Memorials January 2022
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.
Walter “Walt” Lee Draper
Draper, 76, of
Houston, died August 24, 2021. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard from
1962 to 1968. Draper received his law degree from South Texas College of
Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1980. He was in private
practice with an emphasis in criminal law; oil, gas, and energy
resources; and real estate. Draper enjoyed cooking and having meals with
friends and family. He is survived by his wife of over 25 years, Mary
McGoey; stepsons, Charles McGoey, John McGoey, and Matt Whitson;
stepdaughters, Deborah Wells and Samantha Strickland; brother, George
Wilson; sister, Julie Howcroft; nine grandchildren; and three
great-grandchildren.
Theodore J. Ralph
Ralph, 90, of
San Antonio, died February 22, 2021. He served in the U.S. Army from
1954 to 1956 and received the National Defense Service Medal and Good
Conduct Medal. Ralph received his law degree from the University of
Wisconsin Law School and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1979. He was
admitted to the Wisconsin Bar in 1962 and to the Nebraska Bar in 1963.
Ralph was an attorney with Kiewit Corporation in Omaha, Nebraska, from
1963 to 1973; an engineer and claims attorney with A. Matthew Consulting
in Arcadia, California, from 1973 to 1978; and an attorney with H.B.
Zachry Company in San Antonio from 1978 to 2011. He served as an
arbitrator in construction disputes through the American Arbitration
Association. Ralph served three terms as mayor of Hill Country Village.
He enjoyed reading, spending time outdoors, and visiting his
grandchildren. Ralph is survived by his son, attorney Daniel Ralph;
daughter, Rachel Gibson; and two grandchildren.
Michael P. Hodge
Hodge, 80, of
Santa Fe, New Mexico, died May 20, 2021. He received his law degree from
the University of Texas School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar
in 1965. Hodge served two years in the U.S. Army. He was in private
practice in Houston, an attorney for Houston Legal Aid Center, in
various capacities for the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office,
Medina County justice of the peace for one term, attorney-in-chief of
the Law Enforcement Division of the Office of the Texas Attorney
General, an attorney for the National Association of Attorneys General,
and litigation director of the San Antonio City Attorney’s Office. Hodge
co-authored Money Laundering: A Practice Manual for State
Prosecutors. He was a talented photographer, and he enjoyed music,
travel, and visits with his many friends. Hodge is survived by his wife
of 55 years, Carol.
Enrique Dovalina
Dovalina,
72, of Houston, died May 3, 2021. He received his law degree from the
University of Houston Law Center and was admitted to the Texas Bar in
1980. Dovalina practiced law for 40 years, primarily in personal injury,
worker’s compensation, criminal, and family law. He served as the League
of United Latin American Citizens, or LULAC, national president from
1998 to 2002, during which time he published the LULAC Civil Rights
Manual and opened the LULAC Texas office in Austin. Dovalina served
as president of his LULAC Council, district director of LULAC District
8, National League counsel, and in the 1998 LULAC National Convention in
Dallas. He was a tireless advocate for his community. Dovalina is
survived by his wife of 27 years, Lisa Alcantar Dovalina; and sons,
Richard Jason Dovalina and Michael Dovalina.
Hugh Edward McGee Jr.
McGee, 91, of Houston, died May 20, 2020.
He served in U.S. Navy ROTC, the U.S. Marine Corps, and the U.S. Army.
McGee received his law degree from Baylor Law School and was admitted to
the Texas Bar in 1953. He was a partner in Albritton & McGee in
Houston and in the Law Offices of Hugh E. McGee Jr. in Houston. McGee
practiced law for over 50 years. He was devoted to his large and loving
family. McGee was respected by clients and friends for his wisdom and
advice. He enjoyed sports and coaching youth sports. McGee is survived
by his sons, attorney Hugh E. “Skip” McGee III, attorney Richard K.
McGee, and James B. McGee; daughters, attorney Lynne McGee Johnson and
Jennifer McGee Nash; 18 grandchildren; and seven
great-grandchildren.
Nancy L. Huston
Huston, 70, of
Houston, died May 28, 2021. She received her law degree from the
University of Texas School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in
1976. Huston was an attorney with the Law Firm of Dudsening & Webb
from 1977 to 1982, a solo practitioner from 1983 to 2021, served four
years as Harris County District Courts tax master, and operated
Mediation Offices of Nancy Huston. She served on many committees of the
Houston Bar Association, the American Association of Attorney-Mediators,
and the Houston Dispute Resolution Center. Huston was an adjunct
professor of law in mediation at the University of Houston Law Center.
She is survived by her husband of 39 years, Roger Rider, and two sons,
attorneys Matthew Huston Rider and Zachary Alan Huston Rider.
