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.
Nick D. Woodall
Woodall, 64, of Poetry, died May 21,
2020. He received his law degree from Baylor Law School and was admitted
to the Texas Bar in 1981. Woodall was an associate of Fanning &
Harper from 1981 to 1982; an assistant district attorney in the Dallas
County District Attorney’s Office in 1982; served as district attorney
of Rockwall County from 1982 to 1986, being the youngest elected
prosecutor in Texas; a partner in Woodall & Short from 1986 to 1994;
practiced financial planning from 1994 to 2007; and was a shareholder in
various corporations related to oil and gas, real estate, and movie
production from 2007 to 2020. He was a follower of Jesus Christ and an
active member of Lakepointe Church. Woodall was a voracious reader and a
Baylor University and Dallas Mavericks fan. He was a committed husband,
father, grandfather, brother, son, and friend. Woodall is survived by
his wife, attorney Nancy Griffin Woodall; daughter, Katherine Woodall
Simonitch; sons, Thomas G. Woodall, Stephen A. Woodall, and Jonathan M.
Woodall; mother, Vatona Woodall; brother, Gregg D. Woodall; and three
grandchildren.
Jamie C. Boyd
Boyd, 92, of Las Cruces, New Mexico, died
February 5, 2021. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1946 to
1948. Boyd received his law degree from the University of Texas School
of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1958. He was an assistant
city attorney with the city of Austin, assistant county attorney for El
Paso County, state district attorney for the 13th Judicial District of
Texas, was appointed U.S. district attorney for the U.S. District Court
for the Western District of Texas by President Jimmy Carter, and served
two terms as U.S. magistrate for the U.S. District Court for the Western
District of Texas. Boyd is survived by his wife, Sue Boyd.
James R. Hunt
Hunt, 89, of
Houston, died March 21,
2021. He received his law degree from South Texas College of Law and was
admitted to the Texas Bar in 1963. Hunt was an attorney with Adams &
Granberry in Crockett; Trinity River Authority of Texas in Huntsville;
Tillman, Pribilski & Hunt in Houston; and the Law Office of James R.
Hunt. He enjoyed working on his ranch in Crockett and deer hunting. Hunt
was an avid Dallas Cowboys fan. He is survived by his wife of 61 years,
Gail Hunt; son, John Raleigh Hunt; daughters, Lora Anne Swonke and Jamie
Elizabeth Yuna; and five grandchildren.
Philip R. Martinez
Martinez,
63, of El Paso, died
February 26, 2021. He received his law degree from Harvard Law School
and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1982. Martinez was an attorney with
Kemp, Smith, Duncan & Hammond in El Paso from 1983 to 1991, judge of
El Paso County Court at Law 1 in El Paso from 1991 to 1994, judge of the
327th District Court in El Paso from 1994 to 2002, and judge of the U.S.
District Court for the Western Division of Texas in El Paso from 2002 to
2021. He was named El Paso Young Lawyers Association Outstanding Jurist
in 2002 and a University of Texas El Paso Distinguished Alumnus in 2002.
Martinez served as chair of the American Bar Association National
Conference of Federal Trial Judges in 2002. He was committed to the law
with a passion for justice. Martinez was a firm believer in the power of
education and helped to established the Law School Preparation Institute
program for aspiring attorneys at UTEP. He was an avid golfer, and an
active parishioner at St.?Patrick Cathedral, where he played the organ
daily. Martinez is survived by his wife of 37 years, Mayela C. Martinez;
daughters, attorney Jaclyn E. Martinez Resly and Lauren A. Martinez
Supnet; father, Philip Martinez Sr.; mother, Evangelina Martinez;
brothers, Richard, Roger, and Patrick Martinez; sister, Rebecca Martinez
Sanchez; and one grandson.
Charles L.H. Staub
Staub, 33, of Houston, died December
31, 2020. He received his law degree from the University of Houston Law
Center was admitted to the Texas Bar in 2017. Staub was an attorney at
Daspit Law Firm in Houston and MacIntyre, McCulloch & Stanfield in
Houston. He was a marathon runner, an avid baseball fan and enjoyed
playing fantasy football. Staub was devoted to his golden retriever,
Dakota, who he raised from a puppy at SMU. He is survived by his father,
Charles L.H. Staub; mother, Dale DeSanto Staub; sisters, Dale Alexandra
Staub and Jacqueline Reed Staub; and grandmother, Mabel DeSanto.
