Robert Henry Mow Jr.

Robert “Bob” H. Mow, Jr. went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on June 28, 2014. Bob had quick wit, a keen sense of humor, and was a compassionate teacher in all of life's lessons. He was a consummate Southern gentleman. In addition to his many interests and talents, Bob was one of the nation’s preeminent trial lawyers; respected and admired in the Dallas legal community for his leadership, mentoring of lawyers, pro bono work and professionalism that set the standards for generations of lawyers after him.

Bob, the son of Robert H. Mow, Sr. and Ann Elise Mow, was born in Cape Girardeau, Missouri on December 10, 1938. He graduated from the University of Missouri, obtained his law degree from Southern Methodist University’s Dedman School of Law in 1963, and completed his service in the United States Army in 1966. Bob built a legal career that catapulted him to the highest ranks of the profession. Bob practiced at leading Dallas law firms, beginning his career at Carrington, Coleman, Sloman and Blumenthal. He then joined the law firm of Hughes & Hill, later Hughes & Luce, where he served as its leader of litigation and as a managing partner. After the firm’s merger with K&L Gates, LLP, he continued to practice law and to serve as a mentor to many lawyers.

Bob, a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the American Board of Trial Advocates, was dedicated to building professionalism in the law, and was a driving force in developing rules of professionalism to guide lawyers in their practices. He was a member of the District Six Grievance Committee for Dallas, the Committee for a Qualified Judiciary, and the Dallas Bar Association. In these roles, he provided leadership on key committees for many years. Leading legal institutions long recognized Bob’s dedication and commitment to the practice and to the system of justice and awarded him their highest awards such as the Dallas Bar Association’s Trial Lawyer of the Year Award, the Texas Bar Foundation’s Ronald D. Secrest Outstanding Trial Lawyer Award, and the Dallas Bar Foundation’s inaugural Fellows Justinian Award. Bob’s legacy in the law will be continued as he has trained many lawyers in the Dallas community who have themselves become legal luminaries. Bob was a “lawyer’s lawyer” who represented significant clients, including leading lawyers and law firms, in the toughest of cases.

Bob was a Sunday School Teacher to college, young adult and young married classes for 25 years. Bob served on many area church boards and led church renovation programs at Walnut Hill United Methodist Church and Spring Valley Methodist Church, where the Cross and Flame symbols on the front of each property are evidence of Bob's dedication to worship and the Lord's house. For the last twenty-five years, Bob was a member of the First Baptist Church of Dallas where he worked with the First Baptist Academy and served as the Chair of its Board for several years. Bob cared about the education of children and was pleased to work in supporting this school in downtown Dallas. First Baptist Academy honored him and his wife Jody with The Orville and Esther Beth Rogers Award that highlighted their work in Christian education.

Bob was a family man who loved nature, his backyard barbeques and spending time at his ranch in the Hill Country. Bob enjoyed deer and turkey hunting and taught three generations to appreciate the same.

Bob is survived by his beloved wife Jody of 26 years; his children Robert Mow and wife D’Raye; Brynn Mow; Brett Mow and his wife Elizabeth; Becky Mow Booth; Allison Kingsbury and husband Rob; and Kirk Farmer and wife Libby. He is also survived by his sister Priscilla Mow Weber; brother and sister-in-law John Beck Mow and Donna Mow; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and grandnieces and grandnephews. Bob was especially proud of grandchildren Tyler Mow; Gracie Unland; Drew, Victoria and Bennett Mow; Mitchell Booth; Clive Farmer; and Pierce Kingsbury.

Visitation will be held at Sparkman-Hillcrest Funeral Home, 7401 W. Northwest Highway in Dallas from 5:00 to 7:00 pm Tuesday, July 1, 2014. The celebration of Bob’s life will be held Wednesday, July 2, 2014 at 1:00 pm in The First Baptist Church of Dallas’ Historic Sanctuary. Memorials may be made to two institutions to which Bob was devoted: LifeSavers Foundation http://LifeSaversFoundation.org and First Baptist Academy http://FirstBaptistAcademy.org

We celebrate the life of a joyous friend and leader who will be missed by all who knew him. "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Psalms 23:6.