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.
James B. Adams
Adams, 93, of Kerrville, died April 25,
2020. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was part of the
U.S. occupying force in Japan after the war. Adams received his law
degree from Baylor Law School and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1949.
He was a prosecuting attorney in the Limestone County District
Attorney’s Office. Adams served in the Texas House of Representatives in
1951. He was a special agent in the FBI in Seattle, Washington, San
Francisco, California, and Administrative Service Divisions from 1951 to
1959; an assistant special agent in charge of the FBI office in
Minneapolis from 1959 to 1972; special agent in charge of the FBI office
in San Antonio in 1972; and held various positions including inspector
division supervisor, chief personnel officer, assistant director of the
Office of Planning and Evaluation, assistant to the director, and deputy
associate for investigations. Adams was appointed FBI acting director by
President Jimmy Carter in 1978 and later served as associate director
under Judge William Webster until 1979 and was appointed director of the
Texas Department of Public Safety and chief of the Texas Rangers by Gov.
Bill Clements in 1980. He was in charge of identifying concerns and
implementing improvements at the FBI following the Watergate scandal.
Adams was described by a high-ranking FBI official as the “backbone” of
the bureau. As chief of the Texas Rangers, he modernized selection and
training of officers and investigatory techniques and methods and
broadened the role of the agency. Adams received the U.S. Attorney
General’s Distinguished Service Award in 1978 and the National
Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal in 1979. He is survived by his
wife of 64 years, Ione LaRae Winistorfer.
Jerry Ed Bain
Bain, 80, of Tyler, died March 11, 2020.
He received his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law
and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1964. Bain was a shareholder in
Loftis, Rowan, Files, Bain, Clayton & Clarke in Tyler from 1976 to
1998, in Bain, Files, Jarrett, Bain & Harrison in Tyler from 1998 to
2016, and in Bain, Files, Jarrett & Harrison in Tyler from 2016 to
2020. He was president of the Texas Young Lawyers Association from 1973
to 1974, served on the State Bar of Texas Board of Directors from 1989
to 1992, was a member of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers,
and was a Texas Bar Foundation fellow. Bain was always smiling and
wanting to help others including young lawyers. He truly enjoyed helping
clients through the rough times and showing them a better future laid
ahead. Bain loved the outdoors and sharing it with others. He is
survived by his wife of 58 years, Barbara Bain; daughters, Sherry B.
Agee and Denise B. Graber; son, Bruce D. Bain; brother, David Sam Bain;
and seven grandchildren.
Eugene Daniel Leightman
Leightman, 79, of Houston, died
December 30, 2019. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1963 to 1968.
Leightman received his law degree from the University of Texas School of
Law, his LL.M. in tax law from Boston University School of Law, and was
admitted to the Texas Bar in 1966. He began his law practice with the
IRS in Washington, D.C., from 1968 to 1979; was manager of tax for
Parsons Corporation in Pasadena, California, from 1979 to 1985; was
director of tax for Intel from 1985 to 1987; vice president of tax for
Cooper Industries from 1987 to 2006 in Houston; practiced at Gardner
Sewell in Houston from 2006 to 2014; was in private practice in Houston
from 2014 to 2019; and was an adjunct professor at the University of
Houston Law Center in taxation law. Leightman was top of his class at
the University of Texas School of Law and had the highest score on the
Texas Bar Exam in 1966. He and his wife devoted their spare time to the
Houston Ballet as board members, supported the Leukemia & Lymphoma
Society’s Texas Gulf Coast Chapter, and participated in many other
nonprofit organizations. Leightman played bridge in high school and
college, became a life master in the American Contract Bridge League
(along with his mother and sister), played extensively in the Houston
and regional bridge community, and served as a board member for the
league. He discovered sailing in California and often sailed with his
family and friends off the coasts of Newport Beach and San Francisco
Bay. Leightman is survived by his wife of 53 years, Evelyn; son,
Michael; daughter, Rebecca Leightman; sister, Judy; and his four
grandsons.
Wendell L. Evans Jr.