Thomas Matthew Braniff
Braniff, 75,
of Houston, died
February 12, 2021. He received his law degree from St. Mary’s University
School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1970. Braniff was
broker, shareholder, and general counsel to James J. Braniff &
Company in the 1970s; he founded Texas Insurance Consulting in the
1980s; founded Braniff Attorneys | Counselors with his wife, son, and
son-in-law in 2007; and formed Insurance Forensics with Robert Gaddis in
2010. Gov. Rick Perry appointed him to the Texas Windstorm Insurance
Association Advisory Committee. Braniff served as president of the
Independent Insurance Agents of Texas and seven terms as president of
the American Association of Insurance Management Consultants. He
received the Paige Iland Political Action Award from the Independent
Insurance Agents of Texas. Braniff was known among family, friends, and
colleagues for his sharp mind, quick wit, affection for blues music, and
lifetime friendships. He is survived by his wife, attorney Wendall
Braniff; son, attorney Rhett Braniff; daughter, Farrah Braniff;
brothers, James J. Braniff III and John R. Braniff; sisters, Tenie
Braniff and Sister Ginny Braniff; and six grandchildren.
Daniel W. Daly III
Daly, 78, of
Houston, died January 15,
2021. He received his law degree from the University of Oklahoma College
of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1968. Daly was an estate tax
attorney with the IRS from 1967 to 1969; an advanced underwriter at
American General Insurance Company from 1969 to 1972; a partner in
Chamberlain, Hrdlicka, White, Johnson & Williams from 1972 to 1987,
where he served as co-head of the Estate Section and on the Executive
Committee; managing attorney of Jenkens & Gilchrist from 1988 to
1991; partner in Brown McCarroll from 1991 to 2006; and managing partner
in Oaks, Hartline & Daly from 2006 to 2021. He would light up the
room with his larger-than-life personality and positive attitude. Daly
loved to tell stories, entertain with friends, and travel the world with
the love of his life, Paula, especially to Paris. He was kind, generous,
and loving and will be deeply missed. Daly is survived by his wife of 25
years, Paula Muecke Daly; son, William Daly; daughters, Elizabeth Valdes
and Sara Edgecomb; stepsons, David Perrin and Andrew Perrin;
stepdaughter, Paige Perrin; brothers, David Daly and attorney Tom Daly;
sister, Marcia McAndrew; and 10 grandchildren.
Frank Madison Gilstrap
Gilstrap,
78, of Austin, died January
17, 2021. He received his law degree from the University of Texas School
of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1967. Gilstrap was an
attorney for more than 40 years, handling over 200 appeals, and argued
before the U.S. Supreme Court, Texas Supreme Court, five Federal Circuit
Courts of Appeals, and 12 Texas Courts of Appeals. He had an
unquenchable thirst for knowledge and loved reading, especially books
about history. Gilstrap enjoyed spending holidays with his family and
friends while football games played in the background. He was an avid
traveler and took many trips to Europe, where he was able to see and
talk about the many cities, cathedrals, and battlefields that he had
read so often about. Gilstrap is survived by his wife, Dorothy Gilstrap;
daughters, Lessie Gilstrap and Alyse Freeman; brothers, David Gilstrap
and Randy Gilstrap; and two grandchildren.
Cecil LaDon “Don” Strong
Strong, 86, of San Antonio, died July
30, 2020. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1955 to 1957. Strong
received his law degree from St. Mary’s University School of Law and was
admitted to the Texas Bar in 1972. He was a claims attorney for
Travelers Insurance in San Antonio from 1972 to 1992 and an associate of
Flahive, Ogden & Latson in Austin from 1992 to 1997. Strong was a
member of Coker United Methodist Church. He and his wife were Red Cross
volunteers. Strong was a friendly, kind, and gentle husband, father, and
grandfather. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Arlene Strong;
daughters, Nola Ostrowski and Lori Forrest; four grandchildren; and one
great-granddaughter.
