The Honorable Robert M. Blackmon

After fighting an 18 month illness and having a short hospitalization, The Honorable Robert M. Blackmon passed away quietly on Friday, the 19th of November 2021, in Houston, Texas. With the many hats that he would wear, Robert was commonly known as Dad, Daddy, Grampy, Bob, Your Honor, Judge, Skipper or Captain.

Born in Beaumont, Texas to attorneys Jack and Margaret Blackmon, Robert’s family moved to Corpus Christi when he was four years old. After graduating Ray High School and while attending Southern Methodist University, he met Marta, an international law student from Buenos Aires, Argentina. She was attending the university working on her masters of comparative law and would become his lifelong love. He graduated SMU in 1965 with law and business degrees, and in 1966 received a Navy Law certification. That same year Robert and Marta married in Argentina and were by each other’s sides until his passing. They celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary just days prior to his hospitalization.

Robert was an active duty Navy lawyer from 1965 – 1972. He was directly commissioned as Lieutenant and had assignments that included the Fifth Naval District Headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia and the Southern Command in Panama. Until Navy retirement 20 years later, he was in the “ready reserves” and served a Military Judge Unit in Washington, D.C., the NLSO in Corpus Christi, and was a Judge Advocate in New Orleans, Louisiana. He tried cases in major coastal cities across the United States and in Italy, Sicily, and Greece, and earned the rank of Captain, Judge Advocate General’s Corps. Among others, the Captain’s personal decorations include the Joint Service Commendation Medal and the Navy Commendation Medal.

From 1973 – 1977 Robert was in private law practice in Corpus Christi with partners Jack North and Jack White. He was licensed to appear before Texas Courts, the United States Supreme Court, the United States Appellate Court for the Fifth Circuit, and the Court of Military Appeals. In 1977 he was selected as Nueces County’s Outstanding Young Lawyer of the Year and later that year was elected Judge for the County Court at Law No. 1. He sat at that bench uncontested from 1978 – 1985. When his father opted for retirement from the 117th District Court in Nueces County, Robert announced his own bid for his dad’s bench. Judge Blackmon served as trial judge uncontested in the 117th from 1986 through 2002 when he took senior status. He continued serving as a visiting trial judge until his diagnosis of illness in 2020. For his years of service to the community inside and outside the courtroom, the Corpus Christi Bar Association awarded Judge its highest honor: The Cecil E. Burney Humanitarian Award. This honor annually recognized the county’s lawyer or judge who has best served the community. Until recently, Judge remained active with the State Bar of Texas, the Judicial Section of the Texas State Bar, and the Corpus Christi Bar Association. He had a true appreciation for the law and took pleasure in the camaraderie that came with it.

Bob was active with the Boy Scouts of America for over 72 years. He was an Eagle with three palms and a Vigil Honor member of the Order of the Arrow. In addition to many other honors, Bob was recognized as a “Silver Beaver” and had received the “Silver Paisano” for his work promoting international scouting. The Catholic Diocese of Corpus Christi awarded him the St. George emblem to recognize achievements by Catholic Scouts. He served as an Explorer, Sea Scout Advisor, Scout Master, and for various committees. Scouting was very important to Bob, and he stuck by the oath which states: On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight. He always taught others to abide by the same promise.

In 1982 the Skipper began sailing with friends in the Wednesday night races and was immediately hooked. He quickly learned sailing’s rudimentary lessons of discipline, confidence, patience, and respect of others and the environment. Eventually, the Skipper became a Sea Scout leader, and for more than 22 years taught teenagers how to sail and how to apply sailing concepts to everyday life. He had the pleasure of maintaining friendships with many of his Sea Scouts until his passing. In 1991 the Skipper and his crew were provided a BSA Life Saving recognition for rescuing a drowning man from the Corpus Christi Bay. Until he came “off the water” in late 2019, he spent countless hours on the Bay single-hand sailing the “Lollygag”. The Skipper always welcomed an extra “hand” on board or just a friend willing to lend an ear and enjoy a cruise.

When he wasn’t on the water, Dad would pass the time with Marta walking, reading, writing, traveling, and doing most anything outdoors. The two of them loved visits with their grandchildren Max Foye, Sophia Foye, Julia Blackmon, Charlotte Blackmon, Rex Morgan, Brigid Morgan, Ella Morgan and Rusty Morgan. Grampy was thrilled to be part of every aspect of their busy lives and was full of pride to see each of them succeeding with their various endeavors.

Dad was partial to having adventures other than those derived from sailing. He was fascinated with the Sangre de Cristo mountain range in New Mexico, and along with many trips to Santa Fe, completed several multi-week treks through the Philmont Ranch near Cimarron. One of his most favored adventures was together with his daughters and son-in-law, Pat, paddling over 90 miles of the 10000 lakes through the forests and hills of North Eastern Minnesota and Ontario. Dad enjoyed wing shooting with his boys; Swimming laps at the YMCA or Santa Fe Swim Club was an almost daily feat; He was a Texas history buff and well versed in state and national politics; Westerns were his movies of choice; and, above all, Dad liked to chat. He had the ability to maintain a conversation with anyone about most anything. He was often called upon for speeches and talks and was known for his prayers at the Rotary Club of Corpus Christi meetings.

Dad was very proud of his four children: Ana Lia Blackmon, M.D. married to Patrick Foye with two children and residing in Houston; Will Blackmon, an engineer, manager of software engineering at Cirrus Logic, has two children and resides in Austin; Henry Blackmon is a trial attorney married to Morgane Blackmon, and the two of them reside in Corpus Christi; and, Belen is a Reading Specialist with the Cleburne I.S.D. and has several certifications. She resides in Cleburne with her husband Blaine Morgan and their four children.

Robert was predeceased by his father The Honorable Jack Blackmon, his mother Margaret Blackmon, and his sisters Deborah Blackmon Cox and Diane Blackmon. He is survived by his wife, Marta, all of his aforementioned children and grandchildren, and his nephews Jack Blackmon of Austin and Charles Cox of Tyler.

A private family service will be held in Houston on the 4th of December. Due to new concerns with the pandemic, at a later date a celebration of life will be held at the Corpus Christi Yacht Club, and in due course, Robert’s cremated remains will be scattered into the Corpus Christi Bay.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family suggest memorial contributions to the Boy Scouts of America-South Texas Council, 700 Everhart Rd Suite A., Corpus Christi, Tx 78411; or the charity of one’s choice.

For the special care provided to Dad, the family sends thanks to Dr. Ana Blackmon, Dr. Sheena Stubbers, Dr. Shilpan Shah, Dr. Gautum Borthakur, Dr. Mohammed Attar, Dr. Neal Kleiman, Dr. Rodolfo Oviedo, the Methodist Walter Tower nurses that looked after him in his final days, and innumerable others in the Houston Methodist Hospital system.

As Dad would often say at the end of his own notes or conversations, “So, there you have it”.