Memorials

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.

John L. Hutchison

John HutchinsonHutchison, 70, of Spearman, died March 21, 2017. He received his law degree from Texas Tech University School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1972. Hutchison was a solo practitioner in Spearman throughout the entirety of his legal career and also served as Hansford County attorney from 1979 to December 2016. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Spearman, where he enjoyed teaching the men’s Sunday school class, and was a member of the Spearman Rotary Club. A Hansford County native, Hutchison loved living in Spearman and its people. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Jo Linda Hutchison; sons, Jeff and Alan; and six grandchildren.


Michael L. Fostel

Michael FostelFostel, 71, of Kermit, died May 8, 2017. He received his law degree at Texas Tech University School of Law, part of the institution’s first graduating class, and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1970. Fostel worked in the Law Firm of Finley and Scoggins from 1970 to 1973; was Winkler County attorney from 1973 to 1980; was in private practice from 1980 to 1983; and served as district attorney of the 109th Judicial District from 1983 to 2011. A member of the Texas District & County Attorneys Association and Texas Trial Lawyers Association, he was certified in trial law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Fostel is remembered for his love of hunting and fishing, coaching Little League baseball, and spending time with his children and grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Paige, and is survived by his wife of 50 years, Martha; sons, Brett and attorney Clay; brother, Hon. John H. Fostel, judge of the 271st Judicial District; and six grandchildren.


Frank Edward Billings Sr.

Frank EdwardBillings, 80, of Houston, died April 7, 2017. He served in the U.S. Navy on active duty from 1960 to 1963 and in the reserve from 1963 to 1966. Billings received his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1966. He was a partner in Hinds & Meyer, now Meyer Orlando; Hinds, Meyer, Billings & Solomon; Billings & Solomon; and Billings, Solomon, Martini & Fletcher. He is remembered for his devotion to his family, his love of tending to his Red Poll cattle, and his enjoyment of hunting. Billings is survived by his wife of 51 years, Theo Minturn Billings; son, Frank Jr.; daughter, attorney Tracey Billings Cobb; brother, Fred; sisters, Norma Fink and Karen Johnson; and three grandchildren.


Royal D. Adams

Royal AdamsAdams, 87, of San Antonio, died September 23, 2016. After serving in the U.S. Air Force from 1949 to 1952, he received his law degree from St. Mary’s University School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1961. Adams was an attorney with Lacy & Adams from 1961 to 1963; the Law Office of Royal D. Adams from 1963 to 1970; Adams & Hunter from 1970 to 1985; and the Law Offices of Royal D. Adams from 1985 to 2006. He loved to go golfing, hunting, and bowling and is remembered for being kind with his words, modest in his actions, generous with his love, and a mentor to many. Adams is survived by his wife of 46 years, Mary Gaye Adams; sons, Randall Adams, Dennis Adams, Royal Dean Adams, attorney David Towler, and Bruce Towler; daughters, Royallee Allen and attorney Susan Stacy; sister, Ima Berthier; 17 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.


Thomas L. G. Ross

Thomas LG RossRoss, 67, of Arlington, died March 20, 2017. He received his law degree from Texas Tech University School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1976. Ross was a staff attorney with the Tarrant County Legal Aid Foundation, now Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas, from 1975 to 1977; a solo practitioner in Fort Worth from 1977 to 1987; and a magistrate judge in Tarrant County from 1987 to 1990, before returning to private practice in Fort Worth in 1991 until his death. He was a member of the Tarrant County Bar Association and the Texas Bar College and received the American Jurisprudence Award from Texas Tech University School of Law. Ross is remembered for his dedicated advocacy for his clients and community, for being an experienced litigator, and for his love of reading and participation in civic organizations. He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Myrtle Brown Ross; son, Tyrone Emery; daughters, Gabrielle, Janell, Michelle, and Danielle; brother, Ladell; and six grandchildren.


Martin Price

Martin PricePrice, 86, of Dallas, died May 15, 2016. He served in the U.S. Air Force. Price received his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1957. Price was the founder and chief executive officer of Royal Optical in Dallas. He is remembered for his love of traveling the world. Price is survived by his wife of 45 years, Elizabeth; sons, Lance and Ned; daughter, Samantha; brother, Sam; and three grandchildren.


