Class Notes

Charles Rutherford Meeker III passed away at the age of 78 on Feb. 18, 2021. After graduating from Texas Law, Meeker moved to Los Angeles to clerk for Judge Walter Ely. He joined O’Melveny & Myers and rose to partner working in the business and later the entertainment divisions. In the 1980s, he co-founded Feldman/Meeker Entertainment and produced major motion pictures for nearly a decade. He returned to entertainment law as a partner at White & Case, where he successfully represented Credit Lyonnais in their effort to regain control of Metro Goldwyn Mayer. Meeker then served as MGM’s President from 1991-93, overseeing MGM’s transition to stable financial footing.

Frank Madison Gilstrap passed away on Jan. 17, 2021 in Austin, TX, at the age of 78. During a career spanning more than 40 years, Gilstrap handled over 200 appeals and argued cases before the United States Supreme Court, the Texas Supreme Court, five Federal Circuit Courts of Appeal, and 12 Texas Courts of Appeal. He enjoyed his work immensely and filed his last appellate brief days before his death.

Patrick Alton Hudson, 87, of Dallas, TX, passed away on Nov. 28, 2020, after battling with Alzheimer’s and the coronavirus. After graduating from Texas Law in 1967, Hudson served as Director of the Dallas Legal Aid Society. He served as Council for the Environmental Protection Agency and Principle Regional Council for Health and Human Services. Hudson built a very successful 20-year private practice and retired at 75.

Bill Hallman, a beloved husband, devoted father, benevolent curmudgeon, respected lawyer, and incomparable friend, died from complications of cancer at home surrounded by family on November 30, 2020. He left with no regrets, having lived a life of love, friendship, travel, meaningful work, and generous service. His steadfast moral compass and excellent judgment were invaluable to many people and organizations in the Fort Worth community and beyond. Bill co-founded the law firm Kelly, Hart & Hallman LLP, which has grown to more than 150 lawyers with 5 offices throughout Texas and Louisiana.

Hon. Joseph Bonner Dorsey died on Aug. 27, 2020, at home surrounded by loving family members. After Texas Law, he served as an ROTC officer, deployed to Vietnam during 1969. He was later loaned to the Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps of the United States Army. For his service, the U.S. Army awarded Dorsey with many medals and released him at the rank of Major. After serving in Vietnam, he returned home to Corpus Christi, where he continued to serve in the Army Reserves, working as a criminal defense attorney and raising his family. Following retirement, Dorsey travelled across South Texas serving as a “Visiting Judge”. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to either: Mother Teresa’s Shelter or KEDT-Public Broadcasting System.

Gary Bushell passed away at 78 on July 15, 2020, as a result of complications from a spinal cord injury, which occurred in a fall in December. He graduated from Texas Law in 1967. After law school, Gary chose to join the Marine Corps, where he was trained as an infantry officer and judge advocate general. He served in Viet Nam (1969-70) as a defense attorney, prosecuting attorney, and military judge. Gary first worked as Legislative Assistant to U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen, then as Senator Bentsen’s chief of staff, overseeing both the Washington and Texas offices. After 8 years in Washington, Gary and his wife Linda moved to Corpus Cristi, where he practiced oil and gas law and was actively involved in the community’s economic development.

Charles C. Foster has been elected Vice Dean of the Houston Consular Corps, the third largest consular corps in the U.S., as the Honorary Consul General of the Kingdom of Thailand. He has been elected Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston and elected Vice Chairman of the George H.W. Bush Foundation for U.S.-China Relations.

Elected Vice Dean of the Houston Consular Corps, the 3rd largest in the U.S. and elected Vice Chairman the George H.W. Bush Foundation for U.S.-China Relations and Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston

Charles C. Foster was honored in Who’s Who Legal 2018 as a leading corporate immigration attorney. Foster is Chairman of Foster LLP, Honorary Consul-General, Kingdom of Thailand (Houston) and Vice Dean of the City’s Consular Corps.

Texarkana lawyer Winford Dunn recently was honored by the Arkansas Bar Association and the State Bar of Texas in recognition of 50 years of legal practice in each state. Dunn, a Texarkana native, has practiced in the same firm—Dunn, Nutter & Morgan—his entire career. Dunn serves as national director of the American Board of Trial Advocates. He has been named Texas Lawyer of the Year by TEX-ABOTA and has received the Meritorious Service Award from the East Texas Chapter of ABOTA. East Texas ABOTA created the Winford L. Dunn Jr. Meritorious Service Award, which is given annually to an outstanding East Texas ABOTA lawyer.

James W. Smith, Jr. (Jim) passed away on April 26, 2016. Jim earned a B.B.A. from The University of Texas at Austin in 1965 and a J.D. from The University of Texas School of Law in 1967. Jim started his law career in 1968 at Childs, Fortenbach, Beck, and Guyton, where he became a partner of the firm. He continued his law practice at Butler and Binion when the two firms merged in 1987. In 1993 he formed his own law firm, Snell and Smith, until the firm merged with Thompson and Knight in 2000. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Susan, and his daughters, Robin Clark and Lisa Smith (’03).