In Memoriam February 2019
The Honorable Churchell William "Bud" Duncan Jr., JD '50
The Honorable Churchell William "Bud" Duncan Jr., died December 27, 2018. He was 94 years old. He was born August 3, 1924 in El Paso, Texas to C.W. "Church" Duncan Sr. and Ruth Prather Duncan. Bud graduated from Killeen High School in 1943. Upon graduation, he enlisted with the United States Marine Corps and served in the Pacific Theater during WWII. He was discharged in 1945 as a staff sergeant and returned home to Texas. Bud met Katherine Jean Giles while attending Baylor University and they were married in 1948. He graduated from Baylor with a law degree in 1950 and was admitted to the State Bar that same year. Bud and Katy moved to Killeen in 1951, where Bud practiced law until being recalled later that year by the U.S. Marines for the Korean Conflict. He served as a legal officer and was discharged as a 1st Lieutenant in 1953. Bud and Katy raised two children, Deborah and C.W. III, in Killeen, and were married 55 years before Katy passed away in 2003. He formed a law partnership with Davis Bragg, from 1954 to 1978, leaving the firm of Duncan, Bragg, Barron, and Phillips when he accepted an appointment to the 27th District Court of Texas from Governor Dolph Briscoe. He served 10 years in the 27th District Court before retiring to become a senior judge until 2014. Bud was dedicated to serving the community. He served 25 years (19 as president) on the Killeen ISD School Board and 10 years as city judge. In addition, he was a member of Masonic Lodge, the Texas Bar Association, the Bell County Bar Association and served as chairman of the State Bar Unauthorized Law Committee. He was an avid outdoorsman, especially enjoying whitewater canoeing. His river adventures included trips through the canyons of Big Bend, "running" the low water dams of the Guadalupe River, as well as floating most of the major rivers in Texas. Bud took up snow skiing in his late 60's and continued to exercise well into his 80's. Bud's spirit of adventure saw him drive to the southernmost tip of South America and back, take group trips to Europe and China, drive parts of New Zealand and across Australia, as well as skydive for his 85th birthday.
Bud was preceded in death by his wife Katy, his parents, two sisters, Bonnie Jean Duncan and Gra'Delle Duncan, and daughter, Debbie Allen. He is survived by his son, C.W. "Dunc" Duncan III, his wife Jill, and their sons C.W. IV and Patrick; son-in-law Larry Allen and his sons Kyle and Casey.
James Wesley Hightower, JD '50
James Wesley Hightower passed away Tuesday, February 5, 2019, at his residence in Waxahachie. He was born November 6, 1926 in Waxahachie to Leo and Gladys Hightower. He graduated from Waxahachie High School in 1945 where he was the captain of the football team and Golden Glove Boxing champion. James married his high school sweetheart, Jimylin Wise, on February 2, 1946 and they celebrated 72 years of marriage before her death on February 5, 2018 exactly one year prior to James' passing. James was offered football scholarships to both TCU and Rice but had to decline because of the war. James was in the 98th field artillery stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, during World War ll. After the war, he attended TCU undergraduate and Baylor Law School. He worked as a lobbyist for the Texas Motor Transportation Association for two legislative sessions, and then started his own law firm in Dallas working primarily as a transportation attorney, practicing before the Interstate Commerce Commission, the Texas Railroad Commission, and all state and federal courts, including the United States Supreme Court until his retirement in 1995. This allowed James and Jimylin to move from Dallas back to Waxahachie in 1989. James was then active in civic affairs in the city and Ellis county and served eight years as president of the Ellis County Rural Rail Transportation District. He also served as president of the Waxahachie Foundation, and president of the Waxahachie Ex-Students Association. Both James and Jimylin were members of the Historic Waxahachie, Inc. James served as Chairman's Roundtable Division Leader for the YMCA Youth Sponsorship Campaign for the years of 1997 and 2000. James also enjoyed the pleasure being a master gardener.
James is survived by his children, Laurie and her husband Richard Todd of Waxahachie; son Wesley Hightower and wife Kim of Ft. Worth. His grandchildren are James Bryant and wife Jennifer of Hurst, Melanie Lamb and husband Keith of Waxahachie, Colton Hightower of Dallas, McKenzie Hightower of Washington D.C., Amber Accidentale and husband Ron of Plano, IL, Shannon Lopez of El Paso, and Wes LaForce and wife Marianna of Houston. He is also survived by great-grandchildren, Amelia Lamb, Arieanna, Jamie, and Mason Accidentale, Alex Corona, Hudson Lopez, and Oriana LaForce. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jimylin, his parents, his daughter, Jamie LaForce, and his sister, Mildred Staples.