John Robert Lively
Lively, 78, of
Fort Worth, died March 2,
2021. He received his law degree from the University of Texas School of
Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1968. Lively was an assistant
city attorney in the Fort Worth City Attorney’s Office from 1968 to 1970
and in private practice from 1970 to 2021, including working with his
son, John Jr. He was a member of the Tarrant County Bar Association,
including chairing the Fee Arbitration Committee; a Texas Bar Foundation
life fellow; and was recognized as a 50-Year Lawyer in 2019. Lively was
a member of the Fort Worth Airpower Council, THATT Syndicate, Fort Worth
Stock Show Syndicate, Steeplechase Club, and the Ambassador Club in New
Orleans. His passion for gardening was well known as he constantly
shared his produce with family and friends. Lively passed his knowledge
and love of gardening to his grandsons whom he taught to plant, grow,
and harvest vegetables. He got his most pleasure from spending summers
in Colorado and at his house in the mountains of North Carolina. Lively
is survived by his wife of 52 years, Brooke Kelly Lively; daughters,
Brooke E. Lively and Lauren Lively Schmid; son, attorney John R. Lively
Jr.; brother, James O. Lively; sister, Susanne Lively Gilmore; four
grandchildren; and two step-grandchildren.
Bradford L. Moore
Moore, 68, of Brownfield, died
January 2, 2021. He received his law degree from Texas Tech University
School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1978. Moore was an
attorney with McGowan & McGowan in Brownfield from 1978 to 1990 and
a solo practitioner in Brownfield from 1990 to 2021. He held various
offices with the Brownfield Bar Association, was a Texas Bar Foundation
fellow, and was a member of the West Texas Bankruptcy Bar Association.
Moore composed and recorded Christian music. He enjoyed spending time
with family and passing his fishing and carpentry skills to his children
and grandchildren. Moore is survived by his wife of 49 years, Carmie
Chaffin Moore; daughters, April Pier and Ashli Moore; brother, Bill R.
Moore; sisters, Judy Davis and Pamela Oneal; and five grandchildren.
James Berl Craft
Craft, 86, of
Kyle, died February 9,
2021. He received his law degree from the University of Houston Law
Center and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1973. Craft was admitted to
practice in Colorado in 1982. He was an attorney with George Red Law
Firm in Houston in 1974; a partner in Soap, Foster, Halla & Craft in
Houston from 1975 to 1982; and vice president and in-house counsel to
Guaranty National Insurance Company in Englewood, Colorado, from 1982 to
1998. Craft was a trial lawyer and devoted much time to pro bono
efforts. He was ombudsman for the Orange County (California) Council on
Aging. Craft is survived by his wife of 53 years, Kay Carpenter Craft;
daughters, Kelly Wilson, Heather Elliott, Elizabeth Jordan, and Kate
Craft; and eight grandchildren.
David Edward Garner
Garner, 71, of
League City, died
January 18, 2021. He served in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1971 to 1979,
being honorably discharged as a captain. Garner received his law degree
from the University of Houston Law Center and was admitted to the Texas
Bar in 1974. He was assistant criminal district attorney in the
Galveston County District Attorney’s Office from 1975 to 1980, in
private practice in League City from 1980 to 1984, a partner in Garner,
Walker, Froescher in League City and Galveston from 1985 to 1992, judge
of the 10th Judicial District Court in Galveston from 1993 to 2012, and
a senior judge from 2013 to 2021. Garner served on the Texas Young
Lawyers Association Board of Directors, served as president of the
Galveston County Bar Association, and was a Texas Bar Foundation fellow.
He enjoyed traveling, reading, and golfing. Garner is surivved by his
wife of 50 years, Linda Longoria Garner; sons, Jason Matthew Garner and
Daniel Edward Garner; daughter, Shannon Marie McClellen; brothers,
Charles Garner Jr. and Nathan Garner; sisters, attorney Margaret
Mirable, Katherine Vanya, and Natallie Sanders; and five
grandchildren.
Harold Edward Moore
Moore, 92, of
Arlington, died November
4, 2020. He served in the U.S. Army and was honorably discharged as a
second lieutenant. Moore received his law degree from the University of
Texas School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1957. He was
admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court. Moore worked in the
Texas Attorney General’s Office in Austin before joining the Industrial
Relations Department of General Dynamics in Fort Worth and was general
manager of the North Texas Contractors Association. He taught labor
relations at the University of Texas at Arlington for many years. Moore
was certified in labor and employment law by the Texas Board of Legal
Specialization and was certified by the Federal Mediation and
Conciliation Service. He published arbitration opinions in 25 volumes of
the Labor Relations Reporter, as well as in the Bureau of
National Affairs. Moore was a member of the National Academy of
Arbitrators and was an American Arbitration Association panel member. He
was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Rotary Club, Sigma Alpha
Epsilon fraternity, and an active member of his church, serving as an
usher and leader of the men’s discussion group. Moore is survived by his
wife, Nona Aston Moore; daughters, Tracey Suzanne Hill and Marena
LeMasters Gault; sister, Joan Kerr; and four grandchildren.
