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.
Arthur Gerald Geistweidt
Geistweidt, 71, of Mason, died
August 13, 2019. He served in the U.S. Army. Geistweidt received his law
degree from the University of Texas School of Law and was admitted to
the Texas Bar in 1975. He was admitted to practice before the U.S.
District Court for the Western District of Texas and the U.S. Tax Court.
Geistweidt was a partner in Schmidt, Schmidt & Geistweidt and
Geistweidt & Whitworth and a solo practitioner. He served in the
Texas House of Representatives for 10 years, serving on various
committees, including Natural Resources, State Affairs, Local and
Consent Calendars, General Investigating, Appropriations, and Ways and
Means. Geistweidt was a founder and president of the Texas Conservative
Coalition and member of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus. He
served on the Southern Legislative Conference of the Council of State
Governments. Geistweidt loved ranching, reading, fishing, and playing
the guitar. He will be remembered as someone who loved and served the
Lord and who was devoted to his family and friends. Geistweidt died as
he had lived—courageously and strong in his faith. He is survived by his
wife of 48 years, Tess Geistweidt; daughters, Elizabeth Rene Ince,
attorney and law partner Rebekah Marie Whitworth, and Mandy Delane
Schuh; sister, Gaelyn Fisher; and four grandchildren.
Mona Faye Read
Read, 69, of Houston, died May 25, 2019.
She received her law degree from Baylor Law School and was admitted to
the Texas Bar in 1975. Read was admitted to practice before the U.S.
Supreme Court in 1982. She was an assistant in a private practice in
Dallas from 1975 to 1978; a writing attorney in the Social Security
Compensation Office of Hearings in San Antonio in 1978; and an
administrative judge for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission in Houston, retiring in 2013. Read received a certificate of
appreciation from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and received the flag
flown at half-staff in 1984 at Johnson Space Center. She enjoyed reading
and collecting coins and Native American artifacts. Read is survived by
her mother, Juanita E. Read.
Forrest Bowers
Bowers, 94, of Lubbock, died May 9,
2019. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a P-51 Mustang pilot.
Bowers received his law degree from the University of Texas School of
Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1950. He was in private
practice in Lubbock from 1955 to 2015. Bowers was a member of the
International Academy of Trial Lawyers since 2001 and the American
College of Trial Lawyers since 1993. He was recognized as a West Texas
Legal Legend in 2012 by Texas Tech University School of Law, Texas Legal
Legend by the State Bar of Texas Litigation Section in 2014, and
received the Terry Grantham Memorial Award from the Texas Bar Foundation
in 2016. Bowers was a Texas Bar Foundation life fellow, served on the
Texas Board of Legal Specialization from 1977 to 1983, and was chair of
the State Bar of Texas Litigation Section from 1989 to 1990. He enjoyed
bird hunting and fishing. Bowers was an active member of the First
Christian Church of Lubbock. He is survived by his sons, Jimmy McDavid
and attorney Fred Bowers; daughters, Laura Henline and Lisa Harbert; 14
grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren.
Leigh Ann
Ileson
Ileson, 58, of Penn
Valley, California, died July 27, 2019. She received her law degree from
Gonzaga University School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in
1999. Ileson was admitted to the Washington Bar in 1991. She was an
assistant attorney general in the child support enforcement division of
the Texas Attorney General’s Office. Ileson enjoyed art and taekwondo.
She is survived by her husband of 39 years, Robert Ileson; sons, Ian and
Atticus; and brothers, attorney William Cornelius and attorney John
Cornelius.
Harold L. Ogden
Ogden, 81, of Houston, died May 24,
2019. He received his law degree from the University of Texas School of
Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1961. Ogden was an
administrative assistant to Houston Mayor Lewis Cutrer; an associate of
Fouts & Moore; and chief counsel to the Offshore Company, now
Transocean,?Ltd., in 1965, and company attorney, corporate secretary,
vice president, general counsel, and senior vice president before
retiring in 1990. He formed Ogden & Maler with his wife, Sharron
Maler, following his retirement and served clients in offshore oil and
gas drilling. Ogden had a passion for travel, visiting countries found
on almost any page of the atlas. His thorough genealogy research
provided evidence that entitled his membership in the Sons of the
Republic of Texas and in the Sons of the American Revolution. Ogden is
survived by his wife of 25 years, attorney Sharron Maler; sons, Stephen
Ogden and Tommy Ogden; daughters, Valerie Walker, Michelle Wood, and
Diane Henderson; stepson, Nathaniel Olsson; seven grandchildren; and one
great-grandchild.
