Kate Turley * my mother * 1938-2019

* My remarks * January 22, 2019

A friend of mine recently relocated from Texas to  Panama actively seeking a better quality of life for her family.   Before moving, she had authored a book in which she encouraged the reader to Choose Joy.

Her theme was that there are certain things unique to all of us that bring us Joy.  And to experience that Joy, we have to Live Intentionally.  

I believe that Kate did live her life with Intention.   Kate always had a smile, a pleasant demeanor, and an easy friendliness with so many.  And who can forget  her unique sense of style?  But all of these good characteristics did not happen by chance.  She deliberately put herself out there to reflect the light and beauty that she saw in the world.

Because Kate certainly appreciated the beauty in life.  And to truly take in that beauty requires a seriousness, a focus, a desire to eliminate distraction.   We all remember Kate as a good listener.  Kate was a serious book reader.    When Kate looked at a work of art, she could ponder it in silence.  Those skills require an outward-facing focus. 

One specific memory I have is that Kate would regularly go to the symphony or the opera or the theater by herself.  She would usually go at the last minute.  Even if the performance  were sold out, she would nearly always be able to buy a single ticket.  I believe she liked seeing the performance by herself  because she was able to truly focus on the performance and take it in.    She would even say that if it got too intense, she would just close her eyes.

She had that purposefulness  in her everyday dealings as well.  She would listen attentively in the discussions she was part of.  She asked questions of others to keep the conversation moving forward.  And she never as far as I know held a grudge against anyone.   I believe that led to an ever-widening circle of friends, starting from the time she was very young growing up on Wickersham Lane here in Houston, and continuing forward for many years.    All of you here today can count yourselves in that large circle.  

On one of the last times we talked, she told me about a conversation she had with her mother Pearl Elledge late in Pearl’s life.   Pearl told her “I’ve gotten everything I wanted out of life.  I had a great husband.  I had two great children.  I’ve had a nice home and garden.”

I didn’t realize it at the time, but she of course was telling me that was her story as well.  She got everything she wanted out of life.  In that respect she Chose Joy. 

I am sure that her parting wish to you would be to: 

“Go and Do Likewise”

Thanksgiving 2018

These past few days have given me a lot to be thankful for.  We had our small family together for Thursday lunch and had plenty of delicious food.  For the next 3 days there was lots of good football on.  Not only did Texas win to face OU in the Big 12 Championship next Saturday (who would have predicted that?), Texas A&M got a big win last night in 7 Overtimes.  That's like an 18 inning baseball game. 

Weather has finally returned to normal.  And I did get a bit of work done on Friday and Sunday. So I'm good for this next week.

Big Fat Brooke

Back when I was much younger and dumber, I met a girl in college, Brooke.  We hit it off and perhaps there could have been some more good times then.  But I couldn't see past that she was athletic and not the perky, petite young woman that perhaps I wanted to find (see below?)

As a result things went nowhere fast.  I think I recall ignoring her at a party.  She was none too pleased as I was so nice a few days before.  Later I called her "Big Fat Brooke" to my friend Rob.  He made fun of me, saying 'you were all ga-ga last week and now she's Big Fat Brooke'.

So perhaps an amend would be in order.  But as the country song goes, I don't even know her last name.

Was It Quieter Then?

I was home the other day and of course the roar of a leaf blower and a car going by seemed to pierce what I expected as a quiet afternoon.  It make me think, was it quieter back then?

Certainly the population of people, cars and equipment has increase very dramatically in Texas over the years.  The 1980 census said 14.2 million people in Texas.  Now the most recent 2017 estimate is 28.3 million.  Double.  McAllen had about 40,000 people then, now it is is 140,000.  This town has more than tripled in size and number. 

And the number of cars and machinery has increased at probably a higher rate as well.  The technology hasn't improved any.  We still have the same gas powered, internal combustion, "relic of the 19th century" that has been around in everyone's memory.

What would it take for technological change?  There seems to be such political resistance for any advances.  It seems like there's a perception that "we're number 1" with what we have, so don't do anything to upset those circumstances.

Will climate change have any effect?  It probably depends on how fast that change occurs.  If it is in geological time, then perhaps only a new world order would do it.  And I can't say that anyone wants that pain.  Eventually a balance will have to emerge.

Advice to New Attorneys

Earlier this month a new crop of attorneys in Texas came into being, by virtue of passing the July 2018 bar exam.  About the same time I was looking at a composite photo of the Hidalgo County Bar Association from 1999.  I was struck by how many of the attorney I knew that were still here but also the number that had died/moved on/gone to jail/etc.

So after 26 years, I think I have some perspective to offer some advice.  Most of it is probably what I call Mother-In-Law advice, practical wisdom that you probably either already know or could have figured out if you only took the time to think about it.


1.  We're all in this together.  While the competition never seems to go away for jobs, money, prestige, recognition, remember that we share a bond of professionalism that goes above any base wants.  Consider the other person as an equal, even if you have opposing views.