The Honorable Jack R. King, JD '50
The Honorable Jack R. King, age 95, of Beaumont, passed away on Friday January 4, 2019 in Beaumont. Jack was born November 24, 1923 in Port Arthur to William and Mary King. Jack served our country in the Army during WWII. He was with 29th Infantry Division on Omaha Beach during D-Day, July 15, 1944, during the Battle of St. Lo, his cranium was fractured and his left side was littered with shrapnel wounds from a German mortar attack. Jack graduated from Baylor Law in 1950 and worked as an attorney in the Beaumont area for many years. Jack was elected and served as 136th District Court judge until his retirement. He was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church.
Jack is survived by his wife, Dorris King of Beaumont; son Brent King and his wife Rosemary Kozar of Baltimore, MD; grandson Sean Kozar-King of Houston, granddaughter Michaela Kozar-King of New Orleans, LA and grandson Seth Shimon of Austin. Jack was preceded in death by daughter Donna Kay King.
Wanza Sue Floyd Reid, JD '61
Wanza Sue Floyd Reid passed away peacefully at her residence on Sunday, January 20, 2019. She was born on May 18, 1938 in Clarksville, Texas to Paul D. Floyd and Ernestine Jones Floyd. Sue graduated from Corsicana High School and went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts degree from East Texas State College and lastly earned her law degree from Baylor Law. She married William Mack "Bill" Reid on December 22, 1961. Sue and Bill were entrepreneurs, living several years in Puerto Rico buying, developing, and selling various businesses. Upon their return to the United States, Sue accepted a position as district staff attorney for the Texas Department of Transportation where she handled employee litigation and right of way acquisitions. She was a member of the State Bar of Texas for over 50 years. She loved to travel - many trips foreign and domestic with family and friends. She enjoyed playing the slots. She was always a winner but would never reveal her secret for success. Sue was known for her dry wit and her honest and straight forward approach to life and people.
Sue was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her brother, Joe D. Floyd. She is survived by her sister-in-law, Angela Floyd of Framers Branch, Texas; two aunts: Earldene (Mrs. Darwin) Floyd of Boxelder, Texas and Peggy (Mrs. Amos) Floyd of Fredericksburg Texas; and numerous cousins.
Larry C. Roseborough, JD '65
Larry C. Roseborough, of Dallas, passed away at the age of 84 on January 3, 2019. Larry was born September 5, 1934, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and even though he moved to Texas in 1952 he considered Tulsa his home. He was born to Clyde M. and Clara B. (West) Roseborough. Larry went through the excellent school system in Tulsa before moving to Texas. He matriculated at TCU, where he attained a degree in journalism. At TCU, he was privileged to play on a conference champion baseball team, coached by the legendary L. R. (Dutch) Meyer, where he played catcher, wore number 1 on his uniform, and where he made many lifetime friends. At TCU, he was also a charter member of the Sigma Chi fraternity, making many more lifetime friends. Larry graduated from Baylor Law in 1965 and he practiced law for over 30 years. He loved the practice of the law because he was able to help people. Besides his family, Larry's main passion in life was baseball, in which he was active until age 80, as a player, coach, manager, and umpire. In March 1960, Larry discovered barbershop singing. He was a charter member of the Vocal Majority, a multi-time gold-medal-winning barbershop chorus. Singing and competing in championships with the Vocal Majority was a lifetime highlight and joy. Larry was a great believer in the Lord God, worshipping Him in his own way, like he did everything else. He will be missed by his many friends in all walks of life. He was satisfied to have lived life to the fullest, as friend, teammate, brother, uncle, and dad.
Two great voids were left in his life when he was pre-deceased by his beloved siblings, sister Pat Telford, and brother Joe Roseborough. He was also pre-deceased by his second wife, Mary McNeill Roseborough, and brother-in-law Bill Telford. Larry is survived by his beloved children: son Rick Roseborough and daughter-in-law Judy, of Dallas, TX; daughter Elaine Starr and son-in-law Russ, of Broken Bow, OK, and their children Hailee, Kyler, and Chloe; Rick and Elaine's mother, Jerre Roseborough of Dallas, TX; and his sister-in-law Sondra Roseborough. He is also survived by his exceptionally close step-children Lauren Bradbury, Todd Bradbury, and Bret Bradbury, and their children; as well as numerous cousins scattered all over. Larry has 6 much-loved nieces and nephews: Barbara (Sam), Sharon (Gus), Stan (Quits), Julie (Oops), Joey (Moose), and Matt (Meathead).