Marvin Wayne Poole
Poole, 56, of Fort Worth, died April
12, 2017. He received his law degree from Texas Southern University
Thurgood Marshall School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in
2008. Poole was airport manager at Dallas Executive Airport from 1999 to
2005, assistant city attorney for the city of Dallas from 2009 to 2010,
and a partner in Goffney & Poole from 2011 to 2017. He was a member
of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.
Richard E. Salisbury
Salisbury, 48, of Austin, died
April 28, 2019. He received his law degree from Columbia Law School and
was admitted to the Texas Bar in 2001. Salisbury was admitted to
practice in New York in 1998, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in 2004,
and the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals in 2016. He was a
judicial clerk for a federal magistrate judge in Orlando, Florida, from
1999 to 2001; an associate of Bickel & Brewer in Dallas from 2001 to
2003; and assistant attorney general in the general litigation division
and the civil Medicaid fraud division of the Texas Attorney General’s
Office in Austin from 2004 to 2019. Salisbury held U.S. patents on
software. He is survived by his daughters, Keelyn and Mackenna
Salisbury; father,?William, and mother, Catherine Salisbury.
Stanley W. Crawford
Crawford, 75, of Austin, died May
25, 2019. He received his law degree from the University of Texas School
of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1967. Crawford worked for
Fulbright & Jaworski in Houston from 1967 to 1968, Stafford &
Patten in Houston from 1968 to 1970, in private practice in Houston from
1970 to 1973, for Crawford & Grissom in Houston from 1973 to 1975,
for Crawford, Grissom & McCoy in Houston from 1975 to 1978, for
Crawford Grissom Crow Richards & Featherston in Houston from 1978 to
1988, and for Crawford & McKinney in Houston from 1988 to 1998. He
was a member of the Austin Bar Association, an Austin Bar Association
life fellow, and a State Bar of Texas 50-year lawyer. Crawford enjoyed
snow skiing, Brazilian jiujitsu, and hiking. He is survived by his wife
of 27 years, Audrey Crawford; son, Clinton Crawford; daughters, Michelle
Hunt and Nicole Dawkins; and four grandchildren.
Dan White
McCrary
McCrary, 72, of Tomball, died November
26, 2018. He received his law degree from South Texas College of Law and
was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1974. McCrary worked in the Law Office
of Dan White McCrary in Houston from 1974 to 1997 and was a partner in
McCrary & Clark in Houston from 1997 to 2018. He was certified in
commercial real estate law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
McCrary was a member of the Houston Bar Association. He enjoyed flying
and was a licensed pilot for over 40 years. McCrary loved hiking and
boating. He served his church, Tomball United Methodist Church. McCrary
is survived by his wife of 31 years, Donna McCrary; sons, Daniel McCrary
and David McCrary; daughter, Tiffany Patterson; and two
grandchildren.
Wendell B. Alcorn Jr.
Alcorn, 78, of Williamsburg,
Virginia, died September 29, 2018. He received his law degree from the
University of Houston Law Center and was admitted to the Texas Bar in
1969. Alcorn was admitted to the District of Columbia Bar, Georgia Bar,
and South Carolina Bar and to practice in New York and the U.S. Supreme
Court. He was an associate of Cadwalader, Wickershem & Taft in New
York City from 1969 to 1973; an associate of Hull, Towill, Norman,
Barrett & Johnson in Augusta, Georgia, from 1973 to 1975; and a
partner in Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft in New York from 1975 to
2000. Alcorn was general counsel to President Jimmy Carter’s National
Commission for the Review of Antitrust Laws and Procedure from 1978 to
1979. He had a keen mind, with elements of humility and wit. Alcorn was
always a gentleman. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Sarah
Alcorn; son, Wendell B. Alcorn III; daughters, Katherine Beverly and
Nancy Suber; and seven grandchildren.
