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.
Robert Richards
Richards, 78, of San Antonio, died
January 3, 2019. He received his law degree from the University of Texas
School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1964. Richards served
in the U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps from January 1965
to January 1995, and received the Legion of Merit with two bronze oak
leaf clusters, the Meritorious Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf
cluster, the Air Force Commendation Medal with two bronze oak leaf
clusters, and the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with one bronze
star. He was an assistant staff judge advocate at Myrtle Beach Air Force
Base in South Carolina, from 1965 to 1967; deputy staff judge advocate
and staff judge advocate at Iraklion Air Station in Greece, from 1967 to
1969, at McCoy Air Force Base in Orlando, Florida, from 1969 to 1971, at
George Air Force Base in Victorville, California, from 1976 to 1979, at
Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro, North Carolina, from 1979
to 1982, at Scott Air Force Base in St. Clair County, Illinois, from
1985 to 1988, and at U.S. Air Force Intelligence Command Headquarters at
Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio from 1991 to 1993; a special
court-martial military judge in the Air Force Judiciary test program at
MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, and at Sheppard Air Force Base
in Wichita Falls; a first-level appellate review of court-martial
convictions in the Military Justice Division at Ramstein Air Base in
Ramstein-Miesenbach, Germany, from 1974 to 1976; chief circuit military
judge of the 7th Circuit, U.S. Air Force Trial Judiciary at Clark Air
Base in Luzon, Philippines, from 1982 to 1983, at Circuit Headquarters
at Yokota Air Base in Fussa, Japan, from 1983 to 1985, and of the 6th
Circuit, U.S. Air Force Trial Judiciary at Rhein-Main Air Base in
Frankfurt, Germany, from 1988 to 1991; head legal officer and chief
intelligence oversight officer at Kelly Air Force Base from 1993 to
1995; and an administrative law judge for the State of Texas and for the
Texas Workers’ Compensation Commission. Richards served as legal adviser
to an aircraft accident board at Nellis Air Force Base in southern
Nevada and helped codify new military intelligence laws. He enjoyed
traveling, visiting Egypt, the Holy Land, Italy, Spain, Guam, and South
Korea during his service. Richards is survived by his daughter, Becky
Richards Harmonson; sister, Bonnie Richards Chism; and two
grandsons.
Leslie August Rasner
Rasner, 95, of Waco, died November 22,
2017. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1945. Rasner received his
law degree from Baylor Law School and was admitted to the Texas Bar in
1950. He was a chief clerk for the FBI in 1943; a professor at Baylor
University Hankamer School of Business in Waco from 1950 to 1992; and in
private practice from 1992 to 2002. Rasner was instrumental in forming a
new insurance program at Baylor and was chairman of the departments of
business law, insurance, and real estate. He was named administrative
assistant to the dean of Hankamer School of Business and was designated
a professor emeritus. Rasner’s study on compulsory auto liability
insurance, Insurable Interest in Texas, was published and used
by the Texas Legislature to form new insurance laws. He had an ardent
love for all Baylor sports, especially football, basketball, and
baseball. Rasner enjoyed attending every event possible with his
children and later grandchildren. He loved dancing with his wife of
almost 70 years, Miss Ernie. Rasner is survived by his sons, attorney L.
Blake Rasner and Brent Rasner; brother, Gus Rasner; and five
grandchildren.
Ralph M. Hall
Hall, 95, of Rockwall, died March 7,
2019. He served in the U.S. Navy as an aircraft carrier pilot from 1942
to 1945. Hall received his law degree from Southern Methodist University
School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1951. He served as
Rockwall County judge, being elected while still in law school, until
1962; was an attorney in the Law Office of Ralph Hall in Rockwall from
1951 to 1980 (the practice is continued by his sons); served in the
Texas Senate from 1963 to 1973 and in the U.S. House of Representatives
from 1981 to 2015, becoming the oldest member of the House to ever cast
a vote at 91. Hall received the SMU Dedman School of Law Distinguished
Alumni Award in 2003. He loved helping his clients and constituents with
their problems, no matter how big or small. Hall is survived by his
sons, Hamp Hall, attorney Brett Hall, and attorney Blakeley Hall; five
grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
James C.