Evans, 88, of Dallas, died February
15, 2020. He received his law degree from Washington University School
of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1983. Evans was admitted to
the Missouri Bar in 1957. He was a solo practitioner in Lebanon,
Missouri, from 1957 to 1966; executive vice president of Missouri
Savings and Loan League in Jefferson City, Missouri, from 1966 to 1972;
vice president of Farm & Home Savings & Loan in Nevada,
Missouri, from 1972 to 1975; served as chief executive officer and
president at various savings and loans banks in Connecticut, Louisiana,
Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, and Texas from 1975 to 1984; and was
chief executive officer of AmeriWest Financial in Dallas from 1984 until
retirement. Evans was a city judge and prosecuting attorney for Laclede
County, Missouri. He was morally ethical and a diligent worker. Evans
loved his family. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Jean Rule
Evans; son, Wendell L. Evans III; daughters, attorney Sara J. Evans and
Elisabeth Evans Davis; seven grandchildren; and six
great-grandchildren.
William R. “Bill” Pakis
Pakis, 86, of Waco, died April 23,
2020. He was an instructor for the U.S. Army Finance Corps from 1955 to
1957. Pakis received his law degree from Baylor Law School and was
admitted to the Texas Bar in 1960. He was a founding partner in Pakis,
Giotes, Page & Burleson in Waco from 1963 to 1987. Pakis was
certified in estate planning and probate law by the Texas Board of Legal
Specialization. He had a gift for analyzing all types of situations and
offering wise, sensible advice. His family was of the utmost importance
to him. Pakis is survived by his son, David Pakis; daughters, Mary
Katherine Tetirick, Laura O’Brien, and Alison Naylor; brother, George
Pakis Jr.; and 13 grandchildren.
Hilary Brumley Doran Jr.
Doran, 83, of Del Rio, died December
21, 2019. He served in the U.S. Air Force from September 1958 to June
1962 and in the Reserve from July 1962 to January 1977. Doran received
his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law and was
admitted to the Texas Bar in 1965. He was an attorney for Doran, Gulley
& Etzel from 1966 to 1975; joined the staff of Gov. Bill Clements in
1979, eventually becoming chief of staff; and was employed by Johnson
& Johnson in Austin until his retirement. Doran was involved in
church leadership and enjoyed hosting hunts at his Doran Ranch in
Edwards County. He is survived by his wife, Diane; sons, Hilary B. Doran
III, David Doran, and Gregory Doran; daughter, Katherine Diane Keller;
and one grandchild.
William Robert Cohrs
Cohrs, 69, of Coppell, died January
21, 2020. He received his law degree from the University of Virginia
School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1992. Cohrs was
admitted to the Georgia Bar in 1980. He was a trademark and copyright
lawyer for Hurt, Richardson, Garner, Todd & Cadenhead in Altanta,
Georgia, and with King & Spalding in Atlanta and practiced
international law with Exxon Mobil Corp. in Dallas. Cohrs received a
full basketball scholarship to Michigan State University, where he
received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and master’s in
engineering. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Susan Blakemore
Cohrs; sons, David Lynn Adams, Matthew W. Adams, and Luke E. Adams;
brothers, Fred Robert Cohrs, Daniel Cohrs, and Timothy Cohrs; sisters,
Mary Ann Weaver and Nancy J. Cohrs; six grandchildren; and two
great-grandchildren.
Edward J. Patterson Jr.
Patterson, 84, of Galveston, died
April 19, 2020. He received his law degree from the University of Texas
School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1957. Patterson spent
his entire career with Royston & Rayzor from 1957 to 2000, starting
as an associate and eventually becoming managing partner in Galveston
before working as a mediator. He enjoyed the practice of maritime law
and the satisfaction of successful compromise of disputes via mediation.
Patterson loved the University of Texas, Longhorn football, the
Simpsons, fast cars, and Willie Nelson. He is survived by his wife of 59
years, Connie Russo Patterson; sons, attorney Eddie and Chris; brothers,
Tom Patterson and Stephen Patterson; sister, Priscilla Patterson; and
six grandchildren.
