John Lawrence Roach

Jack was born in Amarillo, Texas, on August 28, 1928. He was the son of Francis L. Roach and Willette H. Roach.

He graduated from high school in Fort Worth in 1945 and received his first degree, with honors, from the University of Texas at Austin in 1949. He graduated from the University of Texas Law School in 1951. While in Law School, he was Associate Editor of the Texas Law Review, President of Phi Delta Phi Honor Society and a Quizmaster. On graduation, he was awarded the Order of the Coif.

Since graduation from Law School, he has practiced exclusively in Dallas and primarily in the oil, gas and energy field. He began in 1951 as an associate with Golden, Crowley & Howell. In 1956. he joined in the creation of Kliewer and Roach and in 1961, joined with James S. Robertson, Jr. in the creation of Roach and Robertson. Since 1976, he has practiced as John L. Roach, Inc.

Jack and Laura Hamilton were married in Russellville, Arkansas, on September 19, 1959. They had three sons, John, Lawrence H. (“Larry), and Kelly, and they lived their entire married life in Dallas.

Jack was a long time member of the Dallas Petroleum Club and he served on the Board of Trustees of St. Mark’s School of Texas, Southwestern Medical Foundation, Boys & Girls Clubs Foundation, Hamon Charitable Foundation, E. E. Fogelson and Greer Garson Fogelson Foundation and Kahn Symphony Foundation.

In 2005 he and his wife, Laura Hamilton Roach, were awarded the Sprague Community Service Award by Southwestern Medical Foundation, and in 2017 he and Laura were honored by the creation of the Laura and Jack Roach Center for Translational Research in Alzheimer’s Disease at UTSW.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents and one younger sister. He is survived by his three sons: John F. and wife, Shelley, Lawrence H. (“Larry”) and wife, Tracey, and Kelly E. and wife, Holli, seven grandchildren, John P., Sarah, Hunter, Chris, Sam, Lauren and Wynnie, and niece, Catherine Gentile, of Peoria, Arizona.

He and Laura and their family traveled to many parts of the world. His work also took him throughout the world. He was a professional gardener and maintained large greenhouses and plant collections at his home.

Jack and Laura believed passionately in the power of education. They made certain each of their children and grandchildren had, and continue to have, the financial opportunity to obtain a post-secondary and graduate education.

Jack was well aware of the contributions that Marcella Gilchrist, Linda Dunavant and Carolyn Herman made to his career. All three ladies were with him for a period in exceding forty years.

The family wishes to thank the supporting persons and staff at Care Unlimited and Presbyterian Faith and also Liga Zamora and Gigi Jimenez for the care and assistance given to their parents for many years.

The funeral services for Jack will be private at his request. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to The Laura and Jack Roach Center for Translational Research in Alzheimer’s Disease in care of UT Southwestern Medical Center, P.O. Box 910888, Dallas, Texas 75391-0888.