John Scoggins Hollyfield

John Scoggins Hollyfeld was born in Harlingen, Texas to John Harper Hollyfield and Frances Elizabeth Scoggins Hollyfield, on the 20th of August 1939, and passed away in Houston on Saturday, the 23rd of December 2023. He was 84 years of age.

John attended school in San Antonio and Austin graduating in 1957, with honors from McCallum High School in Austin.

John entered The University of Texas in 1957 from where he graduated with a BBA in 1961. He was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and the Scabbard & Blade ROTC honorary society.

He was a member of The University of Texas NROTC program from 1957-1961. He was commissioned in 1961 and named the Most Outstanding UT NROTC senior student in his class.

His active duty in the US Navy was from 1961-1965. He continued his service in the reserves through 1973.

At a Valentines’ dance, John met Penny Pounds. She is the love of his life. They married on the 27th of December 1962.

John attended The University of Texas Law School and Penny taught school at Ortega Elementary School in Austin. John graduated with honors in 1968. He received the Order of the Coif and he was a member of Phi Alpha Delta legal fraternity.

John joined the law firm of Fulbright, Crooker, Freeman, Bates & Jaworski (now known as Norton, Rose & Fulbright) in 1968 where he was a partner from 1975-2001. He was of counsel until 2023.

John was Chair of the Real Estate Law Section of the Houston Bar Association from 1985-1986. He received the Presidents’ Award in 1986. He was also the Chair of the Real Property, Trust, and Estate Section of the ABA from 1997-1998.

He was also Member of the ABA House of Delegates, the Anglo-Americans Real Property Institute 2001, a charter member of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers in 1980 and was president of this organization from 1990-1991.

He received a lifetime achievement award from the Real Property Section of the State Bar of Texas in 2005. And he received the Fred Lane Award from the American College of Real Estate Lawyers.

John was a frequent speaker/lecturer on real estate law. He was a lifelong Member of the Methodist Church and served as a lay-leader and bible study leader. He served in leadership positions at Gethsemane UMC and Westminster UMC.

“Grand Dad,” as he was known by his grandchildren, Blake Patrick Houston, Jr., John Scott Houston, Kendall Grace Hollyfield, Rhett Anthony Hollyfield, was a force to be reckoned with. He was always loyal, always fair and always there. We will miss him greatly.

The memorial service is to be conducted at 3 o’clock in the afternoon on Saturday, the 30th of December, at Westminster United Methodist Church, 5801 San Felipe St. in Houston. For those unable to attend, virtual attendance may be obtained by selecting the "Join Livestream" icon below under the "Services" section.

The family kindly requests with gratitude that floral tributes not be sent but rather that memorial contributions be directed to the John Hollyfield Scholarship at Hyde Park School in Austin, Texas, by selecting the icon below under “Donations.”

We invite you to take a few moments to share fond memories and words of comfort with his family by selecting the “Add a Memory” icon below.

From his children, Jon Scott Hollyfield and his wife Amy Marie Grizzaffi Hollyfield, and Courtney Hollyfield Houston we say “Hook’Em and Godspeed.”