Richard Kevin Hardage
Hardage, 58, of Dallas, died April
3, 2020. He received his law degree from Southern Methodist University
School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1989. Hardage was an
associate of Gardere & Wynne from 1989 to 1991, general counsel to
Carrington Laboratories from 1992 to 1993, an associate of Locke Purnell
Rain Harrell from 1993 to 1998, and a portfolio manager and eventually
manager of Brown Brothers Harriman. He worked at U.S. Trust Company and
was a founding member of Turtle Creek Management. Hardage was a private
pilot with instrument rating and owned interests in several planes with
friends. He was an accomplished athlete, ran seven marathons, and was a
frequent participant of the Hotter’N Hell Hundred bike race in Wichita
Falls. Hardage loved the mountains of Colorado, where he enjoyed
fly-fishing with his extended family. He is survived by his wife of 27
years, Tania Hardage; sons, Will Hardage and Jack Hardage; daughter,
Margaret Hardage; mother, Willie Mae Estes; brothers, Kelly Hardage and
Mike Hardage; and sister, Ginger Carlin.
Marlow Preston
Preston, 76, of Georgetown, died
March 22, 2020. He received his law degree from the University of Texas
School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1969. Preston
practiced consumer bankruptcy law in Dallas, Houston, and Austin. He was
named National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys Member of
the Month in April 2005. Preston was a member of Omicron Delta Kappa
Fraternity. He loved to read history, economics, and politics. Preston
enjoyed camping, traveling, and being outdoors. He is survived by his
wife of 53 years, Nancy Preston; daughter, Elizabeth Hall; three
grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
John E. Gangstad
Gangstad, 71, of Austin, died November
22, 2019. He received his law degree from the University of Texas School
of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1974. Gangstad was an
attorney at Turner, Hitchins, McInerney, Webb & Hartnett in Dallas
from June 1974 to August 1981, a partner in Brown McCarroll in Austin
from September 1981 to June 2000, and an attorney at Bickerstaff Heath
Delgado Acosta in Austin from June 2000 to November 2019. He was in the
Order of the Coif at the University of Texas School of Law. Gangstad
worked with the homeless. He enjoyed golfing and gardening. Gangstad is
survived by his wife, Cynthia Gangstad; son, Erik E. Gangstad;
daughters, Allison Gangstad Litton and Amy Gangstad; brothers, Jim
Gangstad and Karl Gangstad; sister, Lillis Marie Teran; and four
grandchildren.
Robert J. Pickens
Pickens, 83, of Tynan, died March 24,
2020. He received his law degree from the University of Texas School of
Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1961. Pickens served in the
U.S. Air Force, Reserve, and Texas Air National Guard from 1961 to 1967.
He was in private practice in Beeville and Corpus Christi from 1961 to
1967; a corporate oil and gas attorney for Sun Oil in Beaumont from 1967
to 1970; vice president and director of the Buchel National Bank of
Cuero from 1970 to 1974; a corporate oil and gas attorney at Marathon
Oil from 1974 to 1999, including two years in London, U.K., as senior
counsel for worldwide exploration on projects in the North Sea; and a
title attorney at Willey, Edwards and Wright in Houston from 1999 to
2005. Pickens enjoyed farming and ranching. He liked to hunt and was
later a wildlife watcher. Pickens was fond of country and western
dancing. He is survived by his wife of 13 years, Maridean Bock; son,
Kyle Pickens; daughter, Paige Stotts; brother, William Pickens; and
three grandchildren.
David B. Schneider
Schneider, 75, of Oklahoma City,
Oklahoma, died February 9, 2020. He received his law degree from the
University of Texas School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in
1969. Schneider was admitted to the Oklahoma Bar in 1978. He worked for
the Interstate Commerce Commission in Washington, D.C.; as counsel to
Yellow Freight System in Kansas City, Missouri; and practiced
transportation law in Oklahoma City. Schneider was Transportation
Lawyers Association president in 1996-1997. He is survived by his son,
Jerome Schneider; daughter, Michelle Schneider; and five
grandchildren.