Russell E. Painton
Painton,
80, of Rockport, died
December 9, 2020. He received his law degree from the University of
Texas School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1972. Painton
was an associate of Brown, Maroney, Rose, Baker & Barber in Austin
from 1972 to 1973; an associate of Childs Fortenbach Beck & Guyton
in Houston in 1973; and vice president, corporate secretary, and general
counsel to Tracor Inc. in Austin from 1974 to 1998. He received the
American Jurisprudence Award in 1972 and was named Austin Legal
Professionals Association Boss of the Year in 1981. Painton enjoyed
sailing (racing and cruising), computers, and traveling. He is survived
by his wife of 40 years, Mary Lynn Weber Painton; son, Todd E. Painton;
brother, Gary M. Painton; and five grandchildren.
Robert Mark Payne
Payne, 63, of
San Antonio, died
February 27, 2021. He received his law degree from South Texas College
of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1990. Payne was admitted to
practice in Pennsylvania in 2010. He was an associate of Locke Liddell
& Sapp in Houston from 1990 to 1991, a founding partner in Payne and
James in Houston from 1992 to 2008, general counsel to Wagner Oil
Company in Fort Worth from 2008 to 2009, and a partner in Burleson in
San Antonio from 2009 to 2013. Payne was an artist in his spare time and
loved hunting and fishing. He enjoyed watching football and Baylor
sports. Payne is survived by his wife of 40 years, attorney Jana Payne;
sons, attorney Clay Payne and Cole Payne; mother, Wanda Lu Alford Payne;
sister, Sally Mitchell; and one grandson.
John M. Pinckney III
Pinckney, 80,
of San Antonio, died
December 26, 2020. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps as an infantry
officer from 1963 to 1967. Pinckney received his law degree from
American University Washington College of Law and was admitted to the
Texas Bar in 1971. He served in various positions in the federal
government in Washington, D.C., including in the Office of Management
and Budget and the Executive Office of the President from 1967 to 1972;
was assistant U.S. attorney of the U.S. District Court for the Western
District of Texas from 1973 to 1975 and first assistant U.S. attorney of
the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas from 1975 to
1977; entered private practice in 1977, including time with Matthews,
Nowlin, Macfarlane & Barrett; Matthews & Branscomb; Wells,
Pinckney, McHugh; Strasburger & Price, and others until 2020; and
was senior counsel to Clark Hill Strasburger in 2020. Pinckney served as
chair of the State Bar of Texas 10-A Grievance Committee. He was
certified in criminal appellate law and civil trial law by the Texas
Board of Legal Specialization and tried more than 150 jury cases to
verdict. Pinckney was a competitor with a deep-seated sense of integrity
and loyalty in life, family, and the practice of law. He was a
University of Texas Longhorns baseball letterman. Pinckney was a
handball player, a committed fan of University of Texas sports, and he
enjoyed watching baseball, especially the Houston Astros. He was a
storyteller, having an incredible memory; an avid reader, with a special
interest in American history, the Constitution, and all things
political. Pinckney is survived by his wife of 57 years, Janice A.
Pinckney; son, John M. Pinckney IV; daughter, J. Kemper Pinckney;
brother, Roger Pinckney; sister, Mary Sue Neptune; and four
grandchildren.
William Thomas “Tom” McDonald Jr.
