritorious Service Medal, and the Commendation Medal from the U.S.
Army. He is remembered for his easygoing manner, friendly smiling face,
and his willing and generous ability to make things better in any way he
could. Thoma is survived by his wife of 55 years, Jennell Coy Thoma;
daughters, Dawn Thoma and Eve Thoma; sister, Ann Cook; and two
grandsons.
Robert Marcus Cady
Cady, 80, of Dallas,
died March 15, 2023. He received his law degree from Southern Methodist
University School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1966. Cady
practiced criminal defense and family law. He is remembered for being an
avid outdoorsman, having hunted on four continents and especially loving
hunting quail, and for his love of golf. He is survived by his son,
Robert Marcus Cady II; daughter, Marla Cady Gober; and brother, John
Cady.
Joe W. Steelman
Steelman, 86, of
Houston, died August 2, 2022. He received his law degree from the
University of Texas School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in
1963. Steelman served in the U.S. Army from 1955 to 1958. He was an
attorney with the Law Offices of Joseph W. Steelman. Steelman is
remembered for his love of gliding; sailing on his boat the Discovery
for decades, joining regattas to Mexico; and speaking, reading, and
writing in Spanish. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Peggy
Steelman; daughters, Cindy E. Steelman, Laura A. Steelman, Ki Browning,
and Jessica Shepherd; sister, Barbara Steelman; and two
grandchildren.
Selden B. Hale III
Hale, 84, of
Amarillo, died September 7, 2022. He received his law degree from St.
Mary’s University School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in
1967. Hale served in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1960 and enlisted in the
Amarillo reserve unit on active and reserve duty. He was also admitted
to the Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States. Hale was counsel
to the Pioneer Natural Gas Company; a Texas ACLU cooperating lawyer in
the Panhandle; and a professor of criminal justice and weapons courses
at Amarillo College, where he established a corrections officer
scholarship out of his teaching salary for students going into
corrections. He was appointed by Gov. Ann Richards as chair of the Texas
Board of Criminal Justice, where he was instrumental in the construction
of state prison units in Amarillo, Dalhart, Plainview, Pampa, and Tulia
and establishing drug and alcohol treatment programs for prisoners; was
instrumental in the development of the Texas Sentencing Standards
Commission; and was active in many civic and charitable organizations.
Hale is remembered for his love of mules, hunting, and building fences
in Gruver. He is survived by his wife, Claudia DeLaughter Stravato;
daughters, Sarah Hale Uselding, Mona Maria Hale, and Anna Stravato
Ashby; sons, Selden B. Hale IV and Michael Stravato; brother, Thomas
Hale; and 10 grandchildren. TBJ