Ross
Ross, 98, of Longview, died August 30,
2018. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1942 to 1945, being
discharged as a captain. Ross received his law degree from Southern
Methodist University School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in
1953. He was an assistant district attorney in the Dallas County
District Attorney’s Office in Dallas in 1954 and in the Gregg County
District Attorney’s Office in Longview from 1955 to 1961; a municipal
judge for the city of Longview from 1965 to 1979; and a solo
practitioner in Longview from 1980 to 2000. Ross enjoyed fishing. He is
survived by his wife of 66 years, Helen Ross; son, David A. Ross;
daughters, Donna Woodruff and Linda Davis; four grandchildren; and two
great-grandchildren.
John Doty Williamson
Williamson, 84, of Dallas, died
March 1, 2019. He received his law degree from Southern Methodist
University School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1957.
Williamson served in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps as a
second lieutenant from 1957 to 1960. He was an associate of and later
general counsel to Frito-Lay in Dallas from 1960 to 1962; vice president
of sales for the southeast and northeast regions of Frito-Lay in
Atlanta, Georgia, and North Brunswick, New Jersey, from 1962 to 1975;
and executive vice president, general counsel, president, and chairman
of the board at Transport Life Insurance in Fort Worth from 1976 to
1996. Williamson was a court appointed special advocate for abused
children and served as president of the CASA Foundation. He enjoyed
fishing, traveling, and golfing. Williamson is survived by his wife of
more than 61 years, Roberta Van Zandt Williamson; sons, Van, Mark, and
John Williamson; sister, Jean d’Autilia; and seven grandchildren.
Frank Finn
Finn, 90, of Dallas, died October 23,
2018. He received his law degree from the University of Texas School of
Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1956. Finn worked with Thompson
& Knight in Dallas from 1956 to 2018. He received the Dallas Bar
Association Tort & Insurance Practices Section Texas Trial Legends
Award; was named one the Best Lawyers in America since 1993; and was a
past president of the American Board of Trial Advocates. Finn received
the St. Thomas More Society William Roper Award in 2013. He was known
for his loyalty to God, his family, and his firm. Finn was an avid
supporter and alumni of the University of Notre Dame where he used to
grade papers for Father Theodore M. Hesburgh. He is survived by his wife
of 20 years, Diana Finn; sons, David, Patrick, and Sean; daughter,
Susan; brother, William V. Finn; and 10 grandchildren.
Joel Held
Held, 79, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, died
March 17, 2019. He served as a captain in the U.S. Army from 1964 to
1966. Held received his law degree from Boston University School of Law
and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1974. He was admitted to practice
in New York in 1965. Held was an attorney for the Securities and
Exchange Commission in New York City from 1965 to 1970; a partner in
Lipkin, Gusrae & Held in New York City from 1970 to 1974; a partner
in Simon Twombly Held in Dallas from 1974 to 1976; a shareholder in
Mankoff, Hill, Held & Goldberg, formerly known as Durant, Mankoff,
Davis, Wolens & Francis, in Dallas from 1976 to 1996; a partner in
Arter & Hadden in Dallas from 1996 to 2000; and a partner in Baker
McKenzie in Dallas from 2000 to 2011. He was an adjunct professor at SMU
Dedman School of Law and at Brooklyn?Law School. Held enjoyed mentoring
young attorneys. He loved to travel and spend time with his
grandchildren. Held is survived by his wife of 29 years, Mickey Held;
sons, attorney Michael Held, Harold Held, Robert Held, and Brian Alford;
and six grandchildren.
Samuel N. Vilches Jr.
