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.
Joseph Bonner Dorsey
Dorsey, 78, of Corpus Christi, died
August 27, 2020. He received his law degree from the University of Texas
School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1967. Dorsey served
in Vietnam as a military police officer, with the U.S. Army Judge
Advocate General’s Corps, and the U.S. Army Reserve. He was awarded the
Bronze Star Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Commendation
Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal with V for
his valor and bravery, and he was honorably discharged as a major.
Dorsey was an attorney in Corpus Christi before being appointed to the
13th Court of Appeals in Edinburg by Gov. Mark White in 1985. Following
retirement, he served as a visiting judge across South Texas where he
often resolved cases on property and land disputes. Dorsey never lost
his love of reading cases and working with colleagues in courthouses
across South Texas. He would return from trips to the courthouse full of
stories and joy. Dorsey carried on his ancestors’ tradition of loving
South Texas, the law, and a desire to see the world a more just place.
He and his family were active in progressive politics in the 1970s and
1980s. Dorsey is survived by his wife of over 52 years, Linda Anderson
Dorsey; sons, Joseph Allen Dorsey II and Christopher Arrell Dorsey;
daughter, Margaret Ellen Dorsey; and nine grandchildren.
Larry Duncan Thompson
Thompson, 80, of Cypress, died
September 2, 2020. He received his law degree from the University of
Texas School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1964. Thompson
worked for Liberty Mutual before founding Lorance Thompson in 1970. He
served on the Supreme Court of Texas Civil Justice Committee and
provided pro bono services for certain environmental causes. Thompson
defended hundreds of officials and other health care providers and took
on high-profile cases such as those highlighted in Soldier of
Fortune and Blood and Money, a book by his brother, Tommy.
He ran two Boston Marathons and was an early proponent of the Houston
Marathon. Thompson was a loving and dedicated father to his treasured
children. He is survived by his wife, Vicki Thompson; sons, Casey, Kel,
and Ryan; stepdaughter, Scarlett Brann; and five grandchildren.
Victor A. Gonzalez Jr.
Gonzalez, 67, of Bastrop, died
September 19, 2020. He served in the U.S. Army from 1971 to 1975.
Gonzalez received his law degree from Texas Southern University Thurgood
Marshall School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1993. He
formed Politechs, Inc. in Austin, which operated from 1993 to 2011,
subsequently worked in private practice in Bastrop from 2011 to 2016,
and as an attorney at Tuck Law Group in Bastrop from 2016 to 2018.
Gonzalez was a dedicated public servant. He enjoyed playing guitar and
listening to music. Gonzalez is survived by his wife of 33 years, Karol
Rice; and sisters, Lisa Segura, Anna Byrne, and Elsa Denson.
Arthur Stamm
Stamm, 91, of Boerne, died August 30,
2020. He served in the U.S. Army and Reserve from 1952 to 1954. Stamm
received his law degree from Valparaiso University School of Law and was
admitted to the Texas Bar in 1963. He was admitted to practice in
Indiana in 1952 and in Illinois in 1953. Stamm was an associate of
Oldham & Lorance in Houston from 1963 to 1967, a partner in Lorance
Stamm in Houston from 1967 to 1968, a solo practitioner in Houston from
1969 to 1973, and a civil trial attorney at Baker Botts in Houston from
1973 to 1989. He was a historian and author of several books, including
Letters from Korea, An Artilleryman’s View, and 1941: When
the Axis Could Have Won. Stamm worked on many home and landscape
construction projects. He enjoyed listening to music and singing in the
church choir. Stamm is survived by his wife of 69 years, Cecelia Joan
Denker Stamm; son, Kevin Stamm; daughters, Kathryn Degner and Rachel
Streety; five grandchildren; and one step-grandchild.
Thomas J. Huebner
Huebner, 71, of Port Isabel, died
April 26, 2020. He received his law degree from the University of Texas
School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1975. Huebner was an
attorney in the Texas Comptroller’s Office in Austin from 1975 to 1990
and a solo practitioner in South Padre Island from 1991 to 2016. He
enjoyed smoking cigars, watching sports, and being at the beach. Huebner
is survived by his stepdaughter, Melissa Caramonta; brothers, James
Huebner, Charles Huebner, and Paul Huebner; and one grandchild.
Ronald L. Frazee
Frazee, 73, of Dallas, died June 24,
2020. He served in the U.S. Navy as a naval aviator from 1970 to 1974
and in the Reserve from 1974 to 2000. Frazee received his law degree
from the University of Montana Alexander Blewett III School of Law and
his LL.M. from Boston University School of Law and was admitted to the
Texas Bar in 1985. He was admitted to the Montana Bar in 1977. Frazee
was an associate of Crowley, Haughey, Hanson, Toole & Dietrich in
Billings, Montana, from 1978 to 1982; senior international counsel and
senior tax counsel to Hunt Oil Company in Dallas from 1982 to 1989;
international senior attorney at ARCO International Oil and Gas Company
in Plano from 1989 to 1990; vice president and general counsel to
Mayfair Petroleum in Dallas from 1990 to 1998; and a solo practitioner
from 1998 to 2020. He was a member of the Dallas Bar Association. Frazee
was known for his dedication and professionalism and was widely regarded
as an expert in the areas of corporate taxation and international oil
and gas law. He enjoyed helping clients with their personal legal
matters as well as working as part of a team in complex corporate
negotiations, including his work with JHI Associates as in-house counsel
from 2015 to 2020. Frazee loved animals and enjoyed working with rescue
animals. He is survived by his longtime companion, Judy Wagner, and many
relatives.
