In Memoriam | December 2016
George Clark Anson Jr., JD '50
George Clark Anson Jr., died October 29, 2016, at his home in Dallas Texas. He is survived by his beloved wife of many years, Joyce Rushing Anson, one daughter, Judith J. Anson of Key West, Florida; two sons, David C. Anson of Bejing, China, and George C. Anson III of Austin, Texas, two grandsons, Matthew and Colin Anson. He was the son of George Clark Anson and Grayce Hall Anson.
He was born August 27, 1918, in Waco, Texas, and grew up mainly in Abilene, Texas. In 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps; and served during World War II as a radio operator and waist gunner on B-24 ("Liberator") bombers based in Italy. He was awarded the Purple Heart twice, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters, the EAME campaign medal with Bronze Stars, and other military citations. After the war, George attended Baylor University on the G.I. Bill and graduated cum laude from Baylor Law School in 1950.
He began the practice of law in Dallas in 1950 with Holman Jenkens, working for the legendary Clint Murchison, Sr. In 1952, he was one of the four founders, with Holman Jenkens, William H. Bowen and Walter M. Spradley of the Dallas law firm first named Jenkens and Bowen, then Jenkens, Anson & Spradley and, later, Jenkens, Anson, Spradley and Gilchrist. He left the firm in the latter part of 1969 to become the first General Counsel of First National Bank in Dallas and then the first General Counsel of First International Bancshares, the bank holding company that owned First National.
While he was General Counsel, First International acquired more than forty banks located throughout Texas through mergers and acquisitions. During that time period, it was the largest bank holding company in the south and southwest. Following retirement from the bank holding company in 1983, he re-entered private law practice in Dallas with the firm of Shank, Irwin, Conant, Lipshy, and Casterline. After that firm dissolved, he was a sole practitioner for several years and retired again about ten years ago.
George was elected to serve on the Board of Trustees (now Board of Regents) of Baylor University in 1967 and served on that board for eighteen years; was a Regent Emeritus of the Baylor University Board of Regents from 1992 until his death.
He also served on the Boards of Trustees of Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, the Baylor Health Care System, and the Baylor Specialty Health Centers, for a total of almost forty years. In 1990, he received the W. R. White Meritorious Service Award of the Baylor University Alumni Association; and in 1998 he was awarded the Herbert H. Reynolds Award for distinguished service to Baylor University students. In 1997, Baylor Health Care System established The George C. Anson / Baylor Health Care System endowed scholarship fund to provide assistance for Baylor University students who are pursuing degrees in health care professions or health care related degrees.
At the time of his death, he was a member and life deacon of Park Cities Baptist Church. He was a member of the State Bar of Texas, the Dallas and American Bar Associations, the Texas Bar Foundation, the Dallas Bar Foundation, and other professional organizations. He was a member of Northwood Club in Dallas for more than forty years.
In addition to his immediate family, he is survived by one sister, Eleanor Curry of Wilmington, North Carolina, and a number of nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, one brother, L. B. Anson of Oklahoma City, and three sisters, Pauline Reese, Annette Price and Grace Anson of San Antonio.
Ralph W. Pulley, Jr., JD '50
Ralph W. Pulley, Jr., passed away October 25, 2016, in Dallas, Texas where he had resided and practiced law for over 66 years. He was a servant of God, deeply loved by his family and friends and respected professional constituents. "The righteous man leads a blameless life, blessed are his children after him." Proverbs 20:7
Ralph was born in Ft. Worth, Texas September 3, 1927, proud to be a fourth generation Texan. His parents were Ralph Pulley Sr. and Virginia Helm Pulley of Ft. Worth. He spoke often of his school years at Lily B. Clayton Elementary, McLean Jr. High and Paschal High School, where he graduated in 1945. He and his friend since 3rd grade, Jack Robinson, had played sandlot baseball and basketball since early years and started playing organized basketball in McLean Jr. High. In Paschal High School, under Coach Charlie Turner, the team won bi-district and won the state championship in 1945. Ralph also served as Senior Class President.
