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.
Donald Raymond Sterling
Sterling, 80, of Dallas, died
September 3, 2017. He received his law degree from Northwestern Law and
was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1970. Sterling was admitted to the
Illinois Bar in 1961. He was an attorney with Burlington Northern
Railroad in Chicago from 1961 to 1968; an associate of and general
counsel to Texas Instruments in Dallas from 1968 to 1986; head of
Sterling & Jones in Dallas from 1986 to 1988; and vice president,
secretary, and general counsel to Iomega in Roy, Utah, from 1988 to
1997. Sterling was a past chair of the Dallas Bar Association’s
Antitrust & Trade Regulation Section. He was honored by the Utah
House of Representatives for his work with Avatar, and he received an
award from Share the Harvest. Sterling was an artist, musician, and
historian. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Toni Sterling; son,
John Franklin Sterling; daughter, Deborah Lynn Benton; brother, David
Sterling; and three grandchildren.
Egon Richard
Tausch
Tausch, 76, of San Antonio, died July
27, 2018. He served in the U.S. Army from 1960 to 1969, receiving a
Bronze Star, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal,
Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1960 Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge, and
two Army Overseas Service Bars. Tausch was a professor of American
history at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York. He
received his law degree from St. Mary’s University School of Law and was
admitted to the Texas Bar in 1976. Tausch was a solo practitioner in San
Antonio. He was a Christian soldier, rancher, and writer. Tausch is
survived by his wife of 33 years, Phyllis Keil Tausch, and sister,
Clementine Hall.
Ray Epps
Epps, 79, of Cypress, died October 1, 2017.
He received his law degree from the University of Houston Law Center and
was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1966. Epps was the owner of Ray Epps
Law Office in Houston from 1966 to 2017 and in Leakey from 1982 to 1992
and county attorney for Real County in Leakey from 1982 to 1985. He
received State Bar of Texas pro bono certificates and awards, was a
State Bar representative to Russia, and helped form a court of record in
Real County. Epps’ career was defined by his creed: “My word is my
bond.” After family, his love was traveling the world with his wife and
best friend, Dot. Epps practiced law until the day he died. He is
survived by his wife of 40 years, Dorothy “Dot” Epps; sons, Ray, Riley,
and Bruce; daughters, Jill, Wendy, Tracy, and Cindy; brother, Jim Epps;
sister, Gaye Mitschke; 18 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.
Lyon Brinsmade
Brinsmade, 94, of Wimberley, died
July 27, 2018. He served in the U.S. Army. Brinsmade received his law
degree from Harvard Law School and was admitted to the Texas Bar in
1951. He was an associate of and partner in Butler & Binion in
Houston, and a partner in and senior counsel to Porter Hedges in
Houston. Brinsmade served as the chairman of the American Bar
Association Section of International Law in 1980-1981 and was on the
councils of the American Society of International Law, the
Inter-American Bar Association, and the State Bar of Texas International
Law Section. He had a lifelong interest in history, antiques, and
genealogy. Brinsmade is survived by his two daughters, Christine Tillman
and Louisa Brinsmade; five grandchildren; and five
great-grandchildren.
John “Gus” Larson
Larson, 56, of Austin, died April 11,
2018. He received his law degree from Texas Wesleyan University School
of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1994. Larson was a patent
attorney with Motorola/Freescale in Austin from 1995 to 1998; a patent
attorney with Markison & Reckamp in Austin from 1998 to 2002; a
partner in Toler Larson & Abel in Austin from 2002 to 2006; and a
partner in Larson Newman in Austin from 2006 to 2018. He loved his ranch
in Lexington; was devoted to family, co-workers, and friends; was a
University Interscholastic League and U.S. swim referee for 18 years;
and enjoyed home-brewing beer. Larson is survived by his wife of 31
years, Katie; sons, Matthew, Eric, and Ryan; daughter, Anna; father,
Wayne; and brothers, Andy and Joe.
