Jack C. Wood

Jack Calvin Wood, a pioneer in the legal specialty of health law, died on the 12th of September 2010, at his home in Houston, Texas. He was 77. Jack was born the 9th of January, 1933 in Greenwood, Indiana, to Gertrude and Earl L. Wood. He graduated from DePauw University, Phi Beta Kappa, with a B.A. in 1954, and from Harvard Law School, summa cum laude, in 1962. Jack proudly served his country as a Naval officer.

Jack began his legal career with the Chicago-based firm of Hopkins, Sutter, Owen, Mulroy and Wentz where, in 1965, at the request of a firm client, a senior partner donated one year of Jack’s time to the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word in Houston, Texas, to organize and advise the Order on the operation of 16 hospitals located from California to Texas to Louisiana. This assignment began a forty-five year journey as one of the founders of what is now the specialty of health law. Jack remained as the General Counsel for the Order until 1973, when he founded one of the first U.S. law firms dedicated to the practice of health law. His firm, later known as Wood, Lucksinger, and Epstein (WLE), was considered the premier health law practice until 1991, when it was merged into the Firm of Vinson & Elkins. During Jack’s practice he was recognized by his peers as a true leader in the developing specialty of health law and was a Founder, Board member, and President of the American Society of Hospital Attorneys (now the American Health Lawyers Association), the premier legal organization serving the healthcare industry.

Jack was considered a lawyer's lawyer, always leading by example and always seemingly one step ahead of his peers by foreseeing issues which would impact the healthcare industry and advising his clients early and correctly on the proper course of legal action. He was a true giant in the complex and highly specialized practice of health law. He was a trailblazer for literally thousands of health law practitioners and will live in their memories forever. A health lawyer's resume that includes a WLE pedigree still symbolizes a health lawyer of distinguished credentials.

Jack is survived by a sister, Susan Carol Jersey, and nephew, Michael Jersey, of Macomb, Illinois, and numerous friends, former clients, and professional colleagues across the country. Special thanks and acknowledgements are extended to Jack's caretaker team, headed by Raven Lawrence.

A memorial service is to be conducted at ten o’clock in the morning on Monday, the 20th of September, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

In lieu of customary remembrances, contributions in Jack's memory may be directed to the Abramson Center for the Future of Health, 6550 Fannin St., Suite 1101, Houston, TX, 77030; or to the charity of one's choice.