Frederick P.
Ahrens
Ahrens, 81, of Dallas, died May 29,
2019. He served in the U.S. Air Force Reserve from 1960 to 1968. Ahrens
received his law degree from Marquette University Law School and was
admitted to the Texas Bar in 1978. He was admitted to the Wisconsin Bar
in 1962, the Michigan Bar in 1964, the California Bar in 1986, and the
Oklahoma Bar in 1997. Ahrens was attorney and executive director of
Ball, Hunt, Hart, Brown & Baerwitz in Long Beach, California, and
Beverly Hills, California. He also held corporate positions with Ford
Motors, International Harvester, Gillette, General Instruments, and
Wylain Company. Ahrens was a member of the National Academy of
Arbitrators, Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service Labor Panel, and
AAA Commercial Arbitration Panel. He enjoyed golfing and fishing. Ahrens
is survived by his wife of 37 years, Kay Ahrens; son, Sean Ahrens;
daughter, Tracey MacDonald; sister, Rosemary Vachon; and three
grandchildren.
Teena Borth Tatom
Tatom, 61, of Abilene, died July 19,
2019. She received her law degree from Texas Tech University School of
Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1989. Tatom was a lawyer with
Glandon, Erwin, Scarborough, Baker & Choate in Abilene from 1989 to
1990. She loved helping any child in need and fighting for victims of
domestic violence. Tatom enjoyed horses and fishing. She took joy in
helping people find new homes as a Realtor for 18 years. Tatom is
survived by her husband of 31 years, attorney Kyle D. Tatom; sons,
Skyler Tatom and Seth M. Tatom; mother, Geneane Martin; stepfather,
Steve Martin; brothers, John Borth, Clint Borth, and Lucas Borth; and
sisters, Denise Teague and Tracy Mitchell.
Deborah Lee
McGregory
McGregory, 66, of Plano, died July
4, 2019. She received her law degree from Texas Tech University School
of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1989. McGregory was admitted
to the Oklahoma Bar in 2000. She was a paralegal for Schenk & Grubbs
in Wichita Falls from 1978 to 1981; a legal secretary for Andelson &
Andelson in Los Angeles, California, from 1981 to 1983; a paralegal for
Dern, Mason & Floum in Los Angeles from 1983 to 1986; a law clerk
for the Law Office of Walker Metcalf in Lubbock from 1988 to 1989; an
associate of Henderson, Bryant & Wolfe in Sherman from 1989 to 1993;
and in private practice in Sherman from 1993 to 2012. McGregory’s
Christian faith was important to her and she served on committees and as
an elder in the churches she was a member of. She enjoyed home
remodeling and decorating and was always working on a project. McGregory
loved gardening. She is survived by her daughter, Kristen Francelle
McGregory, and sister, Kammie Lynn McCoy.
Fred
Jones Moore
Moore, 90, of Seguin, died August 11,
2019. He received his law degree from the University of Texas School of
Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1954. Moore served in the U.S.
Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps from 1955 to 1974, including a tour
in Vietnam. He was in private practice in Seguin from 1974 to the early
2000s and was judge for Guadalupe County Court at Law from 1983 to 1994
and a visiting judge for many years after. Moore enjoyed watching
baseball, Canadian football, and, of course, the Texas Longhorns. He
loved all of his grandchildren and his eyes lit up on every single
visit. Moore loved traveling with his beloved wife, Catherine, all over
the country, especially places like New Mexico, Montana, and Wyoming. He
is survived by his wife of 64 years, Catherine Moore; sons, attorney
Chris, Jason, and attorney Mark Moore; and five grandchildren.
Mark Allen Herndon
Herndon, 64, of Dallas, died March 6,
2019. He received his law degree from Southern Methodist University
School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1979. Herndon was
admitted to the Oklahoma Bar in 1980. He was an associate in Worsham
Forsythe Wooldridge in Dallas from 1979 to 1980; a shareholder in Sneed
Lang in Tulsa, Oklahoma, from 1980 to 1985; a partner in Johnson &
Swanson in Dallas and Austin from 1985 to 1991; a partner in Trotter
Herndon & Glennon in Austin from 1991 to 1993; and in private
practice from 1993 to 2019. Herndon enjoyed spending time with Clyde,
his Belgian Malinois. He enjoyed flying, beekeeping, and the outdoors.