Charles Edwin "Ed" Hinshaw, JD '74
Ed Hinshaw, age 81, passed away Thursday, January 24, 2019. Charles Edwin Hinshaw was born August 31, 1937 in Panhandle, Texas to Clark "Shorty" Oliver Hinshaw and Vita Thompson Hinshaw. He proudly served in the United States Army. Ed married Marva Hines on April 7, 1966 in Claude, Texas. He received his undergraduate degree in 1971 from Lubbock Christian University. Ed chose to further his education at Baylor Law where he received his Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1975. He served as the Carson County Attorney for 16 years. Ed was an avid sports lover, especially Panhandle High School athletics. He attended and videoed hundreds of games often gifting the athletes with film of their sport. In fact, he would follow Panhandle Panther athletes as they continued their collegiate sporting careers.
He is preceded in death by his parents; son, Curtis Hinshaw; granddaughters, Kalee Barton, Kristen Joy, Madelyn Hinshaw; and sisters, Ruth Profitt and Jean Kaufold. Survivors include his wife, Marva of Borger; son, Scott Hinshaw and wife Julie of Trophy Club; daughter, Kathy Joy and husband Kenny of Canyon; nine grandchildren, Kyle Joy, Kevin Joy, Grant Hinshaw, Garrett Hinshaw, Halle Grace Hinshaw, Brenna Hinshaw, Arden Hinshaw, Kirstyn Hinshaw, and Kenlee Hinshaw; six great grandchildren, Avery, Harper, Fynlea, Cooper, Addisyn, Cru; two sisters, Charlotte Rathjen of Houston, Joan Dockrey of Arizona; and daughter-in-law, Crystal Hinshaw.
Jason Riley Searcy, JD '78
Jason Riley Searcy was born October 22, 1953 to Mary Helen Clark and Oscar Quentin Searcy. He grew up in New London, Texas and lived the 1950s & 60s equivalent of Tom Sawyer's adventures. Jason and his next oldest brother John Mark, along with friends roamed over and through the woods and oil dirt roads of their community. Jason attended New London's West Rusk Independent School District. When he finished all of the elementary school-age library books by the end of second grade, the principal would walk him to the junior high school library to check out books. His thirst for learning never abated. In 1972, Jason graduated as the valedictorian of his class and was awarded a scholarship as well as a grant for his college education. He was an honor student at Kilgore College and at the University of Texas at Austin, where he completed his degree in journalism in December 1974. He entered Baylor Law in May 1976 and went straight through nine grueling quarters of intense study, because "Rebecca, it's cheaper to get it over with." Jason accepted a job six months prior to graduation and joined the law firm of Abney & Baldwin in Marshall where he began work in August 1978. Subsequently, he was a partner in Sharp, Ward, Price & Searcy in Longview but left to establish a sole practice. His area of practice involved complicated business bankruptcy, with a practice that ranged throughout Texas in various Federal Courts. He argued or had cases before the 5th Circuit in New Orleans, in the 1st Circuit in New York, and in the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. His favorite law partners were his son and daughter, Joshua Searcy, JD '05 and Callan Searcy, JD '10, both graduates of Baylor Law. At Searcy & Searcy in Longview, his paralegals were with him collectively over 90 years, Dawn Cameron, Vivian Guy, and Kim McMullen Allen.
Jason and Rebecca married May 24, 1975 and welcomed children, Joshua Powers Searcy and Callan Clark Searcy, into their lives. Family multiplied with the addition of Meredith Sholars Searcy and Patrick Francis Reidy. Beloved grandsons Luke and Levi Searcy are are left to cherish the memory of their Pop. Surviving family members include brothers Jimmy Q. Searcy and wife Ursula, John Mark Searcy and wife Ramelle, mother-in-law Florine Belk Powers, niece and nephew Amanda Searcy, Jacob Searcy and wife Julia, nephews Jonathan Searcy, Michael Searcy, niece Simone Searcy, Jared Searcy & wife Jessica. He was also survived by sister & brother-in-law Regina and Mark Helm, nephews David and Ryan Helm. Finally, the joy of his life that gave him everything good was his faith, his family, and his home - place of beautiful nature, a wealth of memories, and the comfort of love therein.