Obituaries

James Aubrey Knox, 85, passed away in Sherman January 5, 2014. He was a devoted husband, father and lawyer. In 1963 he joined and became a partner in the Dallas, Texas law firm later known as Vial Hamilton Koch & Knox. That firm was named among the twenty-five largest in Texas. Jim was involved in a broad corporate law and business litigation practice. His practice focused particularly on fidelity, surety and construction law. He also engaged in business and commercial litigation and general business counseling. He was a member of the American Bar Association, State Bar of Texas, and the Dallas Bar Association. In 1980-81 he served as Chair of the Fidelity & Surety Law Committee, ABA Section on Tort and Insurance Practice. In 1984-86, he chaired a Division of the ABA’s Forum Committee on the Construction Industry. In 1985-86, he was Chair of the Dallas Bar Association Construction Law Section. In 1989-90, he was Chair of the State Bar of Texas Construction Law Section. He practiced in courts throughout the state of Texas and elsewhere, and successfully tried many jury cases. He appeared frequently in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth and the Eleventh Circuits, and obtained many favorable rulings for his clients and for the insurance and construction industry in general. He was a frequent speaker before national bar groups and authored numerous published articles. He continued in active practice until 2007. He received an LL.B. from Southern Methodist University School of Law in 1953 where he was Associate Editor of the Southwestern Law Journal and a member of Phi Alpha Delta. He received a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from SMU in 1951. James was born in Elkhart, Texas in 1928 and in 1946 enlisted to serve in the US Navy as helmsman of the USS Tilefish – a submarine based in Pearl Harbor. He liked to hunt, particularly with bird dogs. He also liked to golf, fish and go boating. He was married in 1956, and is survived by his wife, Mary; his sons James, Jr., and Chris; and four grandchildren, Beverly, Chris, Erica and Alexander. He is also survived by two sisters, Mary Paxton and Betty Denson. Interment and services are private. Donations to the charity of one’s choice may be made in lieu of flowers.