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.
Lawrence Alan Coffey
Coffey, 60, of Corpus Christi, died
December 31, 2018. He received his law degree from the University of
Houston Law Center and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1983. Coffey was
an associate of Eugene Coffey in Corpus Christi from 1983 to 1984; an
assistant district attorney in Nueces, Kenedy, and Kleberg counties in
Corpus Christi from 1984 to 1986; an associate of Redford, Wray &
Woolsey in Corpus Christi from 1986 to 1993; an associate of Broyles
& Pratt in Corpus Christi from 1993 to 1997; and a partner in Dunn,
Weathered, Coffey & Kasperitis in Corpus Christi from 1997 to 2019.
He was a Texas Bar Foundation life fellow. Coffey was a renaissance man.
He always shared himself, his time, and his talents. Coffey loved
spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. He is
survived by his wife of 15 years, Sharon Coffey; sons, Michael Coffey
and Christopher Coffey; daughter, Jennifer Coffey; stepdaughter, Autumn
Wilson; mother, Edith Coffey; sisters, Kitty Medina, JoAnn Dickinson,
and Norma Schvaneveldt; and nine grandchildren.
Thomas Victor Miller
Miller, 50, of Naperville, Illinois, died
April 4, 2019. He received his law degree from the University of Houston
Law Center and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1996. Miller was
admitted to practice in Illinois in 2000. He was a law clerk for
Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Ballard & Friend in Houston from 1994 to
1995; a senior associate of Arnold White & Durkee from 1996 to 2001;
senior patent counsel to Motorola Mobility from 2001 to 2005;
senior/lead litigation counsel to Motorola Mobility from 2005 to 2011;
vice president, intellectual property and chief patent counsel to
Motorola Mobility from 2011 to 2016; vice president and deputy general
counsel to Lenovo from 2016 to 2017; head of licensing for PanOptis and
executive vice president of Unwired Planet for Optis Wireless and Optis
Cellular in 2017; and chief patent counsel to Allstate’s law division
from 2018 to 2019. Miller had the second highest score on the Texas Bar
exam in 1996. He was named Corporate IP Star for Intellectual Property
in 2015 and 2016 and received the Motorola Mobility General Counsel
Award in 2009. Miller was a huge Chicago Cubs fan and was in attendance
when the Cubs won the World Series. He loved summer and winter fishing.
Miller served as a missionary to Honduras. He is survived by his wife of
26 years, Heather Miller; daughters, Julia, Catherine, and Alisha;
mother, Jeanne; brother, Robert; and sisters, Katie, Melissa, and
Megan.
Jack L. Underwood
Underwood, 89, of McKinney, died
November 13, 2018. He served in the U.S. Marines during the Korean War,
receiving a Purple Heart and retiring as a lieutenant colonel. Underwood
received his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law and
was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1956. He was a junior tax attorney for
El Paso Natural Gas in El Paso in 1956 and served as its director of
Texas from 1979 to 1986. Underwood was a member of the El Paso Bar
Association. He was a fan of University of Texas sports and attended the
Episcopal Church. Underwood was a member of the UT NROTC Alumni
Association. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Joan K. Underwood;
daughters, Lesli McGill, Karen Underwood, Paula Joyce, and Laura Klein;
sister, Joyce Graves; and six grandchildren.
Jack
Lapin
Lapin, 88, of Houston, died August 20,
2019. He received his law degree from the University of Texas School of
Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1955. Lapin served in the U.S.
Army from 1956 to 1958. He was an associate of Hirsch & Westheimer
in Houston from 1958 to 1959, a partner in Lapin & Associates in
Houston from 1959 to 1965, a partner in Lapin & Mayer in Houston
from 1965 to 1968, a partner in Lapin, Totz & Mayer in Houston from
1968 to 1986, a partner in Butler & Binion in Houston from 1986 to
1999, and of counsel to Schlanger, Silver, Barg & Paine in Houston
from 1999 to 2015. Lapin loved learning, traveling, and serving his
community. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Susan Kaufman Lapin;
sons, David Lapin, attorney Bobby Lapin, and Richard Lapin; brother,
Herman Lapin, and four grandchildren.
Robert Reed “Rob”
Martin
Martin, 64, of Houston, died August
31, 2019. He received his law degree from South Texas College of Law and
was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1990. Martin was an assistant district
attorney in the Harris County District Attorney’s Office from 1990 to
1993, an associate of Johnson & Associates from 1993 to 1997, an
associate of Magenheim, Bateman & Helfand from 1997 to 2003, a
non-equity partner in Bateman | Pugh from 2003 to 2007, of counsel to
Brown Sims from 2008 to 2013, and of counsel to Shannon, Martin,
Finkelstein, Alvarado & Dunne from 2013 to 2019. He practiced law
with integrity and fairness and was a true gentleman in the practice of
law. Martin was a beloved husband, good friend, and avid Red Raider. He
is survived by his wife of 42 years, attorney Nancy F. Martin, and
father, Jack Martin.