Mark D. Haas
Haas, 60, of Conroe, died October 17,
2017. He received his law degree from South Texas College of Law and was
admitted to the Texas Bar in 1984. Haas was an attorney with Hope &
Mayes in Conroe from 1984 to 1991; a partner in Mayes & Haas in
Conroe from 1991 to 1997; part owner of Haas & Golemon in Conroe
from 1997 to 2013; and owner of Haas Law Firm in Conroe from 2013 to
2017. He was a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and was
certified in personal injury trial law by the Texas Board of Legal
Specialization. Haas was a triathlete, having completed the Ironman
Triathlon three times and the XTERRA Triathlon. He was a devoted father
and husband and a member of West Conroe Baptist Church. Haas is survived
by his wife of 30 years, Marga Haas; son, Jaron Haas; daughter, Paige
Haas; mother, June Haas; sister, Belinda Haas; and one grandchild.
Rhonda Amkraut Pressley
Pressley, 68, of Bastrop, died July
29, 2018. She received her law degree from Hofstra Law and was admitted
to the Texas Bar in 1981. Pressley was admitted to practice in New York
state in 1975. She was an assistant attorney general in the New York
State Attorney General’s Office from 1974 to 1977 in Albany and an
assistant attorney general and chief of the Appellate Litigation Section
of the Child Support Division of the Texas Attorney General’s Office in
Austin from 1989 to 2007. Pressley loved spending time with her family,
especially her grandchildren; studying legal and Talmudic text and
psychology; and enjoyed going to musicals and plays. She is survived by
her husband of 25 years, attorney Vann Duerant Pressley; daughters,
Rysse Goldfarb, Alec Covey, and Shanna Bayer; stepson, Daniel Pressley;
stepdaughter, Allison McFarland; brother, Jeffrey Amkraut; and 10
grandchildren.
Lafayette L. “L.L.” Duckett
Duckett, 99, of El Campo, died
January 16, 2018. He received his law degree from the University of
Texas School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1945. Duckett
was admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court and the U.S.
Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces. He served terms in the Texas
House of Representatives starting in 1941, 1943, and 1945, served four
years on the Texas Commission on Higher Education, and was a founder and
partner in Duckett, Bouligny & Collins in El Campo from 1945 to
1980. Duckett was a director of the State Bar of Texas, president and
board member of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, and president of
the Wharton County Bar Association. He dedicated his life to the legal
profession and was never idle. Duckett is survived by his daughter,
attorney Faye Duckett Dettling; sisters, Abie Duckett Brownshadel and
Willie Mae Tenison; nephews, attorneys Elton and Blake Brownshadel and
Warren Armstrong; niece, attorney France Brownshadel Frederick; and two
grandchildren.
Nicholas Peter Cariotis
Cariotis, 77, of Duncanville, died
December 4, 2017. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1965 to 1969,
serving in Vietnam and being honorably discharged as a major. Cariotis
received his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law and
was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1970. He was in private practice in
criminal law in Austin, Dallas, and Duncanville from 1970 to 1994 and
headed the white-collar crime division of the Dallas County District
Attorney’s Office from 1994 to 2011. Cariotis worked with his family’s
business, Sports Novelties, a sports marketing firm; handled souvenirs
for the Dallas Cowboys at Texas Stadium; and served as a city councilman
for Duncanville in the 1970s and 1980s. He is survived by his wife of 47
years, Helen Cariotis; sons, Nicholas Stephen Cariotis and Stephen
Alexander Cariotis; daughters, Anne-Marie Kristina Cariotis, Kristina
Cariotis Vandenabeele, and Angela Sophia Cariotis; and four
grandchildren.
Kenneth M. Jackson
Jackson, 81, of Hendersonville,
Tennessee, died May 26, 2018. He received his law degree from Southern
Methodist University School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in
1962. Jackson was admitted to practice in Tennessee in 1991 and admitted
to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court. He was director of contracts
for Dynalectron in Washington, D.C., from 1965 to 1970 and worked for
the Cost Accounting Standards Board in Washington from 1970 to 1974.
Jackson worked as director of contracts for Bolt, Beranek and Newman in
Cambridge, Massachusetts, from 1974 to 1981; director of contracts for
Ball Aerospace in Boulder, Colorado, from 1980 to 1985; vice president
and general counsel to Recon Optical in Barrington, Illinois, from 1985
to 1990; vice president and general counsel to Textron Aerostructures in
Nashville, Tennessee, from 1990 to 1995. He worked for Neal &
Harwell in Nashville from 1995 to 1998 and was a mediator/arbitrator in
Nashville from 1998 to 2018. Jackson received the President Award from
the Nashville Bar Association and was president of the National Contract
Management Association and the Tennessee Chapter-Association of
Corporate Counsel. He was interested in art, acting, and model
railroading. Jackson is survived by his wife of 50 years, Judith “Judy”
Jackson; and his son, Kenneth Davis Jackson.
