John Leroy Jeffers

b. 15 October 1909, d. 4 July 1979

John Leroy Jeffers, 1909-1979
  • John Leroy Jeffers was born on 15 October 1909 in Ellis County, Texas, near Ferris.
  • He was known as Leroy.
  • Theodore Franklin Jeffers appeared in the US federal census of 15 April 1910 in Ellis County, Texas, living next to Frank's parents.. Other members of the household included John Leroy Jeffers, Percy C. Jeffers and Ralph Jeffers.
  • In 1932 at the University of Texas, Austin, Leroy Jeffers was chairman of the Board of Student Editors of The Texas Law Review.
  • The following appeared on 7 February 1935 in The San Antonio Light: Assistant Criminal District Attorney John Leroy Jeffers won't be in his office to callers Friday morning. At 10:30 a. m. he and Miss Nell Elise Walker, 422 Eads avenue, will be joined in wedlock in St. Mark's Episcopal church. Jeffers lives at 501 West Evergreen street.
  • He married Nell Elise Walker, daughter of John David Walker and Samie W. Adams, on 8 February 1935 in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, at St. Mark's Episcopal Church.
  • The following appeared on 10 May 1939 in the San Antonio Express: The Better Government Ticket Announces the Answer to a Crisis in San Antonio. . . . For Mayor: Leroy Jeffers. Jeffers was born on a farm near Ferris, Texas, October 15, 1909, where his parents now live. He is a graduate of the Holland High School and of the University of Texas. He graduated with highest honors from the University of Texas Law School in 1932, where he was editor-in-chief of the "Texas Law Review."
          In 1932 he entered the practice of law in San Antonio, associated with Leo Brewer. Later he entered private practice in the firm of Feffers and Gregg.
         Jeffers has served as assistant criminal district attorney for Bexar County since January 1, 1935. He investigated and prosecuted the personal property assessment racket in the city tax collector's office and the misappropriation of city funds to pay campaign workers. His record includes more than 700 convictions in the prosecution of felony cases. He resigned March 2, 1939.
         He is married and is a member of the Methodist Church.
  • John Leroy Jeffers and Nell Elise Walker appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1940 in Alamo Heights, Bexar County, Texas, at 437 Evans Avenue.
  • He was a lawyer, according to the 1940 census.
  • The following appeared on 26 December 1941 in The San Antonio Light: Mr. and Mrs. John T. Walker of Alexandria, La., are visiting the Leroy Jeffers until Sunday.
  • The following appeared on 28 February 1944 in The San Antonio Light: Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Jeffers and son of Houston visited last week with Mrs. Jeffers' mother, Mrs. Samie A. Walker.
  • The following appeared on 23 August 1948 in The San Antonio Light: Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Jeffers, Houston, formerly of San Antonio, spent several days here last week with her mother, Mrs. Samie Adams Walker. The returned home Sunday.
  • The following appeared on 4 February 1953 in The Dallas Morning News: [Among] numerous appointments Gov. Allan Shivers announced Tuesday to various college governing boards and other agencies. . . . Three new members also were chosen for the Board of Regents of the University of Texas. They were Leroy Jeffers, Houston attorney. . .
  • The following appeared on 26 October 1958 in The Dallas Morning News: Leroy Jeffers, Houston attorney, Saturday resigned as chairman of the Board of Regents of the University of Texas.. . . . "Circumstances beyond my control in my private practice of law will prevent me from being able to attend any of the board meetings the next two months," Jeffers said, "The best interests of the university demand a chairman during that period when the board will be drafting proposals to submit to tyhe Legislature in January and reviewing the report of the committee of 75. It is with genuine regret that I must tender my resignation." . . .
  • The following appeared on 7 May 1972 in The Dallas Morning News: Leroy Jeffers of Houston has defeated Hubert Dee Johnson of Dallas and will assume the State Bar of Texas' top post in July, 1973. . . .
  • At the time of his death John Leroy Jeffers was living in Piney Point Village, Harris County, Texas, at 674 Pine Point Road.
  • John Leroy Jeffers died on 4 July 1979 at age 69 in Houston, Harris County, Texas, at St. Luke's Hospital . His death was officially witnessed by John Leroy Jeffers Jr.
  • His wife Nell Elise Walker became a widow at his death.
  • He was interred at Forest Park Cemetery, Houston, Harris County, Texas.
  • The following was published by the Texas Bar Association:
         Leroy Jeffers was born in Ferris, Texas, on October 15, 1909, the son of Theodore F. and Cynthia E. Jeffers. He attended the University of Texas as an undergraduate and law student. He received his LL.B. degree with highest honors in 1932. As a student at the University, Jeffers was a member of Delta Theta Phi fraternity, Chancellors, Friars, Order of the Coif, and the U.T. Debate Team. He was editor-in-chief of the Texas Law Review in 1931-32. After his admission to the Bar in 1932, Jeffers practiced in San Antonio; but in 1942 he moved to Houston and continued to live there until his death. He was a member of the firm of Vinson & Elkins.
         In 1935-39 Jeffers served as assistant criminal district attorney for Bexar County. He was president of the Houston Bar in 1968-69, president of the Houston Legal Foundation in 1969-70, and chairman of the A.B.A.'s Section on Antitrust Law in 1970-71. Jeffers was elected President of the State Bar of Texas for the 1973-74 term. As president, Jeffers effectively spearheaded the opposition in Texas to federal no-fault legislation and anti-lawyer legislation. The Bar passed a referendum increasing the annual dues to $65, and plans for the construction of the Texas Law Center were completed and approved. Jeffers served in the A.B.A.'s House of Delegates from 1973 and was on the board of directors of the American Judicature Society. He was a Fellow of the Texas and American Bar Foundations. He served as chairman of the University of Texas board of regents in 1957-59 and was a member of the 1973-74 Texas Constitutional Revision Commission. He wrote numerous articles for law reviews and Bar journals.
         A Democrat and former Episcopalian vestryman, Jeffers belonged to the Houston Club, Allegro Club, and Philosophical Society of Texas. In 1969 he received the Outstanding Alumnus Award from the University of Texas law school. He married Nell Elise Walker in 1935. They had one daughter and one son, John L. Jeffers, Jr., also a Houston attorney. Jeffers died on July 4, 1979.
  • Last Edited: 25 Dec 2015

Family: Nell Elise Walker b. 25 July 1910, d. 13 December 2015