Philip Paul Sudan

Philip Paul Sudan, Jr went to be with the Lord on October 24, 2024. He was born on August 4, 1951 in Austin Texas to Philip Paul and Sara Kathleen Swint Sudan. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Houston where Phil grew up. He graduated from Bellaire High School in 1969 where he played basketball and earned All City honors. He went back to Austin to attend the University of Texas, graduating in 1973, then back to Houston to the University of Houston Law School, where he was co-editor of the Houston Law Review. Upon graduation, he worked for several different law firms before teaming up with Jim Ryan to form Ryan and Sudan. It was there that he met Maggie Dye, whom he married in 1979. They had two children: Carly Mackenzie and Robinson Wainwright. They divorced in 1993.

Over the years, Phil became a renowned attorney in business and contractual law before eventually expanding into international business law. His most famous case was as lead attorney for Bud Adams in his quest to move the Houston Oilers from Houston to Tennessee. Using some novel legal ideas, he prevailed and the Oilers became the Tennessee Titans.

In 1998, he married Tracy Michelle Abbott, and helped raise her daughter, Paige Finlay. Tracy and Phil divorced in 2006.

Phil grew up attending Willow Meadows Baptist Church, where he accepted Christ at a young age. But it was in these middle age years that he rededicated his life to Christ. From then on, Phil pursued his relationship with Jesus passionately, and was an avid student of the Bible. He was active at Second Baptist Church and very involved in his Sunday School class and several weekly studies.

Phil loved music and taught himself to play the guitar and piano. He especially loved the Beatles. His love of music was passed on to his son, Rob, and to his step-daughter Paige. He taught them to not just enjoy the music, but to listen to the lyrics and appreciate the cultural context. For his 50th birthday party, he had the honor of playing in “The Phil Sudan Band” alongside his friend Shake Russell.

Phil enjoyed attending the Houston Astros games where he was a long-time season ticket holder. He especially loved experiencing games with his son, Rob. Phil also loved politics, and in 2000 he ran for the US House of Representatives for the 51st district, winning a hard-fought Republican primary before losing the general election to the incumbent.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his older brother Clint, and his daughter, Carly. He is survived by his son, Rob Sudan and wife Sarah, step-daughter Paige Yim and husband Chris, brother Arthur Sudan, and sister Ginny Glass and husband Bruce. He is also survived by nieces and nephews: Christy Ogden and husband Jordan, Travis Turek and wife Erin, Amy Marable and husband Blake, Jason Sudan and wife Alex, and Mary Beth D’Brot and husband Alejandro. Great Uncle Phil also enjoyed his 19 great nieces and nephews.

The family will hold a private graveside service; no memorial service is planned at this time.