Everett S. McCrum
McCrum, 88, of Brownwood, died
January 6, 2020. He received his law degree from the University of Texas
School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1954. McCrum was
admitted to the Louisiana Bar in 1980. He was a legal assistant at Shell
Oil in Midland from 1955 to 1963; an assistant division attorney at
Mobil Oil in Midland from 1963 to 1972 and a senior attorney at Mobil
Oil in Houston from 1972 to 1976; legal director of Mobil Oil
Exploration & Producing Southeast in New Orleans, Louisiana, from
1976 to 1986; and general counsel to Mobil Producing Texas & New
Mexico in Houston from 1986 to 1988. McCrum was legal chair of the
Offshore Operators Committee in New Orleans from 1985 to 1986. He was
chair of the Texas Mid-Continent Oil & Gas Association from 1986 to
1988. McCrum enjoyed golfing. He is survived by his wife of 61 years,
Betty A. McCrum.
Jerry Charles Walker
Walker, 76, of Fort Worth, died October
23, 2019. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1967 to 1968. Walker received
his law degree from Texas Wesleyan School of Law and was admitted to the
Texas Bar in 1995. He was an associate of the Law Office of Terry L. Cox
in Marshall in 1995 and owner of the Law Office of Jerry Walker in Fort
Worth from 1995 to 2019. Walker enjoyed the rodeo, fishing, and golf. He
is survived by his wife of 51 years, Pam Walker; daughter, attorney
Julie Jan Walker; and sister, Jan Cason.
Joseph M. Marcum
Marcum, 55, of Corpus Christi, died
March 21, 2020. He received his law degree from the University of
Arkansas School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1991. Marcum
was an associate of Meredith, Donnell & Abernethy in Corpus Christi
from 1990 to 1997, a partner in Donnell, Abernethy & Kieschnick in
Corpus Christi from 1997 to 2006, a principal in Joseph M. Marcum,
Attorney & Counselor at Law in Corpus Christi from 2006 to 2010, of
counsel to the Rangel Law Firm in Corpus Christi from 2010 to 2017, and
of counsel to Hoblit Darling Ralls Hernandez & Hudlow in Corpus
Christi from 2018 to 2020. His article “Continuing Erosion of the
Peremptory Challenge in Equal Protection Litigation” was published in
the Arkansas Law Review in fall 1989. Marcum enjoyed working
alongside, mentoring, and encouraging his daughter, Amanda, in her legal
career. He was an honest, determined, hardworking, loving husband, and
father. Marcum played shortstop at both Eastern Michigan University and
the University of Michigan from 1983 to 1987. He loved spending time
with children—coaching them in baseball and basketball and instructing
them in the fine art of fishing. Marcum never missed an opportunity to
support his children in sports or educational activities. Marcum is
survived by his wife of 30 years, Karen L. Marcum; son, Casey D. Marcum;
daughters, attorney Amanda P. Marcum, Meredith G. Marcum, and Mattie R.
Marcum; mother, Lee Marcum; father, J. Douglas Marcum; brothers, Doug
Marcum and Jason Marcum; and sisters, Tammy Minder and Cindy Dellanno.
The family requests that you consider a colonoscopy screening to raise
awareness of colon cancer—this screening could save a life.
Earl F. Hale Jr.
Hale, 74, of Comfort, died February 27,
2020. He received his law degree from Columbia Law School and was
admitted to the Texas Bar in 1970. Hale was admitted to practice in New
York in 1980. He was a partner in Carrington, Coleman, Sloman &
Blumenthal in Dallas from 1970 to 1999 and a member of the Executive
Committee, and he was in private practice as a mediator and arbitrator
in Dallas from 1999 to 2015. Hale was chairman of the St. Paul Hospital
Foundation in 2001 and served the Texas Center for Legal Ethics. He was
a creative problem solver. Hale loved modern art, classical music,
Lebanese food, and golfing. He is survived by his wife of 24 years,
Janet Gish Hale; daughter, Elizabeth Hale Spitzer; stepsons, Andrew
Richard Hayslett, Tyler Randolph Hayslett, Gregory Patrick Hayslett, and
Bryan Austin Hayslett; and three grandchildren.