Vilches, 87, of Dallas, died February
22, 2019. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a first lieutenant
during the Korean War. Vilches received his law degree from Southern
Methodist University School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in
1964. He was an attorney with Maloney, Milner & McDowell in Dallas
in the late 1960s and in private practice in Dallas from the 1970s until
2019. Vilches raised money for multiple sclerosis research, including
through the Walk MS: Dallas. He loved sports, his family, and spending
time in his yard. Vilches is survived by his wife of 46 years, Myra
Vilches; sons, David Vilches and Paul Vilches; daughters, Nancy Evemy,
Jardann Moad, Edie Street, Kimber Lei Gorczyca, and Pamela Walpole; 14
grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
H. Franklin
Moore
Moore, 84, of Fort Worth, died
February 7, 2019. He received his law degree from the University of
Texas School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1959. Moore
served in the U.S. Army from 1959 to 1960. He was an attorney at
Crumley, Murphy & Shrull in Fort Worth from 1961 to 1980; an
attorney at Murphy, Moore & Bell in Fort Worth from 1980 to 1994; an
attorney with Murphy, Moore & Griffith in Fort Worth from 1994 to
2008; and of counsel to Griffth, Jay & Michel in Fort Worth from
2008 to 2019. Moore served as president of the Tarrant County Bar
Association in 1986. He was a member of the Texas Association of Defense
Counsel and American Board of Trial Advocates. Moore enjoyed winemaking
and playing tennis. He served on many boards and committees with the
Roman Catholic Church. Moore is survived by his wife of 57 years,
Barbara Moore; daughters, Christine Holtz, Elizabeth Keoughan, and
attorney Paula R. Moore; brothers, Gerald W. Moore and Thomas L. Moore;
sister, Julia M. Burnett; and four grandchildren.
Leslie B.
Vance Jr.
Vance, 79, of Marble Falls, died
January 18, 2019. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve from 1961
to 1968. Vance received his law degree from Baylor Law School and was
admitted to the Texas Bar in 1965. He was a solo practitioner in
Meridian from 1965 to 1967; county attorney in the Bosque County
Attorney’s Office in Meridian from 1968 to 1970; district attorney in
the 52nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office in Meridian from 1971 to
1972; a solo practitioner in Clifton from 1972 to 1975; assistant
district attorney in the 52nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office from
1975 to 1977; district attorney in the 220th Judicial District
Attorney’s Office in Meridian and Comanche from 1977 to 1982; a solo
practitioner in Eastland from 1982 to 1990; a criminal district attorney
in the 91st Judicial District Criminal District Attorney’s Office in
Eastland from 1991 to 1994; assistant attorney general in the Texas
Attorney General’s Office Law Enforcement Defense division in Austin
from 1995 to 2003; chief counsel to the Texas Health & Human
Services Commission Official of Inspector General in Austin from 2004 to
2007; a solo practitioner in Marble Falls from 2008 to 2018; and a civil
attorney in the Burnet County Attorney’s Office in Burnet from 2011 to
2018. Wherever Vance worked or went, he was a mentor, teacher,
counselor, mediator, cheerleader, adviser, role model, and friend. He
loved an audience to hear his “stories” and reveled in making each
retelling better than the one before. Vance spread his joy as he
delivered his gifts of peaches, pecans, tomatoes, and his mother’s
“famous” cinnamon rolls to so many of his friends. He is survived by his
wife of 31 years, Milta Vance; sons, Josh Vance and attorney Byron
Vance; daughter, Kathryn Vance Ernemann; sisters, G-Ann Jones and Bobbie
Baird; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Scott S. Cramer
Cramer, 66, of Fort Collins, Colorado,
died December 6, 2018. He received his law degree from the University of
Houston Law Center and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1980. Cramer was
admitted to the Wisconsin State Bar in 1998. He was international
negotiator and counsel to Pennzoil in Houston from 1981 to 1984; senior
corporate counsel to U.S. headquarters and vice president and secretary
of the European headquarters of Browning-Ferris Industries in Houston
from 1984 to 1997; vice president, secretary, and general counsel to
Superior Service in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from 1997 to 2004; senior
legal counsel to Regal Beloit in Beloit, Wisconsin, from 2005 to 2006;
senior vice president and general counsel to Bucyrus International in
South Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from 2006 to 2010; and vice president,
corporate secretary, and counsel to Magnetek in Menomonee Falls,
Wisconsin, from 2010 to 2015. Cramer was on the Wisconsin Equal Justice
Fund Board of Directors; a member of the Wisconsin Association of
Corporate Counsel; and co-chair of the legal division of the United Way
of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County. He enjoyed international
travel and being in the great outdoors. Cramer was a Green Bay Packers
fan. He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Lisa Hansen Cramer; son,
Colin Hansen Cramer; daughter, Alison Nicole Cramer; mother, Edith
Bizzell; brother, Marc Cramer; and sisters, Marci Whitehead and Gretchen
Mercier.
