Phillip Hayes Allen

Bill Burge passed away on Friday, August 3 , 2001, following a long illness. He was born January 2, 1942, and grew up in Houston. He attended New Mexico Military Institute, the University of Texas, and the University of Houston. He graduated from the University of Texas School of Law in 1966. Following graduation he clerked for the Presiding Judge of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in Austin. He then worked in the Harris County District Attorney's office, first as a prosecutor and then as chief of the appellate division. During this time he assisted in establishing the Federal Public Defender's office for the Southern District of Texas. In 1979 he entered the private practice of criminal defense law. In 1974 the Texas Board of Legal Specialization certified him as a specialist in the field of criminal law. Bill loved the law and showed this by his memberships and chairmanships of many committees in local, state and federal legal organizations. He served recently as chair of the Criminal Justice Committee of the State Bar of Texas, the Federal Practice Section of the Houston Bar Association, and a Grievance Committee of the State Bar of Texas. He was a member of the Houston Police Advisory Committee for several years, and he was an adjunct professor of criminal law at South Texas College of Law for seventeen years. Bill took great joy in his family. He was married to Dorothy Vaughn in 1964 and had two children, Laura Burge Esparza and Bill Burge , Jr. He is also remembered by his father Curtis H. Burge , MD, Fernando Esparza, grandchildren Ana, Alejandro and Antonio Esparza, brother Charles Burge , Susan Staples Burge , and Chris Gore. His mother, Velma Ann Conradi Burge died in 1997. His many interests included classical symphonic and operatic music, ballet, screenplays and the visual arts, the study of archaeology, anthropology, and history. He was an enthusiastic supporter of the Democratic Party and his advice was sought by many candidates for public office. A memorial service will be at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, August 6, 2001, at Saint Paul's United Methodist Church in Houston. A reception at the church will follow the service. Contributions may be made to Chapels of Hope-Dayton Complex, P.O. Box 590411, Houston, Texas 77259, for the construction of the Family Visitors' Center. It will serve family members and friends coming to visit those incarcerated at the L.G. Plane State Jail for women, the Hightower Unit for men, and the Henley Substance Abuse Facility for women. Bill Burge saw all sides of the criminal law during his career, and he knew that the families of the accused suffer as well, and that healing and reconciliation cannot occur without family support for those who are incarcerated.