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.
William Phelps
Phelps, 84, of Houston, died March
19, 2019. He served in the U.S. Army from 1956 to 1969. Phelps received
his law degree from the University of Missouri School of Law and was
admitted to the Texas Bar in 1981. He was admitted to the Missouri Bar
in 1959. Phelps was a partner in Morrison Hecker in Kansas City,
Missouri, from 1959 to 1973; served in the Missouri House of
Representatives from 1960 to 1972; was lieutenant governor of Missouri
from 1973 to 1981; and worked at American General Corporation in Houston
from 1981 to 1996. As lieutenant governor, he established the Ombudsman
Program and a college internship program. Phelps enjoyed golfing and
jogging. He liked following the Houston Rockets, Texans, and Astros.
Phelps is survived by his wife of 46 years, Joanne R. Phelps.
Harry Leonard Durant
Durant, 93, of Coconut Grove, Florida,
died March 24, 2019. He served in the U.S. Navy in 1944 and then in the
Reserve. Durant received his law degree from the University of Miami
School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1985. He was admitted
to the Florida Bar in 1949. Durant was an assistant state attorney in
the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office in Miami, Florida, from 1950 to
1952; a managing partner in Smathers & Thompson in Miami from 1952
to 1981; a managing partner in Finley Kumble Wagner in Miami from 1981
to 1984; and a partner in Houssiere Durant & Houssiere in Houston
from 1984 to 1999. He was vice president of the International Bar
Association. Durant enjoyed traveling, model railroading, and watching
movies. He is survived by his daughters, attorney Linda Durant Houssiere
and Debra G. Durant; three grandchildren; and six
great-grandchildren.
Henry William “Bill” DuBois Jr.
DuBois, 70, of Dallas, died May 6,
2019. He received his law degree from Southern Methodist University
School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1974. DuBois was a
member of DuBois and DuBois, an estate planning and insurance company in
Dallas. He was a member of the Dallas Bar Association, Dallas Volunteer
Attorney Program, and Dallas Estate Planning Council, serving as its
president in 2002-2003. DuBois had a career with Northwestern Mutual
that lasted almost 50 years. He served in the body and leadership of the
Knox-Corinthian Masonic Lodge. DuBois, a man of impeccable integrity and
sharp wit, was a good and true friend, brother, dad, and husband. He is
survived by his wife of 51 years, Lyn; daughters, Michelle and Kathryn;
and sister, Patti.
Dan Richard McNery
McNery, 72, of Round Rock, died April 30,
2019. He received his law degree from Texas Tech University School of
Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1971. McNery served in the U.S.
Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, from 1972 to
1975. He was a hearing examiner for the Texas Health Facilities
Commission in Austin from 1975 to 1980; municipal court judge for the
city of Round Rock from 1982 to 2019; and an attorney with McNery &
Voelker in Round Rock from 1983 to 2019. McNery was a judge and lawyer
of great integrity. He was devoted to God and family. McNery loved to
travel, especially trips to Italy. He is survived by his wife of 48
years, Donna McNery; daughters, Dara McNery Granger and Leah Paige Hoyt;
sister, Jill McNery Danahey; and four grandchildren.
Laura
Rodenburg Allbritton
Allbritton, 66, of Pipe Creek, died
February 17, 2019. She received her law degree from the University of
Iowa College of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1981.
Allbritton was admitted to practice in Iowa in 1977. She was a clerk for
Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice W. Ward Reynoldson in Des Moines; an
attorney with Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld in Dallas; of
counsel to Miller, Hiersche, Martens & Hayward; a solo practitioner;
and worked at Allbritton Capital Management. Allbritton was named a
Texas Bar Foundation life fellow in 2014 and was named the Association
of Legal Professionals’ Lawyer of the Year. She volunteered in animal
rescue and is credited with rescuing over 165 dogs and personally
fostered and provided medical care for many. Allbritton loved to dance
and was a member of the Los Fiesteros Dance Club in Santa Barbara,
California; she loved to travel, having visited locations around the
world. She is survived by her stepdaughters, Leigh Allbritton and
Hillary Kokes; sister, Lynda Cote; and two grandchildren.
Cheryl Annell Smith
Smith, 63, of Houston, died May 6,
2019. She received her law degree from the University of Houston Law
Center and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1982. Smith practiced law in
the Houston area for 37 years and served as a municipal court judge for
the city of Houston. She is survived by her husband of 17 years, Eric
Lien; son, Matthew; daughter, Sarah; father, attorney Shearn Smith;
mother, Annell Smith; and brothers, attorney Don Smith and Ron
Smith.