Larry Lee Lambert

Larry Lee LambertLambert, 86, of Wichita Falls, died April 27, 2017. He received his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1954. Lambert then enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he served from 1954 to 1956. He began his legal career in Wichita Falls with stints as a partner in Nelson, Sherrod & Lambert; Fillmore, Lambert, Purtle & Lee; and Wilson, Lambert & White. Lambert was an assistant city attorney for Wichita Falls from 1992 to 1995 and then worked in private practice with his son, Mikal S. Lambert, from 2002 until his retirement in 2015. A past president of the Wichita County Bar Association, he also served as vice president of the Texas Association of Defense Counsel and a chair of the District 13 Grievance Committee of the State Bar of Texas. Lambert is remembered for his work as a civic leader, having served on the Wichita Falls City Council; his dedication to his alma mater Midwestern State University, where he served on the board of regents; and his commitment to the University United Methodist Church in Wichita Falls. He is survived by his sons, Larry Lambert Jr., attorney Mikal S. Lambert, and attorney Kenneth Lambert; daughter, Elaine Lambert Catron; eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.


John H. Miller Jr.

John MillerMiller, 76, of Sinton, died March 11, 2017. He received his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1966. Miller spent his career practicing law as a solo practitioner and served as District 11 director of the State Bar of Texas Board of Directors from 1999 to 2002. He is remembered for his love of fossil hunting, growing orchids, and bird watching. Miller is survived by his friend and former wife, Josephine Miller; son, George; daughter, Mary Catherine Miller; sister, Mary Clanton; and three grandchildren.


Richard J. Jones

Richard JonesJones, 85, of Rosebud, died April 18, 2017. He served in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955. Jones received his law degree from St. Mary’s University School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1963. He opened and ran a private practice in Waxahachie from 1963 to 1969 and then worked for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs from 1969 until 1991, when he retired as district counsel. Jones was recognized as a 50-Year Lawyer by the State Bar of Texas in 2013 and received the Distinguished Career Award from the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs. He is remembered for his love of fishing, vacationing in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, and for leading the music and choir in his local church. Jones is survived by his wife of 62 years, Nelda H. Jones; sons, David and Jimmy; daughter, Paula; brother, Jamie; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.


Edmon Grant Hall

Edmon Grant HallHall, 91, of Port Isabel, died May 12, 2017. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1946. Hall received his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1951. He was an assistant district attorney in the Hidalgo County District Attorney’s Office in Edinburg from 1951 to 1953; an associate of Henrichson, Bates & Hall in Edinburg from 1953 to 1956; a partner in Strickland, Wilkins, Hall & Mills in Mission from 1956 to 1969; a partner in Atlas & Hall in McAllen from 1969 to 2000; and a solo practitioner in Port Isabel from 2000 to 2015. During his legal career, Hall served as chairman of the Junior State Bar of Texas, now the Texas Young Lawyers Association; president of the Hidalgo County Bar Association; and received the 2007 Professionalism Award from the Cameron County Bar Association. He is remembered for his work as a Boy Scout leader; for being a master storyteller; and for his love of fishing, crabbing, and beachcombing. Hall is survived by his wife of 68 years, Helen Elizabeth Close Hall; sons, Grant David Hall and Geoffrey Lee Hall; daughters, Kimberley Hall Seger and Stephanie Hall Bottom; brother, Harry Lee Hall Jr.; 12 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.


Wallace S. Craig Jr.

Wallace CraigCraig, 87, of Parker County, died February 22, 2017. He served in the U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps. Craig received his law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law, was a member of the Tennessee Bar, and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1962. He spent his legal career as the owner of Wallace Craig & Associates in Fort Worth and Hurst from 1962 to 2000. Craig was a Texas Bar Foundation fellow, a member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, now the American Association for Justice, and a part of the Texas Bar College. He is remembered for his love of flying, sailing, and riding motorcycles. Craig is survived by is wife of 49 years, Faye; son, Wayne Winn Jr.; daughter, Rhea Craig Follett; and three grandchildren.


Gregory T. Neugebauer

Greg NeugebauerNeugebauer, 56, of Plano, died January 19, 2017. He received his law degree from Duquesne University School of Law, was a member of the Pennsylvania Bar, and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 2004. Neugebauer was a patent attorney with Slater Matsil from 2004 to 2006; a felony attorney in the Dallas County Public Defender’s Office from 2006 to 2012; and a criminal defense attorney in the Law Office of Greg Neugebauer from 2012 until his death. In 2001, he won second place in a National Rifle Association law student essay competition on individual liberties and the Second Amendment. Neugebauer volunteered at the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center in Allen. He is survived by is wife of 12 years, Elycia Whitmill; mother, Dorothy Estock Neugebauer; and father, Tom Neugebauer.TBJ

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