Henry gilchrist dallas

He became the lead attorney for the firm's principal client, the oil-rich Murchison family. The little firm and Dallas grew in size and reputation as the Murchisons purchased businesses that made everything from BB-guns to washing machines. Gilchrist also represented Clint Murchison Jr. But even with his success in high-profile corporate law, he kept the gentle nature of a small-town lawyer. A celebration of Gilchrist's life will be at 4 p.

Gilchrist was considered one of Dallas' preeminent lawyers and a quiet, active civic leader, said former Dallas City Manager George Schrader, a longtime friend and client. The team wasn't winning and Gilchrist hadn't billed the team for a considerable amount of work. Gilchrist asked the coach to win again the next Sunday, a lighthearted hint that perhaps the team might one day pay for his services. Gilchrist maintained a humility, said his daughter, Terri Gilchrist Plauche of Dallas.

He always fought to do the right thing. Gilchrist was born in Austin, where his father, Gibb Gilchrist headed engineering for the state highway department. He graduated with honors in In , Murchison and his sons, Clint Jr. The Murchisons kept the firm busy with transactions, buying the Holt Publishing Co. Gilchrist wound down his activity with the firm until he fully retired in In addition to his daughter, Gilchrist is survived by his son, Tom Gilchrist of Dallas; and two grandchildren.

Pat Gilchrist died in Joe Simnacher. For the past 24 years I have shared the life stories of people great and small with readers of The Dallas Morning News as the newspaper's obituary writer.

One of those staff lawyers was William H. Bowen, who came to Dallas from Chicago and was strong in the area of financing. The Murchisons decided to sponsor Jenkens and Bowen in setting up an independent law firm, which was formally organized on September 15, Joining the two principals of the firm were associates George C. Anson and Walter M. This small group of attorneys set up shop at Main Street, a two-story remodeled bank building that housed the headquarters for the Murchison family business interests.

With a secure base of work, the firm enjoyed steady growth and expanded its staff. In Henry Gilchrist joined the firm. Involved in mergers and acquisitions and securities, he would become a strength of the firm for the next 50 years, and Jenkens would ultimately make him a name partner. In Wilson A. Hanna joined the firm, followed by Joe Gray in Although the firm was located in the relatively small city of Dallas, which had a population of just , in , its work extended well beyond the city limits during the s.

Jenkens was involved in a proxy fight for control of the New York Central Railroad; the purchase of a St. Louis subway car manufacturer; the formation of the Kirby Corporation, a Houston oil and gas company; the acquisition and operation of out-of-town banks; the creation of national chemical and steel companies; the establishment of the first publicly owned insurance holding company; the construction of a Denver office building; and even the financing of a John Wayne film, The Alamo.

There was so much work, in fact, that the firm had to decline some opportunities because it did not have enough attorneys. Thus, in the s the firm began to expand its staff as well as its capabilities. Not only was Jenkens able to take on more business, it also became less dependent on the Murchisons--a wise move, given that the family would fall victim to falling oil prices in the s and suffer a monumental collapse.

Moreover, Dallas evolved into a major city and its economy grew and diversified, leading to even greater growth for Jenkens in the s. As the Texas economy expanded, Jenkens also broadened its operations, opening an office in Houston in during that city's boom period, followed by an office in the state capital of Austin.

By Jenkens had lawyers in its three offices and was ranked as the th largest law firm in the country. The merger filled out Jenkens' public law and municipal finance capabilities, while Hutchison added tax and banking expertise. One would go to jail.

These additional charges brought unwelcome publicity to the firm, especially because it was also involved in a securities lawsuit concerning a Texas oil company, which made a private stock offering in with Jenkens' help.

In David Laney became president and chairman of Jenkens. At the time, the firm had been reduced to attorneys, involved in ten practice groups. Under Laney's leadership, Jenkens entered the s very much growth oriented. Despite difficult economic conditions, he was also interested in expanding the firm nationally and actively scouted for merger candidates. In Jenkens grew its Texas operations. All told, the Austin office expanded from 13 attorneys to The Houston office, however, suffered a rapid decline.

The firm was interested in merging the office with another Houston firm and in preparation restructured, reducing the number of attorneys from 34 to This move led to several attorneys leaving to take jobs elsewhere, including the managing partner. By November , the Houston office was reduced to just seven attorneys. Jenkens did not begin to achieve the kind of growth Laney envisioned until the mids, as the U. The firm added offices in San Antonio, Washington, D.

It hired new lawyers at a rapid clip, of them from to In Jenkens hired attorneys firmwide. Jenkens also added practices, such as construction law, a practice that had long been the province of boutique law firms but that Jenkens now used as a magnet to attract other business at all of its five offices. Altogether, Jenkens was now involved in 13 separate practice groups, and by the end of was ranked number 51 in the National Law Journal 's list of the largest law firms in the United States.

In terms of the number of attorneys employed, Jenkens was now the largest law firm in Dallas. In terms of revenue, it only trailed Akin, Gump in the city. Jenkens made an even bigger move in when it entered the New York market by acquiring the firm of Parker Chapin, culminating a two-year search for a New York partner.