Erika Lynette Glenn
Glenn, 37, of Houston, died March 25,
2019. She received her law degree from Texas Southern University
Thurgood Marshall School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in
2012. Glenn was a legal assistant and paralegal at Woodfill Law Firm in
Houston from 2011 to 2013; an attorney for Lonestar Immigration Legal
Services in Houston from 2013 to 2016; in private practice in Houston
from 2016 to 2019; and a mediator and arbitrator at Mediate Conmigo from
2018 to 2019. She won the Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall
School of Law 2010 Leadership Award and was vice president of the Texas
Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law Student Bar
Association. Glenn was a member of the American Bar Association and the
American Immigration Lawyers Association. She was a community activist,
helping others to achieve their dreams and goals. Glenn was a fitness
and health enthusiast, competing in marathons and fitness competitions.
She was known as “Erika the Encourager.” Glenn is survived by her
father, Eric Glenn; mother, Sheila M. Glenn; brothers, Eric Burk and
Marcus A. Glenn; and sister, LaTrina S. Riley.
Carl Albert
Skibell
Skibell, 86, of Dallas, died January 2,
2019. He served in the U.S. Army as a first lieutenant during the Korean
War from 1953 to 1955. Skibell received his law degree from Southern
Methodist University School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in
1957. He was a solo practitioner in Dallas for 60 years and served as
municipal judge of Farmers Branch from 1963 to 1985. Skibell enjoyed
golfing, sailing, and playing tennis. He is survived by his wife of 11
years, Christine Skibell; son, Harris Craig; daughters, Susan Lee and
Caren Debra; stepson, Patrick Robinson; sister, Rosalie Horowitz; and
three grandchildren.
Robert Wayne Coller
Coller, 95, of Houston, died March 16,
2019. He received his law degree from the University of Houston Law
Center and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1957. Coller was a financial
planner for Transco Energy Company in Houston from 1947 to 1990. A
lifetime Republican, he served as election judge and precinct chairman
for Hedwig Village for nearly 40 years. Coller was treasurer for the
Harris County Historical Society and served on the Houston International
Seafarers’ Center Board of Directors. He enjoyed going to church,
learning about history, and traveling. Coller is survived by his wife of
68 years, Laverne Hafer Coller; son, Robert Scott Coller; daughters,
Karen Sue Carter and Patricia Ann Nanney; three grandchildren; and seven
great-grandchildren.
James L. Nowlin
Nowlin, 63, of San Antonio, died March
22, 2019. He received his law degree from St. Mary’s University School
of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1980. Nowlin was an
associate of the Law Offices of James Bass in San Antonio from 1981 to
1983 and owner of and lead counsel to the Law Office of James L. Nowlin
in San Antonio from 1985 to 2018. He was past president of the San
Antonio Bar Association Family Law Section and a member of the Texas
Academy of Family Law Specialists. Nowlin collected political buttons
and Texas independence memorabilia. He collected metal lunch boxes, Star
Trek figurines, early comic books, and old 45 records for his jukebox.
Nowlin is survived by his wife of 42 years, Sue Nowlin; son, James L.
Nowlin Jr.; daughter, attorney Allison M. Skipper; brothers, John Nowlin
and attorney Michael R. Nowlin; sister, Judith Whitt; and four
grandchildren.
James R. “Jim” Dallas
Dallas, 75, of Albuquerque, New Mexico,
died January 28, 2019. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1961 to
1966. Dallas received his law degree from Texas Tech University School
of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1972. He was a prosecutor in
the El Paso District Attorney’s Office and a partner in Lipson &
Dallas in El Paso. Dallas is survived by his wife of 51 years, Ann;
daughters, Carrie and Shelly; sister, Ruth; and two grandchildren.
A. Robert Hinojosa
Hinojosa, 78, of Houston, died
April 5, 2019. He received his law degree from the University of Texas
School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1965. Hinojosa served
in the U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps and received a
Bronze Star for his service in the Vietnam War. He was a municipal court
judge for the city of Houston and a former judge of the 309th and 312th
Judicial District Courts of Harris County, Family Law Division. Hinojosa
frequently spoke on family law topics at conferences and seminars
throughout Texas. He was a founding member of the Mexican American Bar
Association of Texas and the Mexican American Bar Association of
Houston. Hinojosa served as director of the Gulf Coast Legal Foundation,
chair of the State Bar of Texas Grievance Committee 4, State Bar of
Texas Hispanic Issues Section, and the Houston Bar Association Judicial
Polls Committee. He was certified in family law by the Texas Board of
Legal Specialization. Hinojosa served on the St. Luke’s Episcopal
Hospital of Houston Board of Directors, on the Episcopal Diocese of
Texas Executive Board, and was a member of the Robert E. Lee Chapter
DeMolay and the Holland Lodge, No. 1, A.F. &?A.M. He is survived by
his wife of 49 years, Patricia A. Hinojosa; daughters, Victoria Lara
Hinojosa and Alejandra Hinojosa Moll; and brother, Walter Hinojosa.
