Milton H. West Jr.

Milton H. “Mickey” West, Jr., born in Floresville, Texas, on the 12th of July 1916, passed away on Thursday, the 20th of November 2014. A fifth generation Texan, he embodied the true Texas spirit in so many ways. A larger than life figure, he lived life to the fullest until his final days.

He is predeceased by his parents, Milton H. West and Temple Worley West. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Kathryn Johnson West of Hattiesburg, Mississippi; his children: Milton H. West, III; Kathy West; Claiborne Larkin West and wife, Tonica; and Lawrence Johnson West and wife, Sarah Hicks West. He has six grandchildren: Alexandra West Montgomery, Michelle West, Shannon West, Dillon West, Harrison West and Cameron West. He has one great grandchild, Madeline West Montgomery.

He is from a family rich in Texas history. His Great Great Grandfather, Claiborne Larkin West, was the representative for the Liberty District, served at the Republic of Texas Convention of 1832 and was one of the 58 signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence. He served in the First House of Representatives of the Republic of Texas 1836-1837. His Father, Milton H. West, was a Texas Ranger serving in Company C under Captain J. M. Fox from 1911-1912, a District Attorney for the 28th Judicial District from 1922-1925 and a member of the US House of Representatives for the 15th Congressional District of Texas from 1933 until his death in office in 1948.

As a young boy, Mickey’s family moved to Brownsville, Texas, where he grew up hunting and fishing. After graduation from high school, he attended George Washington University. He later transferred to the University of Texas and obtained a BA, with Honors. He was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity and the Texas Cowboys. He attended UT law school and was a member of the Texas Law Review. He then entered Harvard Law School and graduated in 1940 with an LLM in Taxation. After graduation, he was hired in 1940 by Andrews, Kelly, Kurth and Campbell (now known as Andrews & Kurth) where he began a long and distinguished legal career interrupted only by World War II. The day after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor he enlisted in the Navy and suspended his legal career. Six months later he shoved off from San Francisco to Pearl Harbor not to come back that way for five years. He served in the South Pacific Fleet with several Carrier Divisions, the last of which was Carrier Division Twenty-Three. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant. He was involved in many battles, most notably the Battle of Leyte Gulf and Coral Sea. He was awarded 8 Battle Stars from the Asiatic Pacific, a star in the Presidential Unit, and a star from the Philippine Liberation. However, his highest honor was being awarded the Navy Bronze Star for his consistently “gallant conduct in the Leyte and Lingayen operations, the battle off Samar Island and the action off Luzon”. He was immensely proud of his contribution to the war effort, although, like the rest of his generation, he rarely spoke of it.

He returned to Houston to resume his practice at Andrews & Kurth where he rose to the rank of Senior Partner, a position that he held for many years. To say that he was instrumental in growing the law firm, would be an understatement. He was always very involved in interviewing and recruiting the top law students to come to work at the firm. His expertise in the field of taxation earned the respect of many clients all over the world. He was frequently asked by members of the US Congress, particularly Bill Archer of Texas, of his opinion on how the tax laws should be constructed or revised. However, it was his Texas clients that were most famous. Those included, among others, Humble Oil and Refining, the King Ranch and the Yturria Ranch; but, the most notable of all was his long standing relationship with Howard R. Hughes. His greatest work was assisting with developing, managing and then, ultimately, dismantling the entire Hughes network of companies. In that effort, included designing and overseeing the creation of the non profit portion of the Hughes empire and defeating the challenge by the IRS in a decision rendered by the US Supreme Court, the decision which still stands as the seminal tax case. However, when asked what his greatest accomplishment was, he answered, without hesitation, “my family”.

He was a member of the Houston Country Club, Allegro, the Houston Club, the Petroleum Club, Ducks Unlimited, Quail Unlimited, Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association and the Texas Rangers Foundation.

His charitable work went as quietly as did his professional work. He continuously gave donations to any charity that asked. However, as a young attorney, he was asked to assist the struggling SPCA. He would go on to serve on the Board of Directors (at one point as the Chairman) for 45 years.

He was remarkable in his ability to sustain a practice, office or simply an exercise regimen. He practiced law from 1940 until his retirement from Andrews & Kurth in 1995, a total of 55 years with one firm. Even after retirement, he maintained an office until 2013, making the total time of having an office there of 73 years.

He had a myriad of hobbies. He loved Texas history and travel. He and his wife, Kathryn, traveled all over the world. He also liked going to the US Open Golf Tournament and the Ryder Cup. However, his true lifetime passion was quail hunting. He considered the pursuit of the Bobwhite Quail the “gentlemen’s hunt.” He raised, trained and handled English shorthaired pointers. He enjoyed organizing family hunts over properties located throughout south Texas, but most recently at the family ranch in Beeville.

We would like to thank the entire staff at the Hallmark and the independent care givers: Ivory and Angel Holiday, Cecile Traylor and Deborah Armstrong for their incredible patience and assistance.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from half-past five o’clock in the afternoon until half-past seven o’clock in the evening on Monday, the 24th of November 2014 in the library and grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

A memorial service is to be conducted at two o’clock in the afternoon on Tuesday, the 25th of November 2014, at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, 717 Sage Road in Houston, where the Rev. Dr. Russell J. Levenson, Jr., Rector and the Rev. Martin J. Bastian, Vice-Rector are to officiate. Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception to be held in Bagby Parish Hall.

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

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions in Mickey’s name may be directed to the Houston SPCA, 900 Portway Dr., Houston, TX, 77024.