Herndon is survived by his wife of 19 years, Tamara Ince, and brother,
Joe Herndon.
Roberto Sanchez
Sanchez, 50, of El Paso, died
December 31, 2018. He received his law degree from St. Mary’s University
School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1999. Sanchez was
managing attorney and deputy director of the El Paso Legal Assistance
Society in El Paso from 2000 to 2001, an associate of Ray, Valdez,
McChristian & Jeans in El Paso from 2001 to 2004, a solo
practitioner in El Paso from 2004 to 2007, an associate of Rincon Mounts
in El Paso from 2007 to 2008, an assistant attorney general in the Texas
Attorney General’s Office Child Support Division in El Paso from 2008 to
2009, managing assistant attorney general in the Texas Attorney
General’s Office Child Support Division in El Paso from 2009 to 2011,
and principal senior trial attorney for the El Paso County Attorney’s
Office in El Paso from 2015 to 2018. He was El Paso County’s 2016 New
Attorney of the Year and the Assistant Attorney General of the Year in
2010. Sanchez is survived by his wife, Christina L. Bernal; son, Kieran
Roberto Sanchez; daughters, Vanessa Cassandra Sanchez and Maya Elise
Sanchez; mother, Rebeca F. Sanchez; brothers, David Sanchez and Daniel
Sanchez; and sisters, Margarita Montes and Rebeca Sanchez-Westbrook.
Charlotte Gallagher Tripp
Tripp, 66, of San Antonio, died
April 9, 2019. She received her law degree from St. Mary’s University
School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1985. Tripp was a
litigation attorney with Heard Goggan & Blair and Groce Locke &
Hebdon in San Antonio. She worked at a firm in Corpus Christi from 1991
to 1995 and retired from the practice of law in 1995. Tripp is survived
by her husband of 41 years, Roger Tripp; stepdaughter, Rachel?Tripp;
brothers, Carlos S. Gallagher and Herbert D.?Gallagher; sisters, Gloria
G. Marenda, Leslie G. Mims, and Kimberly G. Trayhan; and two
step-grandchildren.
Douglas V. McNeel
McNeel, 66, of Helotes, died October
5, 2018. He received his law degree from Washington and Lee University
School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1978. McNeel was an
attorney for Maebius & Duncan in San Antonio from 1978 to 1980, an
attorney for Gresham, Davis, Gregory, Worthy & Moore in San Antonio
from 1980 to 1984, and a partner in Barton East & Caldwell, now
Barton Benson & Jones, in San Antonio from 1994 to 2017. He
volunteered with Bexar County legal aid. McNeel was a theologian,
teacher, and songwriter. He wrote The Great Awakening in 2009
and Honey on my Mind in 2019. McNeel is survived by his wife of
42 years, Judith Sydnor McNeel; son, Lewis Maverick McNeel; daughter,
Suzanne McNeel Wadsworth; sister, Neel M. Scott; and three
grandchildren.
Everett J. “Ebb” Grindstaff
Grindstaff, 88, of Ballinger,
died July 8, 2019. He served in the U.S. Army in counter-intelligence in
Japan during the Korean War. Grindstaff received his law degree from
Baylor Law School and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1954. He was a
partner in Grindstaff & Grindstaff, formerly Grindstaff, Grindstaff
& Reese and Grindstaff, Grindstaff & Slimp, in Ballinger from
1956 until his death. Grindstaff was Ballinger city attorney starting in
1957. He served on the Texas Bar Board of Directors from 1972 to 1975
and was a Texas Bar Foundation life fellow. Grindstaff was a Lions Club
member starting in 1956 and served as international president of Lions
Club International from 1982 to 1983. He is survived by his wife of 65
years, Jeannette “Jay” Grindstaff; son, Jeff Grindstaff; daughter,
Michelle Moussa; and four grandchildren.
