Louise Hilma Ballerstedt Raggio

Known as the “Mother of Family Law in Texas,” Louise Ballerstedt Raggio was also known as mentor, civil rights activist, champion for the rights of women and children, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Louise was born on June 15, 1919 and passed away on January 23, 2011. She grew up on a black dirt cotton farm 20 miles east of Austin. She was the only child of Hilma Lindgren and Louis Ballerstedt who were children of Swedish and German immigrants. Her parents’ modest education and economic circumstances did not stop them from supporting their daughter through Austin High School, where she was valedictorian, and the University of Texas in Austin, where she graduated second in her class. Upon graduation from college Louise won a Rockefeller Fellowship to Washington, D. C. She always treasured this year of work and study as one of the best years of her life. Upon the completion of her fellowship, she returned to Texas and met and married Grier Henry Raggio, her husband of 47 years until his death in 1988. Louise is survived by her three sons, Grier Jr. and wife Lorraine, Tom and wife Janice, Ken and wife Patty, seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

Louise had many firsts. She was the only woman in her class at the SMU School of Law, the first woman criminal assistant district attorney in Dallas County, the first Chairwoman of the Texas Family Law Section, the first woman Director of the Texas Bar, and the first chairwoman of the Texas Bar Foundation. Her most satisfying professional accomplishment was her leadership in the reform of Texas Property laws that gave married women the right to own property in their name, the first step in the massive reform of Texas family law that has become the Texas Family Code. In honor of her dedication in both civil and legal matters, she has been the recipient of local, state, and national awards, some of which bear her name.

Louise was committed to her profession, but she was equally committed to her family. The deep love, devotion and respect felt by her family is the result of that commitment. We will always remember the home cooked meals, the vegetables from your garden, and your wonderful sense of humor. As a friend has said, “she did so much because she didn’t know she couldn’t.”

The family would like to express their appreciation to the doctors, nurses and staff of Walnut Place for their loving care. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in her memory to the Louise Raggio Lecture Series at the SMU Dedman School of Law, or to the Memorial and Endowment Fund of the First Unitarian Church. Respects may be paid on Saturday January 29, 2011 at Sparkman-Hillcrest on Northwest Highway starting at 10 am and Louise’s family will receive visitors from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 pm that evening. There will be a memorial service at the First Unitarian Church of Dallas, 4015 Normandy at Preston, 75205 at 2:00 pm on Sunday January 30, 2011

The website of the continuing law firm Louise and Grier founded in 1956, raggiolaw.com, is posting links to videos others have done about Louise's life and accomplishments.

Arrangements under the direction of Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home, Dallas, TX.