Victor E. “Gene” Lanfear Jr.
Lanfear, 89, of San Antonio, died
January 21, 2019. He received his law degree from the University of
Texas School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1952. Lanfear
served in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps from 1954 to
1956. He was an assistant county attorney in the Nueces County
Attorney’s Office in Corpus Christi from 1956 to 1958; a partner in
Wood, Boykin & Lanfear, now Wood Boykin & Wolter, in Corpus
Christi from 1958 to 1962; an attorney for Forest Oil Corporation in San
Antonio from 1962 to 1966; an attorney for Southland Royalty in Fort
Worth from 1966 to 1968; a partner in Green, Kaufman & Lanfear in
San Antonio from 1968 to 1972; and a solo practitioner in San Antonio
from 1972 to 2015. Lanfear was an elder of the Fellowship of San Antonio
and president of the Petroleum Club of San Antonio in 2004. He was an
avid Texas Longhorns fan. Lanfear is survived by his wife of 27 years,
Sherron G. Lanfear; sons, Richard Lanfear and attorney Daniel Lanfear;
daughters, Theresa Helms and Genie Lanfear; five grandchildren; and four
great-grandchildren.
Huey C. Keeney Jr.
Keeney, 67, of Tyler, died April 1,
2018. He received his law degree from the University of Texas School of
Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1976. Keeney was an assistant
district attorney in the Smith County District Attorney’s Office in
Tyler from 1976 to 1977 and a solo practitioner from 1978 to 2018 in
Tyler with stints at Sammons &?Parker in?Tyler and other firms in
the 1990s and early 2000s. He enjoyed studying and teaching the Bible,
and going golfing and hunting. Keeney is survived by his daughters,
Caitlin F. Keeney and Courtney J. Keeney; and brother, attorney Randolph
V. Keeney.
Patrick J. Sheehy
Sheehy, 69, of Washington, D.C., died
January 8, 2019. He received his law degree from St. Mary’s University
School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1974. Sheehy was
admitted to the D.C. Bar in 1975. He worked in mining and minerals for
the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. Sheehy enjoyed travel, having
visited 92 countries. He enjoyed reading and gardening. Sheehy is
survived by his partner-spouse of 26 years, Jerry L. Wnuck, and sister,
Mary Ann Polasek.
Houston Daniel
Daniel, 73, of Liberty, died March 6,
2019. He served in the U.S. Army National Guard from 1967 to 1968.
Daniel received his law degree from the University of Texas School of
Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1972. He was a solo
practitioner. Daniel was an ardent supporter of historic preservation
and other causes to improve communities. He was a member of the
Atascosito Historical Society, the Texas State Historical Association,
the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Friends of Trinity River Refuge,
the Friends of the Liberty Municipal Library, the Bryan Museum in
Galveston, the Bullock Texas State History Museum, Preservation Texas,
and the Texas Freedom Network. Daniel was the son of Jean and Price
Daniel, who served as Texas governor, Texas attorney general, U.S.
senator, speaker of the Texas House, and associate justice of the Texas
Supreme Court; and was the great-great-great-grandson of Sam Houston. He
is survived by his wife of 42 years, Charlotte Daniel; sons, attorney
Timothy Houston Daniel and John Price Daniel; and one grandchild.
Harry Payton Wright
Wright, 87, of Port Neches, died
December 4, 2018. He received his law degree from Baylor Law School and
was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1954. Wright was the owner of H.P.
Wright and a partner in Wright & Pitre Law Firm in Port Neches from
1954 to 2018. He was city judge for Port Neches and city attorney for
Port Neches and Silsbee. Wright received the Blackstone Award from the
Jefferson County Bar Association. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and
ranching. Wright is survived by his wife of 64 years, Mary Dow Wright;
sons, Don Payton Wright and Vernon Hendricks Wright; daughters, Becky
Miller and Lisa Gorman; 11 grandchildren; and 10
great-grandchildren.
