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Joe H. Tonahill

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Joe H. Tonahill
Born
Joe Halbert Tonahill Sr.

1914
Died2001
Houston, Texas
Alma materUniversity of Texas
George Washington University
OccupationLawyer
Spouse
Violett Smith
(m. 1941)

Joe H. Tonahill (1914–2001) was an American lawyer.[1][2]

Biography

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Tonahill was born in Hughes Springs, Texas. He was a graduate of the University of Texas and George Washington University.[3] He married Violett Smith, daughter of Howard W. Smith in 1941.[3] Howard W. Smith, a congressman, was his father-in-law.[4]

During his career, he worked on Jack Ruby and Melvin Belli's cases.[5][6] He was the co-founder of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and the Texas Trial Lawyers Association.[3] He was also a wrestler.[4]

Posthumously, he was inducted to the Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame in 2018.[5] Joe Tonahill Award is named after him.[7]

References

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  1. ^ Archives, L. A. Times (November 9, 2001). "J. Tonahill, 88; Lawyer Helped Represent Jack Ruby". Los Angeles Times.
  2. ^ "obituaries". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-04-27.
  3. ^ a b c STEWART, RICHARD (November 7, 2001). "Deaths: Tonahill, 'gifted' East Texas lawyer". Chron.
  4. ^ a b "Joe H. Tonahill". Spartacus Educational.
  5. ^ a b "Joe Tonahill | Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame".
  6. ^ "RUBY DISCLAIMS KNOWING OSWALD; Tells of Trip to Cuba—Drops Request for Bond". January 22, 1964 – via NYTimes.com.
  7. ^ https://www.justice.org/membership/awards

Further reading

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  • Temple-Raston, Dina (2003). A Death in Texas: A Story of Race, Murder and a Small Town's Struggle for Redemption