McDonald,
81, of Bryan, died
February 17, 2021. He received his law degree from the University of
Texas School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1965. McDonald
was an assistant district attorney in the Travis County District
Attorney’s Office in Austin from 1966 to 1967, assistant county and
assistant district attorney in the Brazos County District Attorney’s
Office in Bryan from 1967 to 1968, Brazos County attorney in Bryan from
1968 to 1977, judge of the 85th Judicial District Court in Bryan from
1978 to 1990, senior district judge of the 85th Judicial District Court
in Bryan from 1991 to 2021, and a mediator/arbitrator in Bryan from 1991
to 2021. McDonald received the State Bar of Texas Criminal Justice
Section Outstanding Jurist of the Year Award in 1987, the Texas Bar
Foundation Samuel Pessarra Outstanding Jurist Award in 1995, and was
recognized as a distinguished mediator by the Texas Mediator
Credentialing Association in 2004. He had an unwavering commitment to
addressing social issues. McDonald had an unquenchable interest in
American history, politics, and the environment. He was committed to his
church, having a hand in most everything that went on at St. Andrew’s
Episcopal Church in Bryan. McDonald is survived by his wife of more than
50 years, Caroline Sweeney McDonald; sons, Scott McDonald and Don
McDonald; sister, Lucy Sanders; and two grandchildren.
Sybil Balasco
Balasco, 97,
of Houston, died April 2,
2021. She received her law degree from the University of Houston Law
Center and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1956. Balasco was an
attorney with Seymour Lieberman and Bert Wheeler; founded Balasco &
Balasco with her late husband, Ralph; was appointed as referee to the
Houston courts by Texas Rep. William Marshall Elliott; and was an
associate judge in the Harris County Domestic Relations Court before
retiring in 1984. She traveled the world with her husband in retirement,
from Russia and China to Scandinavia and France, Paris being a
particularly special place to her. Balasco frequented Taos, New Mexico,
where she and her husband developed an appetite for Southwestern art,
including sculpture and pottery. Friendships were important to her and
she maintained relationships with friends throughout her many years.
Balasco is survived by her brother, Herschel Premack.
William H. Montgomery
Montgomery, 90, of McCall, Idaho,
died December 26, 2019. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the
Korean War and retired after 20 years in the Marine Corps Reserve as a
major. Montgomery received his law degree from Seton Hall Law School and
was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1980. He was admitted to practice in
New Jersey in 1970, the U.S. Supreme Court in 1975, and the U.S. Patent
and Trademark Court in 1984. Montgomery was a chemical engineer at
Monsanto in Michigan and New Jersey; corporate counsel to Lummus
Corporation in Bloomfield, New Jersey, from 1970 to 1980; corporate
counsel to CREST Engineering Services, Vetco Gray, and ABB in Houston
from 1978 to 2006; and U.S. Patent Attorney Consulting in Houston from
1984 to 2008. He received chemical engineering and MBA degrees from the
University of Michigan. Montgomery’s interests included a passion for
offshore sailing, small aircraft flying, traveling, and a lifelong love
of learning. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Shirley Montgomery;
daughters, Ann Montgomery and Judy Montgomery; and two grandsons.
Paul E. Lokey
Lokey, 81, of
Dallas, died December 20,
2020. He received his law degree from Baylor Law School and was admitted
to the Texas Bar in 1964. Lokey was an attorney at various firms in
Dallas from 1964 to 2014, including Paul E. Lokey & Co. from 1983 to
2014. He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Liz M. Lokey; son, Keith
Paul Lokey; daughters, Tracey Lokey, Stephanie Lokey, and Kristi Lokey;
nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Robert Jackson Grant
Grant, 91, of
Abilene, died February
16, 2021. He served in the U.S. armed forces from 1946 to 1948. Grant
received his law degree from Southern Methodist University School of Law
and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1972. He was a lawyer with Jack
Grant in Fort Worth from 1972 to 1978, first assistant district attorney
in the Taylor County District Attorney’s Office in Abilene from 1978 to
1988, and judge of Taylor County Court at Law #1 in Abilene from 1988 to
2002. Grant preached for 25 years and taught business law at Abilene
Christian University. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Betty
Phillips Grant; sons, David and Glenn; daughter, Dianne Kirk; eight
grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Earle P. Martin III
Martin, 65, of
Houston, died December
31, 2020. He received his law degree from the University of Texas School
of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1980. Martin was an
associate of Vinson & Elkins in Houston from 1980 to 1983. He is
survived by his wife of 31 years, Deborah Martin; sons, Tom, Daniel, and
Grant Martin; father, Earle P. Martin Jr.; brother, Grant Martin; and
sister, Melinda Stubbs.