Christopher Bob Allen
Allen, 72, of Houston, died
December 25, 2018. He received his law degree from the University of
Texas School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1973. Allen was
a partner in Liddell Sapp, now Locke Lord, in Houston from 1972 to 1992;
a solo practitioner in Houston from 1993 to 1999; a partner in Cash
Allen in Houston from 2000 to 2004; and an attorney with Andrews Kurth,
now Hunton Andrews Kurth, in Houston from 2005 to 2015. He was an elder
emeritus in the church ministries of Christ Evangelical Presbyterian
Church in Houston. Allen enjoyed snow skiing, golf, and traveling. Most
of all he loved his Texas Longhorns, seeing the national championship,
and time with his grandchildren. He is survived by his wife of 39 years,
Carol Ann Allen; daughters, Blakely Allen Kemp, Krista (Kriket) Makay
Sitka, and Paige Michelle Hansen; and seven grandchildren.
Michael J. Foley
Foley, 77, of Key West, Florida, died
January 25, 2019. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1964 to 1970. Foley
received his law degree from South Texas College of Law and was admitted
to the Texas Bar in 1976. He was an associate of Haynes &
Fullenweider in Houston from 1976 to 1980 and a pilot for Delta Air
Lines. Foley served on the Monroe County School District Board in
Florida and was a member of the Florida Keys Community College Board of
Trustees. He was an avid fisherman and boater. Foley is survived by his
wife of 51 years, Carolyn Foley; son, John Paul Foley; daughter,
Jennifer Foley Pleasants; brothers, attorney Francis J. Foley, Tom
Foley, Ed Foley, and attorney James Foley; sister, Sheila Harnois; and
five grandchildren.
William A. Olson
Olson, 95, of Horseshoe Bay, died
November 8, 2018. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II as a
captain in the field artillery, including two years in Italy and North
Africa. Olson received his law degree from Baylor Law School and was
admitted to the Texas Bar in 1950. He was general counsel to the Texas
Municipal League in Austin from 1959 to 1963; an associate of Vinson,
Elkins, Weems & Searls, now Vinson Elkins, in Houston from 1963 to
1964; city attorney for the city of Houston from 1966 to 1974; and
founding partner in Olson & Olson in Houston from 1974 to 1994.
Olson was chair of the State Bar of Texas Public Utility Law Section
from 1976 to 1977; a member of the advisory board of the Center for
Municipal Studies of the Southwestern Legal Institute; and a past
president of the Texas City Attorneys Association. He enjoyed reading,
landscaping, and occasional travel. Olson was a great influence to many
over his life, both professionally and personally. He is survived by his
wife of nine years, Anita Cook Olson; sons, attorney William A. Olson
Jr. and attorney John F. Olson; daughters, Suzanne O. Waldrep and Judy
O. Dell’Osso; eight grandchildren, including two attorneys; 15
great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
John Henry Hofmann
Hofmann, 82, of San Angelo, died March
25, 2019. He received his law degree from the University of Texas School
of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1961. Hofmann served in the
U.S. Army Reserve. He was an assistant attorney general in the Texas
Attorney General’s Office; an attorney with Griffis Law Firm in San
Angelo; a partner in Smith Davis Rose Finley and Hofmann in San Angelo;
and a solo practitioner. Hofmann served a term on the State Bar Board of
Directors from 2002 to 2004 and the Texas Lawyers’ Insurance Exchange
Board of Directors from 1982 to 2019. He was certified in personal
injury trial law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Hofmann was
an active member of the Tom Green County Bar Association. He loved the
Texas Longhorns. Hofmann’s greatest pleasure was teaching his children
and grandchildren to hunt, fish, and properly handle a gun. He enjoyed
giving his family and friends knives—his only requirement was a penny in
return so as not to “sever” the friendship. Hofmann is survived by his
son, John Banks Hofmann; daughter, Suzanne Kay Hofmann Erickson; and six
grandchildren.TBJ
