Edward D. Urquhart

Eddie is a graduate of Lamar High School where he was a member of the National Honor Society, Pow Wow and Football, Track and Cross Country teams. He was a Houston City Champion in the 440 and the Pole Vault. Eddie was honored to receive The Angelo Vasos Award, which was awarded to the person who most represented the best balance of academics and athletics. He received a B.B.A. in Accounting from The University of Houston where he was on the Dean’s List and a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity and Beta Alpha Psi. Eddie received a J.D. from South Texas College of Law where he was on the Dean’s List, Business Manager of the South Texas Law Journal and a member of Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity. He was elected twice to Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities & Colleges in recognition of outstanding merit and accomplishment as a student. Eddie was presented with the George T. Barrow Award, which is annually presented to the Student Who in the Opinion of the Dean will Become an Outstanding Attorney. He received an L.L.M. in Taxation from New York University School of Law.

Eddie was a founding member of the law firms of Sponsel & Urquhart and Urquhart & Hassell and later practiced as a solo practitioner. Prior to his law career, Eddie worked as an Internal Revenue Agent with special assignments on a Narcotics Trafficking Project and a Political Corruption Project. His law practice was concentrated in civil and criminal federal tax controversies, litigation and related matters. He taught Tax-Federal Procedure as an Adjunct Professor at South Texas College of Law. Eddie was certified in tax law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and was a member of the Committee on Civil and Criminal Tax Penalties and Subcommittee on IRS Investigations and Procedures of the Tax Section of the American Bar Association, the Committee on White Collar Crime of the Criminal Justice Section of the American Bar Association, the Court Procedure Committee of the Tax Section of the State Bar of Texas, the Taxation Section of the Houston Bar Association, the Bar Association of the Fifth Federal Circuit, and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He authored legal articles and participated in tax seminars as a speaker and panelist. Some of his more notable accomplishments championing taxpayer rights were written up in Forbes Magazine, Medical Economics and the National Law Journal. He was honored to be selected by his peers to be included in The Best Lawyers in America.

Eddie was preceded in death by parents, Hazel and Garland D. Urquhart; sister, Bonnie Jo Urquhart; daughter, Catherine Evon Urquhart and granddaughter, Alice Clementine Urquhart. He is survived by wife, Cynthia Swain Urquhart; son, Charles Edward Urquhart and daughter-in-law, Victoria Rosch Urquhart and children, Charles O. and J. MacLean Urquhart; grandson, Edward M. Urquhart; son-in-law, Eddy S. Mazariegos; sister-in-law, Georgia Swain McKissack and husband, G. Scott McKissack; niece, Allison Canales and husband, Jason and her daughter, Madison Rasp; nephew, G. Scott McKissack, Jr. and wife, Haley and children, Ryal and Charlee; aunt and uncle, Evon and Bennett E. Powell and children, Jennifer, Bennett and Merriman and their families; brother, G. Wesley Urquhart and wife, Elizabeth Urquhart; niece, Christina Wilkerson and husband, Dusty and children, Lucy, Wesley and Gus; niece, Mary Elizabeth Urquhart and children, Luke and Dayne; nephew, John Urquhart and children, Wesley and James; and nieces, Caroline and Virginia Urquhart.

Eddie was devoted to his family as a loving husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle, and cousin as well as to his many friends, colleagues and clients. Eddie and Cynthia began dating at Lamar High School and were married for 50 years. He was always his children’s biggest supporter. Eddie enjoyed playing tennis and golf as well as snowboarding and running. He ran the New York City Marathon and the Houston Tenneco Marathon twice. Eddie was a member of River Oaks Country Club, the Conover Liver Center Task Force at Houston Methodist Hospital, TIRR Family, the Lamar High School Alumni Association and the University of Houston Alumni Association. He was a former member of The Houston Club, The Bienville Club, New Orleans and Harbour Town Yacht Club, Lake Conroe.

The family would like to thank Eddie’s caregivers and doctors and nurses at Houston Methodist Hospital for their wonderful care.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from two o’clock until four o’clock in the afternoon on Sunday, the 10th of April, in the library and grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

A memorial service is to be conducted at three o’clock in the afternoon on Monday, the 11th of April, at The Church of St. John the Divine, 2450 River Oaks Boulevard in Houston, where the Vice Rector, Rev. Reagan W. Cocke is to officiate.

Following the service, all are invited to greet the family during a reception to be held in Sumners Hall.

Prior to the service, the family will gather for a private interment at Memorial Oaks Cemetery in Houston.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family suggests that memorial contributions in Eddie’s memory be directed to The Church of St. John the Divine - Loving Lamar Program supporting students in need, 2450 River Oaks Blvd., Houston, TX, 77019; to VICTORY/American Cancer Society, 2450 Fondren Road, Ste. 200, Houston, TX, 77063 or to the charity of one’s choice.