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.
Don Earl Wade
Wade, 85, of Austin, died October 19,
2016. He received his law degree from the University of Texas School of
Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1994. Wade practiced family law
with his friend, Malcolm Smith, in Austin. He gave credit for his law
degree to Smith and Smith’s wife, Pamela Gibblin. Wade was always in
love with geology, his first profession, which he practiced even after
obtaining his law degree. He is survived by his wife of almost 40 years,
Maria Wade.
Don Tate Cates
Cates, 84, of Forney, died December
9, 2017. He received his law degree from Baylor Law School and was
admitted to the Texas Bar in 1957. Cates was admitted to practice before
the U.S. Supreme Court in 1982. He was an assistant city attorney for
the city of Houston from 1957 to 1959; an assistant district attorney
with the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office from 1960 to 1962; an
associate of and later partner in Brady, Drake & Wilson in Dallas
from 1962 to 1973; a partner in Gilliland, Cates & Flagg in Dallas
from 1973 to 1980; and in private practice in the Law Office of Don T.
Cates in Forney from 1980 to 2017. Cates was mayor of Forney from 1985
to 1997; justice of the peace for Precinct 2, Kaufman County, from 2001
to 2010; and was named a 50-Year Lawyer by the State Bar of Texas in
2007. He enjoyed teaching Bible study, watching Baylor sports, and
spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Cates is
survived by his wife of 60 years, Stella Oates Cates; sons, William,
John, and Harry; daughter, Margaret Burchett; brother, Michael Reid
Cates; sister, Vivian Cates Crowson; 16 grandchildren; and nine
great-grandchildren.
Izak Donley Gregory
Gregory, 77, of Southlake, died
January 24, 2018. He received his law degree from St. Mary’s University
School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1975. Gregory worked
at Gregory & Gregory from 1975 to 2008 and in Izak Gregory Law
Office from 2008 to 2017. He was a member of the Grapevine American
Business Clubs and enjoyed participating in the many events and annual
festivals in Grapevine. Gregory spent his free time fishing at his
boathouse and raising tomatoes and sharing them with his friends and
family. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Gay Gregory; daughters,
Regina Gregory and Abigale Henry; brother, attorney Joe Dow Gregory; and
sisters, Tibitha Phi Rhodes and Jimmie K. Carson.
Tony R.
Conde Jr.
Conde, 64, of El Paso, died August
22, 2017. He received his law degree from St. Mary’s University School
of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1980. Conde was an attorney
with the Department of Commerce in Crystal City, Virginia, from 1980 to
1981; an attorney with Ainsa, Skipworth, Zavaleta & Butterworth in
El Paso from 1982 to 1991; a partner in Ainsa, Skipworth, Conde &
Martinez in El Paso from 1991 to 1993; and in private practice in El
Paso from 1993 to 2015. He was an El Paso County Law Library supporter,
a Napoleon enthusiast, and a college football fan. Conde is survived by
his wife of 45 years, Katherine Conde; sons, Anthony Conde III, Marcus
Conde, and Alexandre Conde; daughter, Laneige Conde; father, Antonio G.
Conde; brothers, Ron Conde and Conrad Conde; sister, Yvonne Conde Curry;
and two grandchildren.
Wayne M. Secore
Secore, 72, of Dallas, died January
3, 2018. He received his law degree from DePaul University College of
Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1979. Secore was admitted to
the Illinois Bar in 1969. He was a staff attorney with the Securities
and Exchange Commission Chicago Regional Office from 1971 to 1975; the
branch chief of the Securities and Exchange Commission San Francisco,
Regional Office from 1975 to 1978; a regional administrator for the
Securities and Exchange Commission Fort Worth Regional Office from 1981
to 1986; a partner in a private practice in Dallas from 1986 to 1994;
and a partner in Secore & Waller in Dallas from 1994 to 2014. Secore
was chairperson of the Dallas Bar Association Securities Section in 1993
and chairperson of the State Bar of Texas Business Law Section’s
Securities Law Committee from 2000 to 2002. He was an avid reader and
history buff. Secore is survived by his wife of 45 years, Leslie A.
Secore; son, Adam M. Secore; daughter, Rachel M. Secore; and brother,
Earl J. Secore.
Michael Ernest Miller
Miller, 69, of Dallas, died October 5,
2017. He received his law degree from the University of Texas School of
Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1978. Miller was in private
practice in Dallas from 1983 to 1987; an attorney in the Dallas County
Public Defender’s Office from 1988 to 1997; again in private practice in
Dallas from 1997 to 2006; a judge on Dallas County Probate Court No. 3
(Mental Illness Court) from 2007 to 2014; and an attorney and mediator
in private practice in Dallas from 2015 to 2017. He was a musician,
cyclist, and playwright. Miller is survived by his brother, Pat Miller,
and his sister, Paula Blair.
Stuart G. Johnston Jr.