Thomas Randall “Randy” Matthews
Matthews,
74, of Dallas, died August 11, 2021. He received his law degree from
Southern Methodist University School of Law and was admitted to the
Texas Bar in 1972. Matthews served in the U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate
General’s Corps. He was a shareholder in Winstead, McGuire, Sechrest
& Trimble, now Winstead, in Dallas, and practiced with the firm for
36 years. Matthews was a member of the Texas Association of Bank
Counsel, State Bar of Texas Business Section Legal Opinion Committee,
and Dallas Bar Association. He was a member of the Order of the Coif.
Matthews was a true animal lover and advocate for animal rights with a
special affection for West Highland White Terriers. He was a man of
unquestionable honor; a loyal, generous friend who possessed a dry,
witty sense of humor. Matthews was an excellent tennis player who
lettered in varsity tennis while an undergraduate at SMU. He is survived
by his wife of 45 years, Marie Therese “Terrie” Matthews.
Royce Leon Pettis
Pettis, 87, of
Beaumont, died February 17, 2021. He received his law degree from Baylor
Law School and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1959. Pettis was city
attorney for Amarillo from 1959 to 1960, assistant county attorney of
Potter County in Amarillo from 1960 to 1962, assistant district attorney
in Jefferson County in Beaumont from 1962 to 1964, attorney in Gulf
States Utilities Claims Department in Beaumont from 1964 to 1967, and in
private practice in Beaumont from 1967 to 2015. He is survived by his
wife of 61 years, Linda Evelyn Pettis; son, Wade Leon Pettis; daughters,
Susan Evelyn Gillam and Carolyn Virginia Quill; nine grandchildren; and
three great-grandchildren.
Steven C. James
James, 68, of El Paso, died November
13, 2021. He received his law degree from the University of Texas School
of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1979. James was an attorney
in the Mesa Petroleum Legal Department from 1979 to 1985, in private
practice and with various firms from 1986 to 1995, and a solo
practitioner at the Law Office of Steven C. James in El Paso from 1995
to 2021. He was a section representative to the State Bar of Texas Board
of Directors, president of the El Paso Bar Association, and chair of the
Texas Bar College. James was a tenacious litigator who will be
remembered for his sense of humor and his original Deceptive Trade
Practices Act songs at CLE events. He is survived by his son, Seth
James; daughters, Sarah and Naomi James; brother, Mike James; and four
grandchildren.
Robert M. Blackmon
Blackmon,
80, of Corpus Christi, died November 19, 2021. He received his law
degree from Southern Methodist University School of Law and was admitted
to the Texas Bar in 1965. Blackmon served in the U.S. Navy Judge
Advocate General’s Corps from 1965 to 1992, in active service from 1965
to 1972, and in the Navy Reserve from 1972 to 1993. He was a partner in
North, White & Blackmon from 1972 to 1977, judge of Nueces County
Court at Law 1 from 1978 to 1986, judge of the 117th District Court in
Nueces County from 1982 to 2002, and a visiting judge in South Texas
from 2002 to 2020. He enjoyed sailing and spending time with his family.
Blackmon was a Scout for 72 years. He is survived by his wife of 55
years, Marta Blackmon; sons, attorney Henry Blackmon and William
Blackmon; daughters, Dr. Ana Lia Blackmon and Belen Morgan; and eight
grandchildren.
George D. Martin
Martin, 89,
of Galveston, died October 31, 2021. He served in the U.S. Air Force
from 1950 to 1953. Martin received his law degree from South Texas
College of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1962. He was a
partner in Martin, Garza & Fisher; Martin, Carmona & Garza;
Harris, Martin & Carmona; and Crawford, Harris & Martin; and in
private practice. Martin studied history and enjoyed watching football.
He liked playing badminton and hunting and fishing. Martin is survived
by his wife of 57 years, Dee Hanson Martin; sons, Rusty Martin and Allen
Martin; daughter, Cheryl Martin; three grandchildren; and one
great-grandchild.
Thomas Raymond Weaver
Weaver, 82, of Duncan, Oklahoma, died
February 12, 2021. He served in the U.S. Navy in the civil engineering
corps. Weaver received his law degree from the University of Texas
School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1968. He was admitted
to the Oklahoma Bar in 1971. Weaver was an engineer for Continental Oil
in Houston; a patent attorney for Philips Petroleum Company in
Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and Halliburton Services in Duncan, Oklahoma;
patent counsel to Halliburton Services; and in private practice in
Duncan. He practiced law for 50 years. Weaver was licensed to practice
patent law by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office and was a member of
various federal district courts. He was inducted into the Oklahoma Bar
Association Hall of Fame’s Intellectual Property Section. Weaver is
survived by his wife, Arlene; sons, Walt Weaver, Lee Weaver, and Raymond
Weaver; daughter, Helen Mills; and many grandchildren.TBJ
