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
Hutchison, 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
Fostel, 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.
Billings, 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
Adams, 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
Ross, 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
Price, 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
Lambert, 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.
Miller, 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
Jones, 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
Hall, 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.
Craig, 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
Neugebauer, 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