Mark William
Allan
Allan, 51, of North Richland
Hills, died August 13, 2018. He received his law degree from Southern
Methodist University School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in
1994. Allan was an attorney with Cramer & Allan from 1994 to 1998;
with the Allan Firm in Grapevine from 1998 to 2015; and with Heygood,
Orr & Pearson in Irving from 2015 to 2018. He was a devoted and
loving father and husband and would do anything for his family and
clients. Allan is survived by his wife of seven years, Christi Allan;
sons, Max Allan and Taylor Allan; stepson, Ben Rodriguez; stepdaughters,
Lily Rodriguez and Autumn Rodriguez; father, William Allan; mother,
Jennifer Engle; and sisters, Barbara Mann, Louise Williams, and Sue
Morley.
Joseph John LaBella
LaBella, 65, of The Woodlands, died
July 7, 2018. He received his law degree from Vermont Law School and was
admitted to the Texas Bar in 1990. LaBella was the owner of Joseph J.
LaBella & Associates in Conroe from 1990 to 2018. He loved his wife,
who he joined in heaven; enjoyed traveling; and being the best attorney
he could be for his family. LaBella is survived by his son, Joseph John
LaBella III; daughter, Lauren Alexis LaBella; mother, Marilyn Telzer;
brother, Andrew LaBella; sister, Terry Meyerson; and two
grandchildren.
Don Leonard
Leonard, 80, of Kingsland, died July 24,
2018. He received his law degree from the University of Texas School of
Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1959. Leonard was an attorney
with Shannon & Shannon in Fort Worth and Leonard & Van Meter in
Fort Worth and a judge on Tarrant County Criminal District Court No. 3
in Fort Worth. He served on the Tarrant County Criminal District Board,
Board of Judges, Juvenile Board, and received the Silver Gavel Award
from the Tarrant County Bar Association. Leonard enjoyed golf, hunting,
fishing, and Longhorn football. He is survived by his wife of 62 years,
Judith Leonard; daughters, Debbie Walker and Cindy Leonard; five
grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
J. David
Nelson
Nelson, 67, of Lubbock, died July 18,
2018. He received his law degree from Texas Tech University School of
Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1976. Nelson was admitted to
practice before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1984. He was an assistant
district attorney for the Lubbock County District Attorney’s Office in
Lubbock; in private practice in Big Spring and Lubbock; and joined his
brother, Jack, to form Nelson & Nelson in Lubbock from 1981 to 2018.
Nelson served on the Texas Board of Criminal Justice from 2008 to 2013;
was a member of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct from 1989 to
1995 and chairman of the commission from 1991 to 1992; and was to be
judge of the Lubbock County Court at Law No. 3 on January 1, 2019. He
was a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and a longtime
fundraiser and participant in the MS 150. Nelson and his wife, Ainsley,
founded West Texas Endurance in 2012, which encourages active lifestyles
and fitness in Lubbock. He loved sports and was an avid baseball fan.
Nelson is survived by his wife, Ainsley; brother, attorney Jack; and
sister, Jill.
Ralph Balasco
Balasco, 99, of Houston, died June 23,
2018. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps as an intelligence officer
for the 367th Fighter Group from 1941 to 1945. Balasco received his law
degree from the University of Texas School of Law and was admitted to
the Texas Bar in 1947. He was a solo practitioner with a focus on civil
litigation. Balasco was president of the Houston Trial Lawyers
Association and was helpful to several young lawyers who were starting
to establish their practices. He served on the Congregation Brith Shalom
Board of Directors and was a member of Temple Emanu El. Balasco was
blessed with a large number of loving friends and was a good friend to
all of them. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, attorney Sybil
Balasco.
