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.

Lee Duggan Jr.

Lee Duggan Duggan, 87, of Houston, died June 16, 2019. He received his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1955. Duggan served in the U.S. Army Counterintelligence Corps from 1955 to 1957. He was judge of Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 1 in Houston from 1967 to 1969, judge of the 182nd Criminal District Court in Houston from 1969 to 1981, and justice on the 1st Court of Appeals in Houston from 1981 to 1994. Duggan was honored as Judge of the Year by the Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists in 1990. He was chair of the State Bar of Texas Judicial Section’s Legislative Committee from 1970 to 1980. Duggan was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Houston for 50 years, serving as president in 1977. He taught Sunday school at Chapelwood United Methodist Church in Houston for over 35 years. Duggan is survived by his wife of 59 years, Annette Wicker Duggan; son, Lee “Doug” Duggan III; daughter, Linda “Lynn” Huet; and six grandchildren.

Kennard T. Lawrence

Kennard Lawrence Lawrence, 76, of Burton, died April 23, 2019. He received his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law, his LL.M. from New York University School of Law, and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1968. Lawrence was admitted to practice in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims in 1978. He was head of the legal department of El Paso Oil & Gas Company in El Paso from 1970 to 2019. Lawrence enjoyed collecting stamps and antiques. He operated the Inn at Indian Creek Bed & Breakfast. Lawrence is survived by his partner of 12 years, Margaret Dominy, and brother, John Lawrence.

Morris E. Belilove

Morris Belilove Belilove, 91, of Houston, died April 17, 2019. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1945 to 1946 and in the U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps from 1952 to 1955 as a second lieutenant. Belilove received his law degree from Boston University School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1950. He was a solo practitioner in Houston for his entire career. Belilove loved practicing law and playing golf.

Albert Perez

Perez, 74, of Fort Worth, died May 2, 2019. He received his law degree from Texas Tech University School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1974. Perez was a partner in Taylor & Perez in Lubbock from 1974 to 1978, a solo practitioner in Lubbock from 1978 to 1992, an attorney with Perez, Salinas and Canas in Fort Worth from 1988 to 1990, an attorney with Perez and Canas in Fort Worth from 1990 to 1995, and in solo practice in Fort Worth from 1995 to 2019. He was part of the legal staff to fight for single-member districts for the city council of Lubbock in the 1970s and the Fort Worth Independent School District school board members in the 1990s, winning on both occasions. Perez’s famous motto to his clients was “Cada caso tiene solución.” He was a member of the Tarrant County Bar Association,?Criminal Defense Bar, and Mexican American Bar Association. His free time was centered on activities with his children and grandchildren. Perez enjoyed following sports, especially Texas and Texas Tech football, and was a big Dallas Cowboys fan. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Irma Perez; son, Albert Perez; daughters, Evalis Chapa, Marcela Perez, and Monica Matthews; brother, David Avalos; sisters, Leticia Shafer, Norma Stegman, Sylvia Perez, and Liza Avalos; and eight grandchildren.

Lauren Amanda Cook

Lauren Cook Cook, 38, of Forney, died March 11, 2019. She received her law degree from SMU Dedman School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 2007. Cook worked for Brian R. Arnold & Associates in Dallas, the Law Office of Lynn Davis Word in Dallas, Smith & Knott in Dallas, and was an assistant district attorney in the Kaufman County District Attorney’s Office. She was a consummate baker and a huge dog lover. Cook is survived by her father, Mike Cook.

Thomas Green Johnson

Thomas Green Johnson Johnson, 94, of Dallas, died April 3, 2019. He served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Johnson received his law degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1971. He was admitted to the Oklahoma Bar in 1948 and was admitted to practice in New York in 1963 and Pennsylvania in 1975. Johnson was an attorney for Shell in Tulsa, Oklahoma; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; New York, New York; and Houston from 1948 to 1988; of counsel to Jackson Walker in Houston from 1988 to 1993; and self-employed as an expert witness and in consulting in Missouri City from 1993 to 2008. He authored Handbook on Gas Contracts. Johnson was president of the Energy Bar Association in 1988. He tried and won three cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. Johnson enjoyed studying history, sailing, and traveling. He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Arlene Johnson; sons, Michael Johnson and Richard Johnson; daughter, Lynn Johnson; sister, Anne Bailey; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Douglas Neel Richardson

Douglas Richardson Richardson, 78, of Georgetown, died May 16, 2019. He received his law degree from the University of Houston Law Center and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1967. Richardson was a partner in Chandler and Richardson from 1967 to 1968, city attorney for the city of Baytown from 1967 to 1977, and judge of County Criminal Court at Law No. 8 in Harris County from 1977 to 2002. He was presiding judge of the Harris County Criminal Courts at Law. Richardson was chair of the State Bar of Texas Judicial Section from 1993 to 1994 and chair of the Texas Center for the Judiciary from 1993 to 1994. He enjoyed fly-fishing, hunting, and playing golf. Richardson is survived by his wife of 56 years, Patricia Thomas Richardson; daughters, Laura Richardson Boone and attorney Leslie Richardson Story; sister, Janne Richardson Davio; and five grandchildren.

