George A. Hrdlicka

The morning of December 31, 2020, George entered the spiritual realm holding his wife Judy’s hand while she sat by his side in their home of 45 years. Born September 11, 1931, he is survived by his wife Judith Rose Paulus Hrdlicka, his daughters Geordie Marie Hrdlicka and Amy Marie Hrdlicka Reggi, his sons in law James Corbett and Thomas Reggi, Tom’s sweet daughter Emily Louise Reggi and his treasured grandchildren Katja Maureen Corbett and Ava Rose Reggi. He is also survived by his cherished siblings Ken Hrdlicka and Nancy Hrdlicka Muller.

George grew up in St. Louis, MO on Leona Street by the Bevo Mill. He came from a large Catholic family which included his older sister and brother, Dolores Hrdlicka Fortin and Charles Hrdlicka and three younger siblings, Donald Hrdlicka, Ken Hrdlicka and Nancy Hrdlicka Muller. His parents Charlie and Mary Hrdlicka instilled a vibrant sense of family and connection which George perpetuated in his own family legacy. Though he lived in Houston, he took his wife and daughters to both St. Louis and back east to his wife’s family home every year to create enduring bonds with grandparents, great aunts and uncles, aunts and uncles and 40+ nieces and nephews from both sides. The home in Houston was always open to any family member or friend who wanted to stay for a week, a month or longer. His Uncle Bill was a favorite whom George and Judy would drive to Mexico to enjoy the culture, sights and permit Uncle Bill to load up on Latin treasures.

George was the first person in his family to attend college which he entered at the age of 16. He graduated from St. Louis University at age 20 and was immediately drafted into the service during the Korean War Conflict. He completed his service which included the G.I. Bill for additional schooling. Not one to ever squander an opportunity, he wrote a letter to St. Louis University Law School to request admission on the G.I. Bill and to his surprise, the law school accepted him. During his time in law school, he remained at the top of his class with one of his most important moments sharing the commemoration of the 100TH anniversary of the Dred Scott decision with Mr. Scott’s family members.

He started his law career at the Department of Justice in Washington D.C. in the late 1950s where he represented the Internal Revenue Service in the Federal Courts all over the Midwest. He met his lifelong partner, Judy Paulus, in D.C. and they married in 1964.

In 1965, his former DOJ colleague Harold Chamberlain enticed George down to Houston where the opportunities were boundless. George and Judy packed it up, left D.C. and arrived in Houston. He co-founded what is now the law firm Chamberlain, Hrdlicka, White, Williams and Aughtry with Hank Chamberlain, Robert White and Robert Waters. They worked in a small office handling all manner of tax cases and lived on nothing in the beginning. Judy would exclaim, “We ate eggs all week and chicken on Sunday.” Notably, George worked actively at the firm until his early 80s and never officially retired. He had lunch with his close friend and law partner Sidney Williams weekly for the better part of his career. Ever the teacher, mentor and counselor, George also taught at University of Houston Law Center for 30 years as an adjunct professor in Partnership Tax. His gift was to break down complicated tax concepts and teach them in a simple way that students and clients could understand.

Though he had a successful law career, he was not defined by law alone. George and Judy loved car trips and drove to West Texas Davis Mountains annually for over 30 years. He developed close and enduring friendships with many whom he loved and cherished. His best friends were Dr. Richard Ruiz, Mr. James Carr and Mr. Robert Waters whom he adventured with over a lifetime. With these men and other friends, George spent a lifetime participating in physically challenging trips which included three treks in the Alaskan tundra; climbing mountains in South America, the U.S., Africa and Nepal; a bicycling expedition in Italy; and cross country and international motorcycle trips. He summited Mount Kilimanjaro at the age of 70 and made it to first base camp of Mount Everest at 72. He gave the gift of adventure to his daughters, sharing a photographic safari with Geordie in Africa and taking Amy on several mountain climbing trips in South America.

His last adventure was in his home in Houston. There was nothing more important to him than his family whom he sacrificed opportunities once they entered his life. Resilient until the end, he waited until he could be in his home from the hospital to say goodbye. His final breath holding Judy’s hand whom he loved, always concerned that she would be taken care of for life. He left a legacy of kindness, intellect, hard work, insightful calm thinking, modesty and respect for others, a witty sense of humor, adventure, love, and generously enriching others. He will be missed and remembered as living a full life and going out with a bang on Judy’s 81st birthday, the perfect ending to their love story.

"Celebration will be held in a private location Invitations will be sent”.