Franklin W. Denius
Denius, 93, of Austin, died July 29,
2018. He served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1946, taking part in the
D-Day Invasion and receiving four Silver Stars, the Belgian Croix de
Guerre, French Croix de Guerre, a Presidential Citation, the Chevalier
de la Legion d’Honneur, and two Purple Hearts. Denius received his law
degree from the University of Texas School of Law and was admitted to
the Texas Bar in 1949. He was an attorney for Looney & Clark in
Austin; a partner in Clark, Thomas, Denius, Winters & Harris in
Austin; a solo practitioner starting in 1976, specializing in utility
law, particularly in oil and gas industries; and president and chairman
emeritus of Southern Union Company. Denius also served as counsel to
numerous presidents of the University of Texas. He was president of the
Cain Foundation; was one of the founders and organizers of the Texas
Exes, receiving Distinguished Alumni and Santa Rita awards, serving as
one of its first presidents; and was named the Austin Chamber of
Commerce’s Outstanding Young Man of Austin in 1959. Denius is survived
by his son, Wofford “Woffie” Denius; daughter, Charmaine D. McGill; and
one grandchild.
Robert W. Lee
Lee, 70, of Tyler, died July 19, 2018.
He served in the U.S. Army National Guard from 1970 to 1976. Lee
received his law degree from Baylor Law School and was admitted to the
Texas Bar in 1975. He was assistant city attorney for the city of Tyler
from 1975 to 1978; an attorney with Lamar Neill in Tyler from 1978 to
1982 and with Gilbert & Lee in Tyler from 1982 to 1996; and a solo
practitioner in Tyler from 1996 to 2016. Lee coached Little League, had
a genuine interest in helping others, and was a sports enthusiast. He is
survived by his wife of 46 years, Vinni Mitchell Lee; sons, Jason Scott
Lee and Gregory Mitchell Lee; daughters, Christa Lee Hagler and Traci
Michelle Lee; sister, Sandra Kachel; and nine grandchildren.
Robert “Bob” Mahan Hardy Jr.
Hardy, 71, of Houston, died October
28, 2017. He received his law degree from the University of Houston Law
Center and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1974. Hardy was an attorney
at Butler & Binion in Houston from 1974 to 1986; a partner in McConn
& Hardy in Houston from 1986 to 1992; and in private practice from
1992 to 2017. He argued a patent case in front of the U.S. Court of
Appeals for the Federal Circuit in 1998 and was successful in having the
case remanded back to state court. Hardy was part of many cases reaching
multimillion-dollar verdicts. He was the inventor and patent holder of
Hardy Chair-Lok; loved his ranch in League City; and enjoyed sailing the
ocean and boating on Clear Lake with his family. Hardy is survived by
his sons, Travis R. Hardy, Andrew V. Hardy, and Benjamin E. Hardy;
daughter, Anna Hardy Finger; sisters, Linda Hardy Lawson and Roberta
Hardy Curtice; stepsisters, Vicky McNeely and Susan Lannon; and three
grandchildren.
Charlotte A. Harris
Harris, 67, of Lubbock, died August
23, 2018. She received her law degree from the University of Houston Law
Center and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1978. Harris was CLE
director at the University of Houston Law Center from 1979 to 1982; a
solo practitioner focusing on criminal defense in Houston from 1982 to
1985; an adjunct professor at the University of Houston Law Center from
1984 to 1985; Wichita County Public Defender in Wichita Falls from 1986
to 1988; an assistant district attorney in Tom Green County District
Attorney’s Office in San Angelo from 1988 to 1990 and again in 1992; an
associate of Lupton & Edwards in San Angelo in 1991; 51st District
Attorney in San Angelo from 1993 to 1996; a partner in Harris &
Brown in Alpine from 1997 to 1998; and an assistant federal public
defender for the Western District of Texas in Alpine from 1999 to 2011.
She was certified in criminal law by the Texas Board of Legal
Specialization in 1987. Harris enjoyed reading, church activities, and
spending time in northern New Mexico. She is survived by her sister,
Georgia Harris.
Stephanie C. Kan
Kan, 29, of Houston, died April 1,
2018. She received her law degree from the University of Houston Law
Center and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 2016. She was an intern for
Judge Mike Engelhart, of the 151st Civil District Court in Houston, and
Judge Michael Gomez, of the 129th Civil District Court, in Houston; and
a commercial litigator for Hoover Slovacek in Houston from 2016 to 2018.