Roger E. Towery

Roger Towery Towery, 73, of Nocona, died August 1, 2018. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. Towery received his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1973. He was an assistant district attorney in the Wichita County Criminal District Attorney’s Office in Wichita Falls from 1974 to 1977; an assistant county attorney in the 97th District Attorney’s Office in Henrietta from 1977 to 1979, in private practice in Henrietta from 1980 to 1990, district judge for the 97th District Court from 1990 to 2012, and a visiting judge following his retirement in 2012. Towery was chair of the Texas Center for the Judiciary from 2010 to 2011, was on the State Bar of Texas Judicial Section Board of Directors from 2004 to 2005, and was a Texas Bar Foundation life fellow. He enjoyed golfing and painting. Towery was a wonderful artist and a voracious reader. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Ann; daughter, Sibby Ann; and one grandchild.

Richard Keeton

Richard Keeton Keeton, 81, of Houston, died April 20, 2019. He received his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1963. Keeton was an attorney with Vinson & Elkins in Dallas from 1963 to 1979; launched several boutique firms, including Miller, Keeton, Bristow & Brown; Mayor, Day, Caldwell & Keeton; and Nickens Keeton Lawless Farrell & Flack; and was senior counsel to McGuireWoods at the time of his retirement. He graduated first in his class from the University of Texas School of Law. Keeton took a sabbatical from the practice of law to work for Robert F. Kennedy’s presidential campaign, serving as clergy organizer. He was a member of the Tejas Breakfast Club, the Coronado Club, and the Houston Racquet Club. Keeton was a prolific tennis player winning both state singles and doubles championships in high school. He is survived by his wife of over 50 years, Susan Booth Keeton; son, John P. Keeton; daughters, Emily Keeton and Laura Keeton McVey; sister, Carole Keeton; and three grandchildren.

Robert E. Kahn

RObert Kahn Kahn, 66, of Houston, died July 22, 2019. He received his law degree from Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1982. Kahn was a solo practitioner in Houston. He was certified in immigration law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Kahn was a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and received the chapter litigation award in 1994. He was a wise, noble, outstanding litigator that defended justice. Kahn enjoyed music and fishing. He was a loving father. Kahn is survived by his wife, Linda Kahn; daughter, Bianca; brothers, attorney Anthony Kahn and Mitchell Kahn; sister, Laura Swartz; and one grandchild.

Vincent Ka-Lin Lo

Vincent Lo Lo, 68, of Sugar Land, died January 29, 2019. He received his law degree from South Texas College of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1997. Lo was admitted to practice in Minnesota in 1998. He was an attorney with the Law Office of Newton B. Schwartz Sr. in Houston from 1999 to 2018. Lo enjoyed photography, gardening, and listening to music. He is survived by his wife of 36 years, attorney Mabel Lee-Lo, and sisters, Irene Law and Maureen Lo.

John Russel Batoon

John Batoon Batoon, 63, of El Paso, died August 19, 2018. He received his law degree from Pepperdine School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1982. Batoon was city attorney for the city of El Paso and an attorney for Diamond-Rash Law Firm in El Paso. He was an outstanding father and avid skier. Batoon is survived by his wife of 41 years, Laura E. Batoon; sons, Daniel, Matthew, and Nathan; mother, Papia Pepiot; brother, Paul E. Batoon; and two grandchildren.

Jim J. Hatcher

Jim Hatcher Hatcher, 82, of Gainesville, died June 18, 2019. He received his law degree from Baylor Law School and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1961. Hatcher was assistant county attorney of Cooke, Jack, and Wise counties from 1961 to 1965, a partner in Henry & Hatcher from 1965 to 1995, district attorney of the 236th Judicial District from 1978 to 1980, a partner in Hatcher & Schiller from 1995 to 2000, and a partner in Hatcher & Harris from 2003 to 2019. He served on the State Bar of Texas District 14 Grievance Committee for nine years. Hatcher was mayor of Gainesville from 1993 to 1997. He is survived by his wife of eight years, Rebecca Carr Hatcher.