John Daniel Roosa
Roosa, 76, of Midland, died March 20,
2019. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1964 to 1968. Roosa received
his law degree from South Texas College of Law and was admitted to the
Texas Bar in 1973. He was in private practice in Houston from 1974 to
1989 and in Midland from 1990 to 2019. Roosa is survived by his wife of
21 years, Rhonda Roosa.
Thomas Francis
Parker
Parker, 84, of Midland, died May 2,
2019. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps and Reserve, being honorably
discharged in 1959. Parker received his law degree from the University
of Texas School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1958. He was
in private practice in Midland from 1959 to 2014. Parker was a member of
the Midland County Bar Association. He was named to Phi Delta Phi and
received an award of recognition of valuable and meritorious service
rendered for more than 50 years. Parker was an avid reader. He enjoyed
fishing, traveling, cruises, football, and golf. Parker is survived by
his former wife of 16 years, Suzy Parker-Harris.
Albert
LeRue Dixon III
Dixon, 75, of Jacksonville,
died March 3, 2019. He received his law degree from Baylor Law School
and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1970. Dixon was an attorney with
Adamson & Richards Law Firm in Jacksonville; district attorney of
Cherokee County in Rusk; an attorney for Ament Dixon Law Firm in
Jacksonville; and judge of Cherokee County Court at Law in Rusk from
1999 to 2009. He was named a Who’s Who in Texas in 1973-1974. Dixon was
an Eagle Scout and a Freemason. He enjoyed sailing. Dixon is survived by
his wife of 40 years, Jackie L. Dixon; sons, A.L. “Rue” Dixon, A. Zac
Dixon, and John David Dixon; brother, Craig Dixon; nine grandchildren;
and eight great-grandchildren.
William Barton Pasley
Pasley, 77, of Dallas, died
June 25, 2018. He received his law degree from Southern Methodist
University School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1965.
Pasley was in private practice for 50 years. He was certified in family
law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Pasley loved the English
Cotswolds and he owned two old, stone cottages there. He enjoyed the
Royal Ascot, Henley Royal Regatta, and Cheltenham races. Pasley was a
member of the Travellers Club in London. He is survived by his wife of
50 years, Linda Lewis Pasley, and two grandchildren.
Robert
J. “Bob” Talaska
Talaska, 56, of Houston,
died March 31, 2019. He received his law degree from the University of
Houston Law Center and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1988. Talaska
was an associate of and later partner in Haskins Law Firm in Houston
from 1988 to 1998 and owner of Talaska Law Firm in Houston from 1998 to
2019, devoting his practice to complex medical malpractice and birth
trauma litigation. He was a past national chairman of the American
Association for Justice’s Birth Trauma Litigation Group. Talaska was
often an invited lecturer and presenter at professional conferences and
meetings across the country. He could frequently be found advising and
mentoring young attorneys on litigation strategies and long-term career
success. Talaska was an NCAA basketball letterman at Beloit College and
served as director and coach for the Northside Rockets, a youth AAU
boys’ basketball team. He is survived by his sons, Travis and Dylan;
mother, Barbara Talaska; sister, Lynn Hochschild; and dear friend, Debra
Clairmont.
James L. Parrish
Parrish, 81, of Dallas, died
November 29, 2018. He served in U.S. Air Force from 1962 to 1965 and
received the 1st Space Control Squadron Commendation Medal. Parrish
received his law degree from Southern Methodist University School of Law
and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1974. He began as an associate of
Exxon in Dallas and retired after 24 years working in various positions
across the U.S. At retirement, Parrish was general counsel to Exxon
Chemical Americas and assistant general counsel to Exxon Chemical
in?Houston. He enjoyed jogging, reading, watching sports, coaching
baseball, and country and old blues music. Parrish is survived by his
wife of more than 59 years, Meredith Brooks Parrish; sons, Timothy
Parrish and Jon T. Parrish; and three grandchildren.
James
Hayden Kepner
Kepner, 94, of Houston, died
April 13, 2019. He served in the U.S. Navy on submarines during World
War II. Kepner received his law degree from South Texas College of Law
and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1958. He went into practice with
his classmate, Patrick Rafferty, and practiced at Rafferty Kepner &
Associates for more than 50 years. Kepner was a member of the American
Bar Association and the Houston Bar Association. He was president of the
Downtown Optimist Club of Houston and was active in the San Jacinto
Chapter of U.S. Submarine Veterans of World War II. Kepner was
Republican precinct chairman for more than 25 years. He is survived by
his wife of 67 years, Janet Birkelbach Kepner; sons, John Kepner,
Randall Kepner, and attorney James Hayden Kepner Jr.; daughter, Nancy
Kepner; brother, Thomas Kepner, and four
grandchildren.TBJ