Scholarship in hand, he selected Baylor University with Paschal teammates Jack Robinson and Bill Johnson, where the Baylor teams won the Southwest Conference 3 out of 4 years, 1946, 1948 and 1949. Ralph was co-captain of the 1948 team that won the S.W. Conference, Region 6 Playoff, and the Western NCAA in Kansas City, sending the team to the Final Four national championship in New York's Madison Square Garden where they lost to Kentucky. They remained in NYC to play in the Olympic elimination tournament. He graduated from Baylor Law School with a Juris Doctorate in 1950. While at Baylor, he served as President of the Sophomore class, President of the Baylor Chamber of Commerce, and was selected to Who's Who in American Colleges. He spent his summers working at his uncle's private airport earning his private pilot's license.
He married fellow Baylorite and Dallasite, Rubye Drumwright, in Dallas at First Baptist Church in August 1950, and they have enjoyed over 66 years of marriage. They were blessed with three children, Claudia, Ralph William, and Tom. First Baptist Church was the center of their lives and they were blessed with many life-long friends and Bible teachings from Dr. W. A. Criswell, Dr. O.S. Hawkins, Dr. Mac Brunson, and Dr. Robert Jeffress.
Ralph was ordained a deacon in the Fellowship of Deacons in 1960 and served as chairman in 1975 and 1976. He taught or worked in almost every division of Sunday School. His association and great respect for Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth began when his best friend, hunting buddy, and brother-in-law, Dr. Huber Drumwright, was Professor of New Testament and Dean of the School of Theology. Ralph served as a trustee of SWBTS for 22 years. He considers this service as one of the high points in his Christian life. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Southern Baptist Convention Foundation, served on the Board of Directors of the Southern Baptist of Texas Foundation, and was a member of the administrative committee of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. He worked closely with Dr. Criswell and Jack Pogue in the formative years of Criswell College and served as a Trustee for 12 years. He also served as Trustee of the W. A. Criswell Foundation. He considered it a privilege to be a Life Member of the Salesmanship Club of Dallas, president of the All-Sports Association in early years, and President of the Dallas Baylor Club.
He spent 13 years in the J.A.G. section of the 36th National Guard, and proud to be a "T. Patcher." Ralph loved the practice of law. He started in 1950 with the law firm of Phinney-Hallman and after 30 years opened his private practice in Preston Center where he remained the following years. He was a member of the State Bar of Texas, Dallas Bar Association and was authorized to practice before the Supreme Court and the Customs Court of the United States.
He was a family man and Christian gentleman, sharing family vacations, Baylor football and basketball games, and visits to the Augusta National Masters Golf Tournament. He cherished his Saturday morning golf games and various hunting trips, which were memorable in humorous ways, making for great stories.
He is survived by his wife, of 66 years, Rubye; daughter, Claudia; son, Tom and wife, Stephanie; very special grandsons, Thomas and William; brother, Stan; sister-in-law, Minette D. Pratt and husband, Dr. Bill Pratt; Drs. Meme and H.W. Perry, Debbie and Max Underwood, and many special nieces and nephews; and dear family friends, Mrs. Tom Anderson and Charles Anderson. Ralph is preceded in death by his son, Ralph; sister, Sissy; parents; and brother-in-law, Dr. Huber Drumwright.
Randall Anthony Parker, JD '79
Randall Anthony Parker, was born November 23, 1948 in Corpus Christi, Texas. He passed away October 20, 2016, surrounded by his family, at the age of 67. After graduating Ingleside High School in 1967, Randy went to Texas A&I University on an Army ROTC scholarship. Upon graduating Summa Cum Laude from Texas A&I in 1971 he then entered the United States Army as a Field Artillery Officer. In 1978 Randy entered Baylor Law School and then transferred to the Judge Advocate General's Corps. During his 23 years of distinguished service, Randy was able to travel the world and experience different cultures, cuisines and people. In 1994 Randy retired from the Army at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Always a proud son of Texas, he decided to stay in San Antonio and pursue a career as an attorney. Randy entered the private sector by working for Bexar County as an Assistant Criminal District Attorney and later as a defense counsel. After many years of private practice Randy was hired to be the Project Director of the Bexar County Veterans Treatment Court where he was able to help fellow veterans in need.
Randy is preceded in death by his beloved parents Stephen and Dorothy Parker. He is survived by his wife, Chong "Robby" Parker; children, Nicole, Ryan (Marisa, and child, Rex), and Richard; stepdaughter, Conni and her children, Kassi, Demarcus, and Trezyur; siblings, Stanley (Priscilla), Stephanie, Rebecca (Phil) Thompson, and Roger (Linda); and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.