Kenneth A. McGaw Jr.
McGaw, 90, of Houston, died March 9,
2020. He received his law degree from the University of Illinois College
of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1975. McGaw was admitted to
practice in Illinois in 1953 and was admitted to the California Bar in
1961. He served in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps from
1953 to 1958. McGaw was general counsel to Occidental Chemical from 1968
to 1975 and vice president and general counsel to Occident Chemical from
1975 to 1985. McGaw enjoyed painting, collecting wine and art, and
reading. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Patricia McGaw, and
daughter, Kimberly McGaw.
Abraham F. Barker
Barker, 50, of Austin, died May 22,
2020. He received his law degree from Ohio Northern University College
of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 2010. Barker was admitted to
the California Bar in 1996 and admitted to practice in Tennessee in
1999. He was a federal law clerk for U.S. District Judge Elizabeth V.
Hallanan, of the Southern District of West Virginia, in Charleston from
1997 to 1999; an attorney at King & Ballow in Nashville, Tennessee,
from 1999 to 2000; a partner in Constangy, Brooks & Smith in
Nashville from 2000 to 2009; a senior associate of Henslee Schwartz in
Austin from 2010 to 2013; and a shareholder in Eichelbaum Wardell Hansen
Powell & Muñoz in Austin from 2015 to 2020. Barker enjoyed
traveling, sports, and animals. He is survived by his wife, Colleen
Hannafin Barker; sons, Gabrial Frederic Lee Barker and Quentin Lee
Barker; daughters, Isabella Pistone and Sofia Pistone; and mother, Kathy
Barker.
James Arthur Reilly
Reilly, 103, of Lakeway, died May 23,
2020. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1946. Reilly received his
law degree from Rutgers Law School and was admitted to the Texas Bar in
1966. He was admitted to the District of Columbia Bar in 1952. Reilly
was a patent attorney at Esso Production Research from 1951 to 1982,
founding the law department in 1964 and retiring as general counsel in
1982, and of counsel to Arnold, White & Durkee from 1983 to 1991. He
was president of the Houston Intellectual Property Law Association from
1977 to 1978. Reilly received the State Bar of Texas Intellectual
Property Law Section Chair’s Award for 1987 to 1988. He was an avid
golfer and enjoyed swimming and reading. Reilly is survived by his sons,
Thomas V. Reilly and attorney Kenneth J. Reilly; daughters, Ann Harris
and Barbara Wheat; sister, Mary Nemec; nine grandchildren; and nine
great-grandchildren.
Desmond T. Jenkins
Jenkins, 33, of Trinidad, died
August 14, 2019. He received his law degree from Baylor Law School and
was admitted to the Texas Bar in 2012. Jenkins was a summer associate of
Potter Minton in Tyler in 2011, an associate of Stevens Henry in
Longview from 2012 to 2013, an associate of DeHay & Elliston in
Dallas from 2014 to 2017, an associate of the Bassett Firm in Dallas in
2018, and an associate of Starr Schoenbrun & Comte in Tyler from
2018 to 2019. He went out of his way to help others and was heavily
involved in his church in Trinidad. Jenkins is survived by his father,
Ernest Lee Jenkins; mother, Vassandral Dawson; brothers, Corey Jenkins,
Quincy Jenkins, Ahmad Jenkins, and Jerell Williams; and sisters,
Kimberly Dawson and Jacqueline Carr.
Benjamin Raye Collier
Collier, 89, of Dallas, died July
24, 2019. He served in the U.S. Army from 1951 to 1953. Collier received
his law degree from Southern Methodist University School of Law and was
admitted to the Texas Bar in 1956. He was an assistant district attorney
in the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office in Dallas from 1957 to
1959, an attorney at Superior Insurance Company in Dallas from 1959 to
1960, a partner in Stigall, Maxfield & Collier in Dallas from 1960
to 1990, and a solo practitioner in Dallas from 1990 to 2006. Collier
enjoyed golfing, hunting, and fishing. He is survived by his son,
Forrest B. Collier; daughter, Elizabeth Blair Lechtenberger; and three
grandchildren. TBJ