Webb F. Joiner Jr.
Joiner, 59, of Dallas, died July 6,
2020. He received his law degree from Southern Methodist University
School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1988. Joiner was an
attorney with Vaughan & Ramsey from 2011 to 2020. He was known as
Webb Jr. to his family and friends. Joiner enjoyed spending time with
his two children, traveling, and watching college football. He is
survived by his son, Webb H. Joiner; daughter, Francis A. Joiner;
father, Webb F. Joiner Sr.; mother, Rosemary Joiner; and sisters,
Melissa Patterson and Jenee Morgan.
Thomas L. Crisman
Crisman, 78, of Dallas, died August
3, 2020. He received his law degree from Georgetown University Law
Center and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1969. Crisman was admitted
to the Virginia Bar in 1969. He was a patent attorney and partner in
Johnson & Gibbs in Dallas from 1987 to 1995, a patent attorney and
shareholder in Jenkens & Gilchrist in Dallas from 1995 to 2004, an
attorney and principal in McKool Smith in Dallas from 2004 to 2012,
executive vice president of patent development at PanOptis Patent
Management in Plano from 2012 to 2017, and executive vice president of
intellectual property at Marconi Group in Dallas from 2017 to 2018.
Crisman was a volunteer for the nonprofit Vipassana Meditation for 40
years and a meditation teacher. He was a world traveler, having visited
every continent, and enjoyed scuba diving. Crisman was a voracious
reader. He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Tina M. Crisman;
daughter, Courtney Crisman; sister, Nelda Gelber; and two
grandchildren.
Kent W. Shriver
Shriver, 57, of The Woodlands, died
August 15, 2020. He received his law degree from South Texas College of
Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1988. Shriver was an attorney
at the Law Office of Grady W. James Jr. in Conroe from 1986 to 1997 and
was a partner in Shriver & McLean in The Woodlands from 1997 to
2020. He was certified in family law by the Texas Board of Legal
Specialization in 1993. Shriver enjoyed running, biking, and traveling.
He is survived by his fiancée, Jayna McCarthy; son, Chase Shriver;
daughter, Abigail Shriver; mother, Myrna Shriver; and brother, Mark
Shriver.
Chris Elliott
Elliott, 58, of Austin, died September
17, 2020. He received his law degree from Baylor Law School and was
admitted to the Texas Bar in 1990. Elliott was a briefing attorney for
Chief Justice Bob Shannon and Justice Mack Kidd, of the 3rd Court of
Appeals in Austin, from 1990 to 1991; general counsel to the Texas State
Senate Committee on Criminal Justice in Austin in 1991; an associate of
Graves, Dougherty, Hearon & Moody in Austin from 1991 to 1992; a
partner in Crews & Elliott in Austin from 1992 to 2007; and a
shareholder in Graves, Dougherty, Hearon & Moody in Austin from 2007
to 2020. He served on the Austin Bar Association Civil Litigation
Section Board of Directors; was American Constitution Society Austin
Lawyer Chapter director; and was Capital Area Trial Lawyers Association
president. Elliott was a natural leader, selfless, and served his
community through pro bono work and nonprofit boards. He is survived by
his wife, Marie Rose Theresa “Tish” Hinojosa; son, Charles “Boone”
Elliott; daughter, Maria Lilianna “Lily” Elliott; father, Charles
Elliott; stepmother, Paula Chastain Elliott; and sister, Kim
Elliott.
Susan J. Oliver
Oliver, 56, of Beaumont, died August
17, 2020. She received her law degree from the University of Houston Law
Center and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1989. Oliver was city
prosecutor for Sour Lake; an associate of Benckenstein & Oxford in
Beaumont from 1989 to 1999; a solo practitioner in Beaumont from 1999 to
2003; in combined practice with Lynn M. Bencowitz in Beaumont from 2003
to 2020; city attorney for Nome; and a municipal judge in Rose City. She
visited her beloved grandparents in Tennessee approximately every two
months until their deaths and loved her three stepdaughters and four
grandchildren. Oliver enjoyed tennis, fishing, scuba diving, and golf;
she had a special place in her heart for Sanibel Island in Florida where
she and her wife, Lynn, vacationed twice a year. She was funny, kind,
thoughtful, and tried genuinely to help other people throughout her
life, from collecting for the March of Dimes to actively supporting the
Alzheimer’s Association and the Triangle AIDS Network. Oliver is
survived by her wife of 15 years, attorney Lynn M. Bencowitz; daughters,
Melissa Higgins, Katherine Sze, and Rebecca Bencowitz; father, William
Joseph Oliver; mother, Gloria Hillhouse Oliver; and four
grandchildren.
Wade O. Allison
Allison, 38, of Austin, died September
10, 2020. He received his law degree from the University of Houston Law
Center and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 2014. Allison was a law
clerk for Justice Jeff Brown, of the Texas Supreme Court, in Austin from
2014 to 2015, and an associate of Baker Botts in Austin from 2015 to
2020. He was a nationally famous heavy metal guitarist. Allison is
survived by his wife, Claire Allison; son, Owen; and daughter,
May.TBJ