Ramon A. Klitzke

Klitzke, 90, of Waukesha, Wisconsin, died March 29, 2019. He served in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955. Klitzke received his law degree from Indiana University School of Law, his LL.M. from?New York?University School of Law, and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1959. He was admitted to the Wisconsin Bar in 1967. Klitzke worked for Union Carbide in New York from 1957 to 1959; was an associate law professor at Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law in Houston from 1959 to 1966; and a tenured professor at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from 1968 to 1998, and a professor emeritus from 1998 to 2019. He was a teacher and student at heart. Klitzke taught diving between competitions at Marquette, was a master diver, and won master 3-meter diving at 65. He won the Wisconsin Writers Association Jade Ring and many other awards for his poetry and stories. Klitzke is survived by his wife of 64 years, Doris Rock Klitzke; sons, attorney Ramon Klitzke II and Albert Klitzke; daughter, Ann Klitzke Nelson; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Quay Frederick Parker

Quay Parker Parker, 75, of Granbury, died October 20, 2018. He received his law degree from Oklahoma City University School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1973. Parker served as assistant city attorney for Abilene in 1973; assistant district attorney for the 29th District Court in Palo Pinto, Hood, and Erath counties from 1974 to 1975; Shackelford county attorney from 1975 to 1976; judge of Shackelford County from 1976 to 1978; corporate counsel to Lajet Corporation from 1978 to 1980; district attorney for the 259th Judicial District from 1980 to 1986; judge of the 259th Judicial District from 1986 to 2002; and senior judge from 2003 until his death. He was an elder of the Albany Church of Christ and co-narrator for the Fort Griffin Fandangle for 20 years. Parker enjoyed hunting, playing guitar, and watching sports, especially baseball. He is survived by his wife of seven years, Vickie; daughters, Paige Prince, Piper Tankersley, and Prairie Wilson-Freeman; brother, attorney Quanah Parker; 12 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Margaret Currie Plunkett

Margaret Plunkett Plunkett, 70, of Denton, died May 18, 2019. She received her law degree from the University of Texas School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1976. Plunkett was admitted to the Kentucky Bar in 1987. She was in regulatory law with the Texas Water Quality Board and Texas Department of Insurance in Austin from 1975 to 1980, in private practice in Rusk from 1980 to 1986, in private practice in Paducah, Kentucky, from 1986 to 1989, and in private practice in Denton from 1990 to 1992. Plunkett loved going to the Rocky Mountains, especially to Estes Park, Colorado. She enjoyed reading books and periodicals and listening to classical music. Plunkett reached out to the down-and-out to right injustices done to them. She is survived by her husband of 39 years, Stephen W. Plunkett; son, Stephen Currie Plunkett; daughter, Julia Alison McStravick; brothers, Thomas White Currie III and James Stuart Currie; sisters, Elizabeth Currie Williams and Alison Currie Meier; and two grandchildren.

Carl Waldman

Carl Waldman Waldman, 97, of Houston, died June 28, 2019. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II in the Philippines and was honorably discharged as a lieutenant. Waldman received his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1947. He was admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court. Waldman founded Waldman Smallwood in Beaumont. He was a Jefferson County Bar Association Blackstone Award recipient. Waldman was a member of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association and vice president of the Jefferson County Bar Association. He was a Texas Bar College fellow and a Texas Bar Foundation fellow. Waldman served as president of Temple Emanuel in Beaumont. He traveled the world with his wife, Sallye. Waldman created Waldman Park at the corner of College and Pearl streets in Beaumont. He is survived by his son, Steve Waldman; daughter, Suzi Gerstenhaber; seven grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

Jerry Wayne Corbin

Jeremy Corbin Corbin, 72, of Lubbock, died July 5, 2019. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1968 to 1971. Corbin received his law degree from South Texas College of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1974. He worked for Townes & Corbin, was city attorney for Denver City, and was in private practice in general law with a focus on real estate. Corbin was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed photography and traveling. He is survived by his wife, Patricia Corbin; sons, Kristopher May and Daron Corbin; daughters, Kelly McKay, Kayce May, and Shakara Esqueda; and five grandchildren.

Terrell Eugene “Terry” Shell

Terrell Shell Shell, 75, of Stephenville, died June 27, 2019. He received his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1969. Shell was a longtime executive of the family owned Shell Peanut Company in Gorman until the business sold. He specialized in estate law while in Dallas and opened law offices in Acton, Granbury, and Stephenville. Shell was a certified public accountant. He is survived by his brother, John Shell, and sister, Marilyn Shell.^TBJ

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