Johnston, 87, of Dallas, died December
31, 2017. He served in the U.S. Navy from February 1951 to November
1954. Johnston received his law degree from St. Mary’s University School
of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1956. He was a partner in
Kelso, Locke & King in San Antonio from 1956 to 1959; a partner in
Stubbeman, McRae, Sealy, Laughlin &?Browder in Midland from 1959 to
1964; legal adviser to the general manager of Standard Oil Company
(Ohio) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, from 1964 to 1968; vice president of
and general counsel to Elcor Chemical Corporation in Midland from 1968
to 1970; sole shareholder in the private law firm Stuart Johnston &
Associates in Dallas from 1970 to 1989; and a partner in Jackson Walker
in Dallas from 1989 to 1992. Johnston had a solo practice from 1992 to
2004. He graduated first in class from law school and received the
second highest grade on his bar exam. Johnston loved his wife and family
and was an avid baseball fan, especially the New York Yankees. He is
survived by his wife of 66 years, Beverly; sons, attorney Stuart G.
Johnston III, attorney Paul M. Johnston, attorney Stanley C. Johnston,
Mark A. Johnston, attorney Morgan F. Johnston, Patrick E. Johnston, and
Michael T. Johnston; 21 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
Thomas Fox Lay
Lay, 89, of Friendswood, died January
19, 2018. He served in the U.S. Army from 1950 to 1953. Lay received his
law degree from the University of Texas School of Law and was admitted
to the Texas Bar in 1950. He was a solo practitioner in the Houston area
for over 50 years; served as city attorney for the cities of Pasadena,
League City, and South Houston; and taught real estate law at San
Jacinto College. Lay served on the Friendswood City Council and was
mayor pro-tem in Friendswood; was a charter member and life fellow of
the Texas Bar Foundation; and was a member of the Houston Bar
Association and American Judicature Society. He was well known for his
sense of humor. Lay emceed many Rotary banquets and Valentine’s dinners
at Friendswood United Methodist Church. He was always called upon for
anything that went on at the church that needed a legal opinion, a
speech, or sound. Lay enjoyed using his ham radio and growing roses. He
is survived by his wife of 63 years, Ruth; daughter, Alicia Perner; and
three grandchildren.
Raymond T. Nimmer
Nimmer, 73, of Houston, died January
24, 2018. He received his law degree from Valparaiso University School
of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1984. Nimmer was admitted to
the Illinois Bar in 1968. He served as a research attorney with the
American Bar Foundation from 1968 to 1975; associate dean at the
University of Houston Law Center from 1978 to 1985; a consultant to the
Law and Social Sciences Program of the National Science Foundation from
1979 to 1992; counsel to Sheinfeld, Maley & Kay in Houston from 1985
to 1991; a visiting professor of law at the University of Texas School
of Law from 1985 to 1986 and at the University of Michigan Law School in
1987; a co-reporter on the drafting committee on Revisions of UCC
Article 2 from 1990 to 1994 and reporter on the drafting committee on
UCC Article 2B and Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act from
1994 to 2003; a consultant to the U.S. State Department Office of the
Legal Adviser from 1990 to 2001 and the U.S. Office of Technology
Assessment from 1991 to 1995; Leonard H. Childs Professor of Law at the
University of Houston?Law Center from 1991 to 2018; counsel to Weil,
Gotshal & Manges in Houston from 1992 to 1999; acting dean of the
University of Houston Law Center from 1993 to 1995; director of the
International Law Program at the University of Houston from 1997 to 1999
and co-director of the International Property and Information Law
Institute at the University of Houston?Law Center from 1997 to 2006;
visiting professor of law at the University of Maine School of Law in
2001 and 2002 and at the University of Sydney in Australia in 2003 and
2008; acting dean of the University of Houston Law Center from 2006 to
2008; dean of the University of Houston?Law Center from 2008 to 2013;
the Fulbright Distinguished Chair in International Commercial Law at the
Universidade Catolica Portuguesa School of Law in Lisbon, Portugal, from
2007 to 2008; and distinguished chair in residence from 2008 to 2018.
Nimmer was a member of the American Law Institute, the Texas Bar
Foundation, and the American College of Commercial Finance
Attorneys.
Charles L. Tighe
Tighe, 89, of Midland, died January
12, 2018. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1945 to 1947. Tighe received
his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law and was
admitted to the Texas Bar in 1955. He worked with Baker Botts in Houston
from 1955 to 1960; at Stubbeman McRae in Midland from 1960 to 1974; and
was a founding partner in Cotton Bledsoe Tighe & Dawson in Midland
from 1974 to 2018. Tighe was a fellow of the American College of Trial
Lawyers, a certified mediator, and former president and attorney who
handled desegregation litigation for the Midland Independent School
District. He played basketball at Rice University; was an avid golfer
who shot his age at least once a year starting at 79; and was active in
the community—serving on the city council, helping to build the Christ
Church Anglican, developing the Tighe Family Foundation to help local
nonprofits, and being a member of numerous civic boards. Tighe is
survived by his wife of 62 years, Schatzie Tighe; sons, Steven Tighe and
Daniel Tighe; daughter, Susan Litherland; and seven
grandchildren.TBJ
