Richard Grainger

August 29, 1935 to November 1, 2024

Richard Grainger was born August 29th, 1935, in Tyler, Texas, the first of three children to Dr. Henry George Grainger and Geneva Golden Grainger. He was married to Corinne Crawford Grainger, for 35 years, and they had three lovely children, Rick, Greg, and Cindy. Left to cherish his memory are his brother Jack together with his wife Doris, his son Greg and daughter-in-law Natalie, their two children Reese, and Jordan (Grainger) Lanehart and husband Jonathan, his grandson Blake and wife Nelma, their four sons Blake Jr., Blaine, Blade, and Blaze, Tommy J. Fontenot, Richard’s husband and long-term friend, as well as many nieces and nephews and their families.

After finishing his undergraduate studies at the University of Texas, Richard attended the University of Texas law school and graduated in 1959. He began his law career with the Ramey firm in Tyler, Texas. During his initial six decades of practicing law in East Texas, he represented such clients as Ford, Daimler Chrysler, Wyeth Pharmaceutical, Farmers Insurance, and American Airlines. Richard served the legal community in many ways including president of the Texas Association of Defense Counsel, president of the International Defense Lawyers Association, president of the Eastern District of Texas Bar Association, Distinguished Alumni of the University of Texas Law School, and attorney advisor to the American Civil Liberties Union. He was among the first to receive a certificate of specialization from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in the field of personal injury trial law, and Richard was a founding member of the East Texas Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates. If that wasn’t enough, Richard was mentioned in the book Smith County Justice as the only attorney whose client was acquitted. Much to his chagrin, he was not asked to be in the book’s movie adaptation (Rush).

Richard’s later career focused on mediation, in which he was called upon to mediate some of the largest patent infringement and personal injury cases by State and Federal District Judges from all over the State of Texas. He had the privilege of mentoring numerous young lawyers throughout his career, many of whom have become some of the best attorneys in Texas. In 2013, the Smith County Bar Association awarded Richard the Justinian Award, their highest honor, recognizing a lifetime demonstrating integrity, legal ethics, leadership, and service to the legal profession and community.

Richard had many passions, with one being the renovation of the Ramey-Grainger house at 605 South Broadway into his law office, which is listed in the National Registry of Historic Places. He was also passionate about UT Football, equality, and life. He donated time and money towards education and to support a more inclusive world. Although he stopped practicing law in 2021, he never retired from life, and never stopped being a die-hard Longhorn!

Richard touched so many, and his family wishes to thank you all for the outpouring of sympathy they have received. Richard will be interned at Rose Hill Cemetery, together forever with his wife Corinne, son Rick, and daughter Cindy, at a private ceremony. A celebration of life event is in the works with more details to come.