2.  Take good care of yourself.  This career is a long haul, akin to the tortoise and the hare.  Pace yourself for a long career, and you will likely have one.  You'll be surprised at how many flame out along the way.


3. Always be willing to learn more.  Just when you think you have it down, the law will change, or the market will change, or the technology will change.  There will be a number of career moves you'll have to make.  Be willing to act before the ball starts rolling and you can't outrun it.


4.  Stay involved with your law school alumni.  As time goes by, there will be fewer and fewer of you, and those bonds will be strengthened by some regular contact.  Plus it is always a good reminder of where you came from and how far you have come.  Be proud of your accomplishments.



Thanks to my Mother-In-Law JoAnn who always has some smart, practical wisdom.  I won't forget the encouraging note she sent me after some early setbacks in law school.  Mind you, I was only the fiance then.  Her confidence helped me to press forward, and I'm proud to say I really came back stronger than ever.

Golf with Ed

Last weekend I wanted to play golf while in Houston and let my father Ed know.  That Sat. afternoon, we went to where it all began for me, the Houston Country Club.  Ed didn't play but drove around the cart.  He said I would play from the 3 star tees (what we used to call the Old Man tees) and see if I could break 80.  I thought that was a tall order.

So I gave it a good go, and shot 83.  Power of a lofty goal.  Even playing from the forward tees, I still tended to aim for the same fairway areas.  I did hit the driver well but the greens were much faster than I expected.  As Ed said, "if you had not have 3 putted, you would have broke 80."  True, with 3 putts for bogey on 12, 14, 16 and 17.  Still, a very good and fun round.

The highlight hole is Number 8, which is like a remodeled room in an old house.  What was once a quirky par 5 is now a stout risk/reward part 4.  I hit a great drive and 8 iron on the green and 2 putted for par.

I did recall many good rounds with my late friend Robert Koelsch there.  Also I had never noticed how many of the greens are elevated about 4 feet.  Funny the things you notice.  Some things don't change.  Same staff, same members, same logo.  A good afternoon.

Popes for Dopes - The Fisherman's Tomb

Book Review:  The Fisherman’s Tomb, by John O’Neill

A Modern Take on “Popes for Dopes”

By Gregory Turley, Class of 1987

Washington and Lee Alumni from the last 50 years will fondly recall the late Professor J.D. Futch III’s spring term history class  The Papacy Since the Schism, also known as “Popes for Dopes”.  Were this class to continue today, the Good Doctor would definitely approve of adding the book The Fisherman’s Tomb by John O’Neill to the required reading list.  It’s a story of international intrigue, a string of 20^th Century popes, a Texas oilman, and the search for the actual grave of St. Peter, one of the twelve disciples.

For nearly 2,000 years, legend was that St. Peter, the first head of the Church was buried underneath St. Peter’s Basilica in what is now Vatican City.  But no one knew for sure.  In 1939 tombs were found underneath.  Pope Pius XII wanted to investigate but was lacking in money as well as political will.  If the search were a failure, it would raise more questions than answers about the beginning of the Church in Rome.  A search needed to be secret, and it needed to be paid for secretly.

George Strake, Sr.  made his millions in the Conroe, Texas oil field.   A devout Catholic, he financed many special projects of the Catholic Church over the years.  When Pope Pius XII sent his emissary to Houston in 1940 to request the financial support for this secret archaeological excavation to find St. Peter’s tomb, Strake basically agreed to an unlimited budget with the requirement that his participation be kept a secret.

Ten years later, in 1950, Pope Pius XII announced the results of the search.    But yet, the bones found were nearly forgotten again for years.  In 1958, a new leader emerged named Margarita Guarducci to decipher ancient inscriptions and clues and the search continued for years longer.   A bitter internal struggle inside the Vatican walls ensued and it was not until 2013 that Pope Francis announces the formal conclusion. 

Now, the Scavi Tour of the Vatican Necropolis is a popular tourist attraction.  The book is a fast paced story of the search itself and more importantly, the result of the search.  Indiana Jones himself would be proud to tell such a story.

John O’Neill is the also the  author of  the 2004 bestseller, Unfit for Command:  Swift Boat Veterans Speak Out Against John Kerry.  A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, he is a Vietnam Veteran and longtime attorney in Houston.   He credits his legal research skill in helping to get the bottom of this Da Vinci Code-like mystery.

Professor J.D Futch III taught History at Washington and Lee University from 1962 to his retirement in 2011.   Before his death in 2017, he once quipped “Were I elected to the Holy Office, I would take the name of Pius.”  A story involving not only his 20^th century “namesake” Pius XII, but continuing for nearly a century to  Paul, John Paul , Benedict and Francis certainly makes the classic history lectures come alive once more.

Gregory Turley is an attorney in McAllen, Texas and author of the books Always Patty and Hideaway.  While he did not take the “Popes” class in the 1980s, he does aspire to teach it one day.

Turley2.0@gmail.com