Robert Wayne “Rip” Hedrick
Hedrick, 85, of Gordon, died
September 5, 2019. He served in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1956. Hedrick
received his law degree from the University of Kansas School of Law and
was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1979. He was admitted to practice in
Kansas in 1964. Hedrick was city attorney for Leavenworth, Kansas, in
the mid-1960s; district attorney for the 90th Judicial District of Texas
during the 1980s; and in private practice in north Central Texas from
1978 to 2019. He was admitted to appear before the 5th and 10th U.S.
Circuit Courts of Appeals. Hedrick was a member of the Texas Trial
Lawyers Association and the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association. He enjoyed
hunting, bass fishing, and golfing. Hedrick is survived by his wife of
58 years, Martha “Marty” Hedrick; daughters, Sara Arispe, Margie
Solomon, and Mary Klemm; and eight grandchildren.
Stroud C. Kelley
Kelley, 70, of Prague, Czech Republic,
died August 6, 2019. He received his law degree from the University of
Texas School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1976. Kelley
served as committee counsel and special counsel to the Texas House of
Representatives from the 64th Legislature through the 68th Legislature;
was in private practice and oil and gas exploration from 1978 to 1987;
staff attorney, litigation director, deputy general counsel, and special
counsel for energy policy to the Texas General Land Office from 1987 to
1997; and an international legal and business consultant on oil, gas,
and power sector reform and development to the governments of several
countries, including the Republic of Georgia, Armenia, Turkmenistan,
Bangladesh, Ghana, Albania, Montenegro, and Afghanistan. He was active
in local and state politics, serving in Bob Krueger’s 1978 U.S. Senate
campaign and Ann Richards’ treasurer campaign in 1982. Kelley was
president of the Austin Young Lawyers Association; chair of the Travis
County Bar Association Oil, Gas, and Mineral Law Section; and regional
coordinator for the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Institute. He is survived
by his son, William S.W. Kelley, and daughter, Frances Kelley Ozaki.
Howard J. Stern
Stern, 71, of Houston, died August 27,
2019. He received his law degree from South Texas College of Law and was
admitted to the Texas Bar in 1974. Stern was an associate of Denson and
Swain in Houston from 1976 to 2000 and an associate of the Swain Law
Firm in Houston from 2000 to 2006 and a solo practitioner in Houston
from 2006 to 2019. He enjoyed swimming and was an avid fan of the
Texans, Rockets, and Astros. Stern was a lifelong learner in Judaic
Studies. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Barbara Stern; son,
Michael Stern; and two grandchildren.
Joseph Thomas
Green
Green, 77, of Sulphur Springs, died
June 11, 2019. He received his law degree from the University of Texas
School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1968. Green was last
employed as first assistant attorney general under Texas Attorney
General Jim Mattox. He is survived by his daughter, Pamela Baty, and
sister, Sue Ann Johnson.
David Paul Cullen
Cullen, 87, of Cherokee, Oklahoma, died
July 3, 2019. He served in the U.S. Air Force and Reserve. Cullen
received his law degree from George Washington University School of Law
and his LL.M. from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas William S. Boyd
School of Law. He was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1974. Cullen was
admitted to the DC Bar in 1960, Oklahoma Bar in 1961, Nevada Bar in
1970, and to practice in Colorado in 1982. He was admitted to practice
before the U.S. Court of Customs and Patent Appeals in 1960 and the U.S.
Supreme Court in 1965. Cullen worked for the U.S. Patent Office in
Washington, D.C., from 1959 to 1961; as an attorney for Continental Oil,
now Conoco, in Ponca City, Oklahoma, and Houston from 1961 to 1980; as
vice president and general counsel to Milestone Petroleum in Denver,
Colorado, from 1981 to 1984; in private practice in Cherokee in 1985;
and as associate district judge for Alfalfa County in Oklahoma from 1986
to 2002. He became a member of the Texas Mining Council in 1979. Cullen
was co-founder and a review court judge for the Alfalfa Major Woods
Community Sentencing Planning Council, serving as vice chair until early
2019. He was a thoughtful, fair, and compassionate judge. Cullen enjoyed
traveling with family and friends. He was an avid outdoorsman and
hunter. Cullen is survived by his wife of 66 years, Naomi Joyce Cullen;
sons, Andrew D. Cullen and Kevin Burleson; daughters, Eva-Marney Cullen
and Amy Madison; sisters, Margaret Shea and Susan Cullen; nine
grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
John Wesley
Hamilton
Hamilton, 73, of Fort Myers, Florida,
died August 17, 2019. He received his law degree from Southern Methodist
University School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1976.
Hamilton was a U.S. Navy flight officer from 1968 to 1991 and retired as
a lieutenant commander. He was an attorney for Geary Stahl & Spencer
in Dallas, Rentzel Wise in Dallas, a partner in Hamilton O’Neill in
Dallas, a partner in Hamilton & Hartsfield, and an attorney with
Miller, Hiersche, Martens & Hayward in Dallas. Hamilton enjoyed
golfing and fishing. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Sally L.
Hamilton; son, Christopher Scott Hamilton; daughter, Michelle Elaine
Hamilton; and brother, James Franklin Hamilton.
Robert
Thomas “Bob” Cain Jr.
