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.
Michael Elliott McClendon
McClendon, 70, of Austin, died
February 27, 2021. He served in the U.S. Army Infantry in Vietnam and
was stationed in West Germany. McClendon received his law degree from
the University of Texas School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar
in 1984. He was a civil attorney for Vinson & Elkins in Houston, an
attorney in the Office of the Texas Attorney General in Austin, and
worked for the Judge Judy Show. McClendon graduated in the top 10 of his
class. He was a contrarian. McClendon trekked the Appalachian Trial and
cleaned hiking trails in Austin. He is survived by his sister, Cynthia
Nicolini.
Charles B. “Bucky” Tennison
Tennison, 79, of San Antonio, died
January 18, 2021. He received his law degree from Southern Methodist
University School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1968.
Tennison worked as a stockbroker on Wall Street for 18 months, was
appointed to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in San Antonio, worked in
criminal trial law in the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office, and
was later in private practice. He is survived by his wife of 40 years,
Eileen W. Tennison; son, Charles Tennison Jr.; and two
grandchildren.
Gary J. Holloway
Holloway, 54, of Plano, died May 4,
2021. He received his law degree from South Texas College of Law and was
admitted to the Texas Bar in 2001. Holloway was admitted to the Kentucky
Bar in 2012. He was a clerk and litigation assistant at Kilburn, Jones,
Gill & Campbell from 1999 to 2001, an associate of Kilburn, Jones,
Gill & Campbell from 2001 to 2003, in private practice from 2003 to
2017, and general counsel to Diversity Petroleum from 2008 to 2009.
Holloway is survived by his wife of 14 years, Michelle Holloway; son,
Christian Holloway; mother, Shirley Reuland; brother, Roger Holloway;
and sister, Tammy Lambert.
R. Leon Trotter
Trotter, 68, of Charlotte, North
Carolina, died April 24, 2021. He received his law degree from Southern
Methodist University School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in
1982. Trotter was an associate of Brice & Barron from 1980 to 1985,
a partner in Speer, Giles & Trotter from 1985 to 1988, general
counsel to R.L. Trotter Woodworking LLC from 1988 to 2001, and a
contract attorney at Kilpatrick Townsend from 2016 to 2020. He was
involved in his church’s ministry from 2001 to 2011. Trotter was an
actor. He is survived by his wife of seven years, attorney Gloria
Topping Trotter; son, Kyle Trotter; daughters, Erin Trotter and Cara
Trotter; mother, Shirley Trotter; brothers, Ricky Trotter and Randy
Trotter; and one grandchild.
Rex H. White Jr.
White, 88, of Austin, died April 4, 2021.
He received his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law
and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1967. White was admitted to
practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Courts of Appeal for the
5th and 11th Circuits, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S.
District Court for the Western District of Texas. He was an assistant
attorney general in the Office of the Texas Attorney General in Austin
from 1967 to 1976, special counsel to the Railroad Commission of Texas
in Austin from 1976 to 1979, a partner in O’Neill, Haase & White in
Austin from 1979 to 1986, a founding partner in White & Grove in
Austin from 1986 to 1991, a partner in Hutcheson & Grundy in Austin
from 1991 to 1998, and a solo practitioner in Austin from 1998 to 2020.
White was a three-term president, chair, and chair emeritus of the Texas
Independent Producers & Royalty Owners Association, or TIPRO. He was
awarded the Mr. TIPRO Award. White was a member of the Interstate Oil
and Gas Compact Commission. He was known for his integrity. White
enjoyed sailing and traveling. He is survived by his wife of 40 years,
Brenda White; sons, Rex H. White III and Eric Polnau; and eight
grandchildren.
William Coppersmith
Coppersmith, 68, of Olathe,
Kansas, died May 11, 2020. He received his law degree from Washburn
University School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1979.
Coppersmith was admitted to practice in Kansas in 1978. He was an
attorney with Shell Oil Company. Coppersmith enjoyed reading, spending
time with his granddaughters, and studying genealogy. He is survived by
his wife, Gail; son, Matt; daughter, Catie; and three grandchildren.
Ellen Myers Wilson
Wilson, 35, of Longview, died April 30,
2021. She received her law degree from Texas Tech University School of
Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 2010. Wilson was a solo
practitioner. She loved flying with her dad; her passion and skill as a
pilot carried into adulthood as one of her favorite hobbies. Wilson had
an exceptional academic career and a lifelong love of learning—she
started medical school at the University of North Texas and received her
doctorate of osteopathic medicine in 2014. She had a heart to love on
people and was constantly scheming to find ways to bless people she knew
needed help. Wilson is survived by her husband of 12 years, Matthew
Wayne Wilson; sons, Benjamin and John; father, Buddy Myers; mother,
Julia Myers; and sister, Beth Myers.