James W. Wilson
Wilson, 91, of Austin, died July 23,
2019. He received his law degree from the University of Texas School of
Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1951. Wilson served in the U.S.
Navy from 1952 to 1955. He was an associate of Powell, Wirtz &
Rauhut in Austin from 1951 to 1952 and 1955 to 1957; an assistant
attorney general in the Texas Attorney General’s Office in Austin from
1957 to 1958; counsel to then-Senate Majority Leader Lyndon B. Johnson
in Washington, D.C., from 1958 to 1960; a partner in Powell, Rauhut,
McGinnis, Reavley & Lochridge in Austin from 1960 to 1976; of
counsel to Stubbeman, McRae, Sealy & Browder in Austin from 1976 to
1979; general counsel to Brown & Root in Houston from 1979 to 1993;
of counsel to Sewell & Riggs in Houston from 1993 to 1995; and an
adjunct professor at the University of Texas School of Law in Austin
from 1995 to 1997. Wilson was a member of the American Law Institute and
American Bar Foundation. He enjoyed talking politics, especially telling
LBJ stories. Wilson was a world traveler. He is survived by his son,
attorney Bill Wilson; daughter, attorney Alex Wilson Albright; and five
grandchildren.
Dorothy Louise Giberson Croom Rea
Rea, 97, of Austin, died May 16, 2019.
She received her law degree from the University of Texas School of Law
and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1949. Rea was a solo practitioner
in Austin from 1949 to 2010 and afterward semi-retired to work from
home, probating and executing wills for longtime clients and friends.
She loved her profession and greeted each day with an anticipation of
what challenges the day would bring. Rea enjoyed many activities with
her husband, Sam, including shooting sporting clays, scuba diving,
ballroom dancing, fishing, and attending the opera, symphony, and
ballet. She is survived by her son, Douglas Croom, and three
grandchildren.
Michelle Denise Bradley
Bradley, 57, of Baton Rouge,
Louisiana, died April 22, 2019. She received her law degree from South
Texas College of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 2001. Bradley
was admitted to the Louisiana Bar in 2001. She was in private practice
in family law in Lake Charles, Louisiana, from 2001 to 2015; a contract
attorney for the Louisiana Department of Transportation in Baton Rouge
from 2015 to 2017; and second injury board attorney for the Louisiana
Workforce Commission Office of Workers’ Compensation in Baton Rouge from
2017 to 2019. Bradley was named best attorney by the Times of
Southwest Louisiana in 2005 and 2006. She found peace on the open
road on her purple Harley Davidson and was an avid reader. Bradley is
survived by her father, RE Bradley II; mother, Katina Watson;
stepfather, Leon Watson; stepmother, Patricia Bradley; brother, RE
Bradley III; and sister, Sherry B. Watkins.
Jesús C.
Sauceda
Sauceda, 75, of Arlington, died July
14, 2017. He served in the U.S. Army for four years. Sauceda received
his law degree from Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School
of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1979. He practiced
immigration law for over 35 years, primarily in Fort Worth. Sauceda was
a member of Tate Springs Baptist Church for 35 years, serving in the
choir, vacation Bible school, as a camp counselor, Sunday school member,
and participating in mission trips to Torreón, Mexico, for 13 years. He
was passionate about his love for family, God, practicing law, and
music, especially the guitar. Sauceda is survived by his wife of 47
years, Consuelo Cantu Sauceda; son, Victor Sauceda; daughter, Nina
Mayes; brother, Raul Sauceda; sisters, Guadalupe Torres and Rosemary
Sauceda; and three grandchildren.
Blake “Dave” Sarles
Sarles, 92, of Houston, died August 27,
2019. He served in the U.S. Army from 1944 to 1946. Sarles received his
law degree from South Texas College of Law and was admitted to the Texas
Bar in 1960. He was general counsel to Mortgage and Trust, Inc., now BNY
Mellon, in Houston from 1954 to 1987. Sarles enjoyed genealogy. He was
active in St. Luke’s United Methodist Church Gethsemane in Houston.
Sarles is survived by his daughters, Sharon Sarles and Linda Sarles
Cook; sister, Jeanne Werner; three grandchildren; and four
great-grandchildren.TBJ
