John G. Tucker
The legal community in Southeast Texas is mourning the loss of a partner of one of the area's oldest law firms.
John G. Tucker, a partner at Orgain, Bell & Tucker, died Jan. 15 at age 100. The law firm and Tucker celebrated centennials in October 2007.
Tucker graduated from Harvard Law School in 1930 and in 1933 joined the law firm of William E. Orgain. Orgain started the firm in Beaumont in 1907, practicing land litigation in the days following the Spindletop oil discovery.
Tucker used to tell friends he was originally heading to Port Arthur to practice law but there were too many mosquitoes, so he stayed on the train and came to Beaumont.
The name of the law firm was permanently changed to Orgain, Bell & Tucker in 1945.
Today the firm has more than 40 lawyers and offices in Beaumont, Austin, Silsbee and The Woodlands. OB&T attorneys handle trial and appellate areas of civil litigation, employment, corporate, finance, immigration, real estate, business, estate and trust law. Orgain Bell & Tucker is an AV-rated law firm that has many experienced attorneys who have been recognized nationally and statewide as Best Lawyers in America, Texas Super Lawyers, and Texas Rising Stars.
Tucker was known for wearing hand-tied bowties, and for his skill with people as well as with facts and the law. Many of the cases Tucker won set legal precedent.
He was an avid duck hunter and fisherman. In February 2007 he was recognized with a Lamar University "Southeast Texas Legends" Scholarship by the Beaumont Foundation of America.
Services for Tucker were held Jan. 19 at St. Mark's Episcopal Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Southern Care Hospice in Beaumont, St. Mark's Episcopal Church, or the Beaumont Foundation of America.