Cain, 67, of Lufkin, died August 19,
2019. He received his law degree from the University of Texas School of
Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1977. Cain practiced law in
Angelina County for 42 years including as a partner in Alderman Cain
& Neill. He was certified in civil appellate law in 1995 by the
Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Cain was an accomplished appellate
attorney, presenting and winning landmark cases in the Texas Supreme
Court, 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, 9th Court of Appeals in Beaumont,
and 12th Court of Appeals in Tyler. He was a member of the Angelina
County Bar Association. Cain was a board member for Rube Sessions
Memorial Library, Kurth Memorial Library, Samaritan Counseling Center,
Volunteer Service Council for Lufkin State School, and parish council
leader of St. John of Damascus Orthodox Church in Tyler. He started the
Adoption Center of East Texas, helping 300 couples adopt children and
become families. Cain is survived by his wife of 43 years, Sally Davis
Cain; daughter, Abigail Elizabeth Cain; and sister, attorney Marjorie
Cain Holladay.
Richard E. Stephanow Sr.
Stephanow, 76, of Houston, died
July 31, 2019. He received his law degree from the University of Houston
Law Center and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1967. Stephanow was
general counsel to Great Southern Life Insurance Company in Houston from
1968 to 1969, in private practice in Houston from 1969 to 1982, judge
for the 232nd Criminal District Court in Houston from 1982 to 1983, in
private practice in Houston from 1983 to 1985, general counsel to Texas
Medical Center in Houston from 1985 to 1987, in private practice in
Houston from 1987 to 1988, justice of the 1st Court of Appeals in
Houston from 1988 to 1989, and in private practice in Houston from 1989
to 2007. He served on the Texas Juvenile Justice Advisory Board from
1982 to 1983. Stephanow enjoyed fishing, hunting, and golfing. He is
survived by his wife of 54 years, Nancy Rogers Stephanow; son, Richard
E. Stephanow Jr.; daughter, Karen Stephanow Hargrave; and three
grandchildren.
Jerry C. Larson Jr.
Larson, 46, of Houston, died August 27,
2019. He received his law degree from Creighton University School of Law
and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1999. Larson was executive director
of Southeast Texas Legal Clinic in Montrose with a sole focus on
representing people living with HIV/AIDS and was a staff attorney with
Houston Volunteer Lawyers’ HIV/AIDS Unit in Houston from 2007 to 2019.
He was well known by clients and agencies within the HIV/AIDS community
and had a reputation as an attorney who went above and beyond for his
clients. Larson played an active role in the creation of the Harris
County Law Library pro se assistance program. He was a leader in
consumer law issues. Larson was beloved by the HVL staff and will be
missed for his dedication and willingness to help others, his practical
jokes, and his exuberant spirit. He is survived by his father, Jerry C.
Larson Sr.; mother, Penny Larson; brother, Jeff Larson; and grandmother,
Lois Hassett.
Thomas L. “Larry” Claxton
Claxton, 67, of Gainesville, died
April 26, 2019. He received his law degree from St. Mary’s University
School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1983. Claxton was a
law clerk for Maebius, Duncan & Sharber in San Antonio from 1981 to
1983, an associate of the Law Offices of Richard A. Anderson in Dallas
from 1983 to 1984, an associate of Jacobs & Young in Dallas from
1984 to 1985, a solo practitioner in Gainesville from 1985 to 2019, and
a municipal court judge in Gainesville from 2000 to 2001. He was a
four-term member of the State Bar of Texas Paralegal Standing Committee.
Claxton was a founding board member of CASA of North Texas. He performed
community service and advocated for animals. Claxton enjoyed traveling
and playing golf. Claxton is survived by his brother, Robert L. “Chip”
Claxton; and sisters, Barbara Chapman and Kim Claxton.
Jeffrey Blane Goode
Goode, 57, of Plano, died May 28,
2019. He received his law degree from St. Mary’s University School of
Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1987. Goode was an associate of
Bailey & Williams from 1987 to 1993, a claims attorney at Great
American Insurance Group from 1993 to 2002, a claims attorney at Kemper
from 2002 to 2004, senior claims counsel to XL Catlin from 2004 to 2016,
and senior claims counsel to QBE North America from 2017 to 2019. He was
a member of the lawyers professional liability association, CLM Dallas,
and professional liability insurance professionals. Goode enjoyed
baseball, including coaching and umpiring. He liked to fish and golf.
Goode is survived by Keli Goode and sons, Cole Jeffrey Goode and Nolan
Blane Goode.
Ronald O. Voyles
Voyles, 50, of Conroe, died March 25,
2019. He received his law degree from South Texas College of Law and was
admitted to the Texas Bar in 2006. Voyles was in private practice in
criminal defense. He loved to play guitar with friends, ride his bike in
the state forest, and play with his dogs. Voyles enjoyed reading and
cooking. He made everyone around him laugh. Voyles is survived by his
wife, Wendy Voyles; stepsons, Christian and Brendan; stepdaughter,
Stella; father, Ron Voyles; mother, Kathryn Voyles; brothers, Adam
Voyles and Jarrod Marrs; and sisters, Nicole Marrs and Mindy
Voyles.TBJ
