Robert Wayne Turner

Robert Wayne Turner, age 79 of Dallas, Texas, passed away on February 12, 2018, one week shy of his 80th birthday. Robert was born in Kansas City, Missouri on February 19, 1938, with his twin and “womb-mate,” Carolyn Hierholzer. He graduated from Lamar High School in Houston, Texas, received his Bachelor’s degree at Rice University in Houston, Texas in 1960, and received law degree in 1963 from his beloved University of Texas School of Law.

Robert was married from 1963 to 1986 to Lydia Paredes Turner, with whom he had two daughters, Cheryl Turner and Allyson Turner Jannotta.

Robert was re-married in 1986 to Karen Nichols, with whom he had two step-children, Shannon Flores and Jake Wells.

From a young age, Robert shared a passion for Ham Radio with his late father, Carroll G. Turner. Known to many by his call sign “W5APN,” Robert’s lifelong hobby was restoring Collins radios and pursuing an elusive quest for the perfect radio signal. Even after Alzheimer’s Disease took much of Robert’s memory, he remained proficient in Morse Code.

Robert began his legal career clerking for a federal judge in Houston, followed by eight years at the Houston firm of Hyer, Eichenroht, Thompson & Turner. In 1973, Robert was presented the opportunity to foster his love for patent law by joining a group of lawyers in Dallas to form a boutique IP litigation firm, Hubbard, Thurman, Turner, Tucker & Glaser. In 1990, Robert joined the international law firm Jones Day as the head of the Intellectual Property Section. In 2012, Robert evaded retirement by joining forces with talented colleagues at the law firm of McDole Williams. Throughout his legal career, Robert served on the boards of several professional organizations and was frequently recognized as a “Texas Superlawyer” and one of the “Best Lawyers in Dallas.”

Professionally, colleagues describe Robert as an “Intellectual Property Rock Star” for his mastery of Patent, Trademark and Copyright Law. Throughout his 50 years in the practice of law, Robert authored numerous legal articles and was a prolific speaker at continuing legal education programs. In 1992, Robert returned to the University of Texas School of Law as an Adjunct Professor where his “Enforcement of Intellectual Property” course was consistently in high demand.

Robert’s patent, trade secret, trademark, and anti-trust clients ran the gamut from giants such as Texas Instruments, Baker International, Bausch & Lomb, Dresser Industries, Phillips Petroleum, and US Aluminum to patents on iconic products like Nautilus gym machines and Pop Rocks candy.

Despite an illustrious career, Robert’s greatest professional accomplishment was seeing the many young professionals he mentored grow into leaders of their fields of law. An ardent feminist, Robert was particularly fond of mentoring and encouraging bright female lawyers at a time when senior female IP lawyers were very rare. Many of today’s best and brightest female IP attorneys credit Robert with giving them meaningful opportunities to advance their legal careers.

Robert’s final years were spent in the loving environment of Silverado Memory Care.

Robert is survived by his wife, Karen Nichols Turner, his daughters, Cheryl Turner and Allyson Turner Jannotta, his sons-in law Ron MacFarlane and Tony Jannotta, his step-children Shannon Flores and Jake Wells, his step-daughter-in-law April Wells his stepson-in-law-to-be John French, his grandchild Anthony Cosmo Jannotta, his twin sister Carolyn Hierholzer, his brother-in-law Rev. Mal Hierholzer, his nephews John Hierholzer and Rob Hierholzer, his nieces-in-law Natalie and Jennifer Hierholzer, his great-nieces Lauren, Sara and Kate Hierholzer, his great-nephew Ryan Hierholzer, his sister-in-law Shelley Carroll and her husband Ron Carroll, his nephew-in-law Scott Carroll and his wife Kelly Ellis and great niece-in law Kirra Carroll.

A memorial service celebrating Robert’s life will take place at Sparkman Funeral Home at 1029 South Greenville Avenue, Richardson, Texas on February 17, 2018 at 10 am.

In honor of Robert’s dedication to the advancement of women in Intellectual Property law, donations may be made to the University of Texas Robert Wayne Turner Memorial Scholarship in Law at http://www.utlsf.org/turner or by mail to The University of Texas School of Law, 727 East Dean Keaton Street, Austin, TX 78705 (attn: David Onion).