Will G. Barber

By Kat Kelley

William G. ("Will") Barber III, born December 14th, 1931, died on November 24th, 2015 as a victim of a tragic car accident.

When growing up in Lockhart, Texas, he was known as "Sonny." Will overcame the loss of his parents at an early age and pushed himself to excel in academics and basketball. He also delighted his classmates, and later his children and their friends, as a magician. After considering becoming a Presbyterian minister, he worked his way through the University of Texas, participating in Silver Spurs and Phi Beta Kappa. He graduated with highest honors as a third generation Longhorn before attending Harvard Law School. While there, a classmate and friend, Harry Wallum, took the tall Texan with the slow Southern drawl to New Jersey for a home-cooked meal. There Will charmed Harry's little sister, Pat, so much that she was certain immediately that this was the man she would marry. Ever the Southern gentleman, Will never would have considered dating a friend's sister, but he quickly decided that Harry must not be that good of a friend. Will and Pat often said that no matchmaker would have ever put them together; no one could imagine a more different pair. However, there also was never a couple for whom "soul mates" was more fitting. After marrying, they moved to what Pat's parents considered a foreign country, Will's native Texas, to start their family.

Will started his career as an Attorney for the Supreme Court of Texas before working as an associate with Brown, Sparks, and Erwin, later becoming a named partner in that firm for many years before serving as Senior Counsel with Locke Liddell & Sapp and Of Counsel to Hull Henricks LLP. His principal practice areas included: legislation, litigation (trial/appellate), insurance, and administrative law, with emphasis in legislative tort reform, civil courts' charges, products and professional liability, insurance coverage, and administrative agencies (statutory jurisdiction and regulation). Will's experience as a litigator and his passion for the law led him to be instrumental in sweeping tort reform legislation in the 1980's, serving as Special Counsel to the Texas Senate and Senator John T. Montford during the 1987 and 1989 sessions of the Texas Legislature. That led to adjunct professorships teaching legislative process at the University of Houston and University of Texas law schools. With a reputation as a "lawyer's lawyer" known for the thoroughness of his research and the soundness of his legal arguments, he was honored as a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and chairman of the organization's ACTL Emil Gumpert Committee that oversees awards to law schools for excellence in teaching or trial advocacy. He was a member of Bar Associations in Texas, Colorado, and Travis County. Will also created Court's Charge Reporter, a trial-level resource for over 40 years still used today by many judges throughout Texas. After semi-retiring in Sun City, Will remained in private practice for the rest of his life.

Will is survived by and through his loving wife of 57 years, Pat; their four children: Mary Beth, Bill, Jack and Katy; their respective spouses: Scott, Melinda, Malia, and Robert; and seven grandchildren: Kat, Paden, Robyn, Meg, Jaclyn, Elyse, and Melynn, as well as the memory of his grandson who preceded him in death Baby William (the Barber Family guardian angel). Will's commitment to the law was exceeded only by his commitment to his family. In 1989, the two came together when his 2 year old granddaughter was injured on a playground in West Texas. As a result, he dedicated himself to revising national standards and Texas laws applicable to public playground safety. Will pursued litigation and legislation that resulted in playground safety reforms that prevented countless similar burn injuries to children across the nation.

Will shared his love for UT sports with his wife and family in glorious excess, attending countless Longhorn football and basketball games, including annual trips to Dallas with car windows painted with pro-UT or anti-OU sentiments. In a ritual that became known as "The Longhorn Streaker," he started every home game day by running down the hallway in his burnt orange boxer shorts as the UT band blared on the family stereo. He and Pat attended the 1969 Game of the Century against Arkansas as well as the National Championship game in 2006 between UT and USC. Halloween and Christmas were his favorite holidays. Not content with ordinary trick-or-treating, Will and Pat hosted elaborate haunted houses, scaring the pants off the entire neighborhood. Christmases included full-on mini-Zilker lights in the front yard as well as visits by Santa himself before the children, and later grandchildren, went to bed with assurances that he would return with many presents if they went to sleep promptly. Even Star Wars movies were an event, with Will showing up in full Darth Vader garb to the delight and embarrassment of his grandchildren and any other kids lucky enough to be at the show.

Weekend family camping trips expanded into long summer road trips, one of which fortuitously wandered into Gunnison County, Colorado where Will and Pat found a place to also call home. On a ridge looking up the valley to the Castles formation in the West Elk Wilderness, they built a small one-bedroom cabin with a dormitory loft that has over the years evolved into a large family home where all of the children, spouses, and grandkids can gather to sing songs 'round the campfire, play at the tepee, show off inane skills at family talent night, make s'mores, play snow volleyball, race cans in the irrigation ditch, and/or laugh together in countless other activities. Their Colorado home has become a sacred family space for generations to come.

But beyond his distinguished professional career and Colorado family retreat, Will's lasting legacy will undoubtedly be his 57 years of marriage to Pat, his "Luzzo." All that know Will and Pat, know that they shared a oneness of spirit that is truly inspirational. Through their devoted love and attention, they raised a close family whose connections are deepened by their "sharing" practice. Given Will's belief in the "All of all" and the spiritual energy that connects everything, we know that although "everything changes, no exceptions," Will is still with Pat, his family, and all those who remember and love him.

Thank you for your continued support and well wishes. Please join the Barber family in celebrating Will's life and legacy at a Memorial Service at the Driskill Hotel at 3pm, February 25th, 2016. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in his name to any of the following charities:

1. Volunteer Legal Services of Central :

www.vlsoct.org/help-us/

In honor of commitment to the legal profession

2. Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center:

www.wolfeducation.org

For providing very special place to Will and our family

3. Caring Bridge:

www.caringbridge.org

For facilitating our communication to community

4. Facing Addiction

www.facingaddiction.org

In hope of preventing other tragic losses

Thank you,

Kat Kelley (Oldest grandchild, Scott and Mary Beth's daughter)