John O. Kain
Kain, 89, of Sugar Land, died November 25,
2020. He served in the U.S. Army. Kain received his law degree from the
University of Texas School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in
1958. He was a partner in Powell, Tucker, Kain & Reedy in Houston
from 1958 to 1970 and senior partner in Kain & Reedy in Houston.
Kain was a critical thinker and gifted storyteller. He had a prodigious
memory and was extremely witty and charming. Kain enjoyed playing golf,
racquetball, and tennis. He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Sharmen
Winterfeld-Kain; son, Jordan Winterfeld; daughters, Susan Grainge, Karen
Kain, Colleen Kain, and Lauren Little; sisters, Colleen T. Kain and
Caroline Galloway; and seven grandchildren.
Carl Lynn Ray
Ray, 86, of New Braunfels, died March 9,
2021. He served in the U.S. Army in 1954. Ray received his law degree
from the University of Houston Law Center and was admitted to the Texas
Bar in 1963. He was an associate of Fulbright & Jaworski in Houston
from 1963 to 1964 and owner of the Law Offices of Carl L. Ray in Houston
from 1964 to 1999 and in Port O’Connor from 1999 to 2016. Ray was
recognized as a 50-Year Lawyer in 2013. He was a member of the Texas
Trial Lawyers Association and Houston Bar Association. Ray formed the
Port O’Connor Chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association and served
on the CCA Texas Executive Board and Texas Power & Water Committee.
He enjoyed fishing and quail hunting. Ray is survived by his wife of 44
years, Pamela A. Ray; son, Carl Randall Ray; daughters, Leslie Ray
Griffith and Trenton Ray DeSpain; five grandchildren; and five
great-grandchildren.
Travis Fontaine Erskine
Erskine, 43, of Houston, died April
16, 2021. He received his law degree from South Texas College of Law and
was admitted to the Texas Bar in 2004. Erskine was an associate attorney
at Brown Sims in Houston from 2005 to 2007, at Donato, Minx, Brown &
Pool in Houston from 2007 to 2016, and at Walker Wilcox Matousek in
Houston from 2016 to 2021. He was admitted to practice before the U.S.
District Court for the Southern District of Texas. Erskine had an
ability to get along with people of all walks of life and to be a
friendly arbitrator. He coached soccer and basketball for his three
daughters. Erskine enjoyed hunting and watching and attending Texas
A&M University sports events with his girls and family. He is
survived by his daughters, Gracie, Mackenzie, and Brinlee; father, Mark
N. Erskine; mother, Kathy Crews Erskine; and brothers, Newton Erskine,
Todd Erskine, and Cary Erskine.
Arch B. Gilbert
Gilbert, 87, of Fort Worth, died
January 18, 2021. He received his law degree from the University of
Oklahoma College of Law, his LL.M. in taxation from Southern Methodist
University School of Law, and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1960.
Gilbert was admitted to the Oklahoma Bar in 1957. He served in the U.S.
Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps from 1957 to 1960. Gilbert was
an attorney with Thompson, Walker, Smith Shannon from 1960 to 1962 and
with Brooks, Tarlton, Gilbert from 1962 to 1979 and was a solo
practitioner in trust and estate, oil and gas, and securities law. He
was known for his entrepreneurial nature, which led him to form and
operate multiple companies in areas ranging from oil and gas to medical
care. Gilbert was a devoted fan of Oklahoma University football and
women’s basketball. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Jo;
daughters, Shannon Moten and Devon Vrana; and four grandchildren.
Harry Lee Hall
Hall, 89, of San Antonio, died February
24, 2021. He received his law degree from the University of Texas School
of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1956. Hall was admitted to
the California Bar in 1973. He served in the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate’s
Generals Corps and U.S. Coast Guard from 1957 to 1977, receiving the
National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, and Naval Achievement
Medal. Hall was a JAG officer in NAS Rota, Spain; the Pentagon in
Washington, D.C.; the U.S. Department of Justice in New York; 5th Naval
District Headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia; Sangley Point in the
Philippines; 12th Naval District Headquarters in San Francisco,
California; and Commander Fighter Wing in San Diego, California; a
federal public defender in El Paso from 1977 to 1980; and assistant U.S.
attorney in Brownsville from 1981 to 1988. Hall was a member of Sigma
Chi Fraternity and Phi Alpha Delta Legal Fraternity. He was admitted to
practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Courts of Appeals for the
2nd, 5th, and 9th Circuits, U.S. Court of Claims, U.S. Court of Military
Appeals, and the Texas Supreme Court. Hall was editor of the Texas
Law Review and was honor graduate at Naval OCS. He was an avid
golfer and fisherman. Hall is survived by his son, Harry Lee Hall III;
daughters, Winn Hall Jaimes and Margaret Hall McDaniel; and five
grandchildren.TBJ