Walter Hugh Harrell
Harrell, 96,
of Lubbock, died March
30, 2021. He served in the U.S. Army from 1944 to 1946. Harrell received
his law degree and LL.M. from Baylor Law School and was admitted to the
Texas Bar in 1950. He was a solo practitioner in Lubbock from 1951 to
2014 and in Longview from 2014 to 2020. Harrell was admitted to practice
before the U.S. Supreme Court. He loved anything that was connected with
Baylor University. Harrell enjoyed playing tennis, bridge, hunting, and
fishing. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Dorothy Harrell; sons,
Gary Harrell and Stephen Harrell; daughter, Deborah Harrell Wasson;
three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
William Randolph “Randy” Savage
Savage, 76,
of Meadowlakes, died
February 7, 2021. He received his law degree from the University of
Texas School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1969. Savage
was an attorney with the Small Business Administration in Corpus Christi
from 1970 to 1971, with Jake Jarmon in Corpus Christi from 1971 to 1972,
and with the SBA in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, from 1972 to 1973; a
solo practitioner in Marble Falls from 1973 to 2002; and judge of Burnet
County Court at Law in Burnet from 2002 to 2014. He was president and
vice president of the Burnet County Bar Association and president of the
Hill County Bar Association. Savage enjoyed traveling, camping, and
family get-togethers. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Kathryn
Alger Savage; sons, Michael, Greg, Jeffrey, and Robert; sister, Mary Ann
Savage Fletcher; and seven grandchildren.
Stella Ortiz Kyle
Kyle, 70, of
San Antonio, died January
31, 2021. She received her law degree from St. Mary’s University School
of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1987. Kyle was an attorney
in the San Antonio City Attorney’s Office from 1987 to 1993, presiding
judge of San Antonio Municipal Court from 1993 to 2002, a solo
practitioner focusing on family law in San Antonio from 2002 to 2013,
and judge of Cibolo Municipal Court from 2003 to 2010. She was the first
female presiding judge of the San Antonio municipal court. Kyle served
on the Texas Judicial Council from 1997 to 1999 and was president of the
Texas Municipal Courts Association from 1998 to 1999. She enjoyed
traveling, snow skiing, water skiing, and reading. Kyle had a Ph.D. in
psychology from the University of Texas. She is survived by her sons,
Peter Christopher Kyle III and Joshua Todd Kyle; mother, Irene Polanco
Ortiz; brother, Manuel "Manny” Ortiz; and three grandchildren.
Jeffrey Garner Hamilton
Hamilton,
50, of Dallas, died
October 5, 2020. He received his law degree from Emory University School
of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1995. Hamilton was a
briefing attorney for Judge Terry R. Means, of the U.S. District Court
for the Northern District of Texas, in Fort Worth from 1995 to 1997; an
associate of and partner in Jackson Walker in Dallas from 1997 to 2017;
and a partner in Calhoun, Bhella & Sechrest in Dallas from 2018 to
2020. He was the notes and comments editor for the Emory Law
Journal and a member of the Order of the Coif. Hamilton was a
sports fan and enjoyed snow skiing and spending time with his family. He
is survived by his son, Cade William Hamilton; daughter, Claudia Elise
Hamilton; father, David Morse; mother, Judy Hamilton Morse; brother,
Bryan William Hamilton; and sisters, Lindsey Katherine Heinz and Ashley
Brooke Morse.
Donna Ruth Thomas
Thomas, 88, of
Pasadena, died January
14, 2021. She received her law degree from the University of Houston Law
Center and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1973. Thomas was in private
practice in Deer Park and Shoreacres from 1973 to 1996, a judge for
Morgan’s Point from 1998 to 2008, in private mediation, and an adjunct
faculty member in law for the University of Houston-Clear Lake from 1996
to 2009 and Legal Foundations of Education at Concordia University in
2009. She was a member of the American Bar Association, Houston Bar
Association, and Pasadena Bar Association. Thomas was chair of the Deer
Park Charter Review Committee from 1974 to 1975, a member of the Deer
Park Chamber of Commerce from 1979 to 2009, a member of the Rotary Club
from 1987 to 1996, and director of the Harris-Galveston Subsidence
District from 1981 to 1988. She served as a Trustee on the Deer Park
Independent School District Board from 1992 to 2016; the Texas Library
Association Board of Trustees from 1964 to 1970, including as president
from 1969 to 1970; and the American Library Trustees Association
Legislative Committee from 1968 to 1970, including serving as chair from
1969 to 1970. Thomas is survived by her son, Anthony K. Thomas;
daughter, Jane A. Henson; six grandchildren; and two
great-grandchildren.TBJ
