George Rankin Milner

Beloved husband, father and grandfather, George Milner, 80, passed away on September 17, 2014 after a lengthy illness. He is regarded as one of the finest criminal defense attorney in this part of the country. Senior prosecutors and judges frequently said, "If I were ever in trouble, I'd hire Milner." In a career spanning five decades, he won countless jury trials. For more than twenty years he was regarded as the dean of the criminal defense bar. According to a newspaper account, a Dallas prosecutor once described a murder trial against Milner as "brutal." The prosecutor said, " This is the ugliest thing I've ever seen. [Milner] has the jury eating out of his hand." Milner tried several death penalty cases and only once received a death verdict. And, Milner won that case on appeal.

Milner was born in Winnsboro, Texas on July 17, 1934. He grew up in south Dallas and graduating from Forest Avenue High School. When he was 13, he won the Dallas Yo-Yo Championship earning him a bicycle which he promptly carried home and mounted on his wall as a trophy. He excelled at basketball. At five-foot, eight, he later made the men’s basketball team at the University of Texas in Austin. He served two year in the United States Army serving at Fort Bliss and in Germany.

After service in the army, Milner finished his undergraduate degree at Southern Methodist graduating with a B.B.A. in 1957. He graduated from Southern Methodist University School of Law in 1959 where he was a member of the Law Review. He served as an Assistant District Attorney in Dallas under the legendary District Attorney Henry Wade from 1960-1964. He was elected President of the Dallas County Criminal Bar Association in 1971. He was a member of the original group of Texas attorneys to achieve Board Certification in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. And, he was a charter member of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. He was also a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Dallas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. In 2006, he was inducted into the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Hall of Fame.

He was considered the master of cross-examination. He possessed an unassuming, quiet nature, but projected the highest level of integrity. Juries knew they could trust his every word. He was a nationally regarded lawyer trying cases from New York to Los Angeles. He was a lawyer’s lawyer. And, he represented many lawyers over the years. Most lawyers who witnessed him in the courtroom consistently regarded him as finest trial lawyer they had ever seen. He was truly larger than life.

In 1962, Milner married the love of his life, Frankie Forshee. They had originally met on a blind date. They remained happily married for 52 years raising three children, George, Stacy and Grant. Frankie remained at his side day and night throughout his lengthy illness.

He leaves behind his wife, Frankie; son George R. Milner, III; daughter Stacy Milner; and grandson, Quinton Milner. He is predeceased by his parents, George R. Milner, Sr. and Lucille Milner, and his beloved son, Grant Milner.

Funeral will be held at Sparkman Hillcrest, 7405 W. Northwest Highway, at 12:00 noon on Friday, September 19, 2014. Graveside services to follow at Hillcrest. Memorial Park. The Reverend John Wood of Waco will preside. Pallbearers are George R. Milner, III, Quinton Milner, Ronald L. Goranson, Lane Kalmin, Judge Robert Maloney, Judge Patrick McDowell, and Gary Udashen. There will be a reception at 3:00p.m. at Lakewood Country Club to celebrate George’s life.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital www.stjude.org.