Kan was the articles editor for the Houston Law Review; her
writing on net neutrality in the Houston Law Review was awarded
Best Comment in the Area of Business Litigation. She competed on the
Moot Court team and worked at the Transactional?Law Clinic. Kan enjoyed
rock climbing, snowboarding, and creating modern art. She is survived by
her father, Jiunying Kan; mother, Judy Kan; and sisters, Sherry and
Annie Kan.
Robert Holton Dawson
Dawson, 81, of Midland, died August
24, 2018. He received his law degree from the University of Texas School
of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1962. Between 1962 and 1974,
Dawson was with Turpin, Smith & Bullock and Bullock &?Neely in
Midland; he was a founding partner in Cotton Bledsoe Tighe & Dawson
in Midland from 1974 to 2018. He was a life fellow of the Texas Bar
Foundation, certified in estate planning and probate law by the Texas
Board of Legal Specialization, and the 2002 recipient of the Jim Bowmer
Professionalism Award from the Texas Bar College. Dawson was an active
member of his church. He was instrumental in founding a community-based
seminar that promotes philosophy. Dawson was an avid scholar and a
student of Civil War history. He is survived by his wife of 61 years,
Fran Dawson; son, attorney Bob Dawson Jr.; and two grandchildren.
Miguel Angel Méndez
Méndez, 74, of San Carlos, California,
died May 25, 2017. He received his law degree from George Washington
University School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1968.
Méndez was admitted to the California Bar in 1972. He was a law clerk at
the U.S. Court of Claims in Washington, D.C., from June 1968 to June
1969; a legislative assistant to the Office of U.S. Sen. Alan Cranston
in Washington from September 1969 to July 1971; a staff attorney for the
Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund in Washington from
June 1971 to June 1972; deputy director of the California Rural Legal
Assistance Foundation in Sacramento from June 1972 to September 1974;
deputy public defender for the Monterey County Public Defender in
Monterey, California, from June 1975 to December 1976; professor of law
at Stanford Law School from 1977 to 2009 where he was Adelbert H. Sweet
Professor of Law chair and became professor emeritus in 2009; and a
professor of law at UC Davis School of Law from 2009 to 2014. Méndez
received numerous awards, including from the National Hispanic Bar
Foundation, Legal Aid Society, and Public Advocates. He was honored with
a California Assembly Resolution for his work and service as a professor
and as a civil rights attorney. Méndez was a devoted mentor to
undergraduate and law students, especially those underrepresented in
professions. He was a prolific legal scholar, especially in evidence.
Méndez enjoyed hiking, bicycling, and physical fitness activities. He is
survived by his ex-wife of 12 years, Victoria S. Diaz; daughters,
Gabriela Méndez and Arabela Méndez; and sisters, Sylvia Holtzman and
Delia Montesinos.
Alvin James Morales
Morales, 67, of Pflugerville, died
June 19, 2017. He served in the U.S. Army until 1973 and received a Good
Conduct Medal. Morales received his law degree from Texas Southern
University Thurgood Marshall School of Law and was admitted to the Texas
Bar in 1979. He was an attorney for Texas Rural Legal Aid, now Texas
RioGrande Legal Aid, in Laredo from 1979 to 1984; an assistant county
attorney in the Webb County Attorney’s Office in Laredo from 1985 to
1988; an assistant municipal court judge in Laredo from 1984 to 1985; in
private practice in Laredo from 1985 to 1998; a municipal court judge in
Laredo from 1990 to 1998; and judge of Webb County Criminal Court at Law
1 in Laredo from 1999 to 2014. Morales was treasurer for the Laredo Bar
Association, a mediator for Webb County District Courts, and received
the Reginald Heber Smith Award. He was known for his communication and
analytical skills. Morales was a History Channel buff and a Green Bay
Packers fan. He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Elizabeth G.
Morales; daughters, Marisa Morales and Raquel M. Leal; brothers, Bobby
Morales and Julian Morales; sisters, Lourdes Cortes, Olga Morales,
Rosalie Minguez, Veronica Morales, and Denise Morales; and one
grandchild.TBJ
