Rose speaks – Celebrity and High Profile Trials

JOHN M. O’QUINN, dedicated and extremely successful trial lawyer, generous benefactor, and devoted friend to those who loved him, has ended his earthly journey far too soon. John’s journey was always exciting because he demanded so much of himself. Born on the 4th of September 1941, he passed away Thursday, the 29th of October 2009.

John spent his professional life as a powerful advocate for the powerless – he was the courtroom champion of the ordinary person. He seemed bigger than life with his dynamic personality and folksy presence, which cleverly masked a giant intellect. He believed that the courtroom was the great common denominator: this was where each person was truly equal. John was the “difference maker” in so many major cases. He considered the courtroom much like the athlete considers the playing field. John took each and every case seriously and personally. As the “people’s champion,” even those who opposed him in court soon realized his unflinching commitment to his clients, and that even they were enhanced by his presence. Each client was unique; each case special. John was very much the home-town boy – he loved the city of Houston which helped create his legendary skills: both were robust, confident, extremely successful, with an unyielding attitude. Recognized publicly as a legal icon, he was named one of the 100 Legal Legends of the Law by the Texas Lawyer and recognized by the National Law Journal and Harvard Law Review as one of the Best Lawyers in America, receiving four of the largest verdicts in Texas legal history. An honors graduate of the University of Houston Law Center, he served as a Regent for the University of Houston, as well as a trustee of the UH Law School Foundation. He truly loved the UH Law School and all UH athletic activities.

John used his fame and fortune to assist not only the University of Houston with the John O’Quinn Law Library and the John O’Quinn Field at Robertson Stadium, but also The Children’s Assessment Center, The Women’s Center, Baylor College of Medicine, The End Hunger Network, St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital, the South Texas College of Law Advocacy Center, and so many more endeavors of equal importance. He was a man who was determined to give back to the city, which had been so very good to him. He once said, “The only things you get to take with you are those things you give away.”

But despite the public persona, John O’Quinn was also a very complicated private person. He seemed as if he were a walking contradiction. Few people knew the John O’Quinn who helped so many when no one else would. Not many knew of the wonderful friendship he shared with the few people who saw this private manifestation of his generous nature. The private John O’Quinn was the first to answer the call when a friend was in need, and he was loved by his classmates at the UH Law Center. From this class developed a strong bond between John and his contemporaries – Alvin Zimmerman, Jack Raines, Al Levin, and especially this writer, Gerald Treece. He was a friend to all of us and he is already being missed more than any of us can truly express.

The private John O’Quinn faced many demons. He fought them with the same zeal he approached the courtroom. John was a proud member of The 12-Step Fellowship, a group known as the “Motley Crew.” Only one woman was invited into this group, Darla Lexington, and together with these men, the group helped one another to fight the monster called alcoholism. John’s friends made him stronger and he them. His sobriety was nearing eleven years.

He truly loved these guys. standing by his side was Darla Lexington, the love of his life. They shared a passion for philanthropy, the arts, and classic cars. Their dream was to build an automotive history museum in Houston and Darla intends to build that legacy in John’s name. They escaped to their beautiful ranch in Wimberley, Texas whenever they could and planned to retire there.

John also deeply cared for Darla’s daughter, Michelle Coopwood, and referred to her as his daughter. John also leaves behind his beloved aunt, Ruth O’Quinn, and cousin, Carol O’Quinn, his extended family, as well as many dear friends. Darla, along with the guidance of Dr. Ed Young and others at Second Baptist, helped John on his journey to find his spiritual self. We can all rejoice that John found peace, and that he knows the full love of God, which is forever.

A writer to the Houston Chronicle, responding to the news of John’s death, wrote, “JMO was a brilliant attorney. He was a generous soul. The last samurai warrior. A real gunslinger. JMO championed the causes of the nameless and faceless individuals who did not have the means to challenge the mammoth defendants. UH has lost its son. Houston has lost its friend. The world has lost a generous soul….He loved hard work. He was a dedicated man.”

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from four o’clock in the afternoon until eight o’clock in the evening on Tuesday, the 3rd of November, at Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.All are invited to the funeral service to be conducted at eleven o’clock in the morning on Wednesday, the 4th of November, in the Sanctuary of Second Baptist Church, 6400 Woodway Drive in Houston, where Dr. H. Edwin Young, Pastor, is to officiate. A reception is to immediately follow the service in the adjacent Deacons’ Parlor. The entombment services are to be privately conducted on the O’Quinn River Ranch in Wimberley, Texas.

For those desiring, contributions in memory of John M. O’Quinn may be directed to the University of Houston John O’Quinn Memorial Fund, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77204-5016 (please indicate whether you prefer to support the UH Law Center or UH Athletics); The Texas Heart Institute, 6770 Bertner St. (MC3-116), Houston, TX, 77030 (please indicate whether your contribution is designated for Dr. Willerson’s Research or Dr. O.H. Frazier’s Surgical Research); The Children’s Assessment Center, 2500 Bolsover St., Houston, TX, 77005; The Women’s Center, 1010 Waugh Dr., Houston, TX, 77019; or to the John M. O’Quinn Foundation, 3518 Travis St., Suite 200, Houston, TX, 77002.

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In other news about John O’Quinn’s Estate the sole executor of the Estate of his good friend, Gerald Treece, gave an interview on November 1 to the Houston Chronicle about the big question in car collectors minds. “What will become of the museum and the collection?”

“The simple answer is I don’t know,” said Gerald Treece, a longtime friend who also will serve as executor of the estate. Treece said O’Quinn’s personal property has been left to the foundation that served his charitable giving. It will take awhile to determine whether the cars in effect belong to the foundation or to the separate corporation, Treece said. …O’Quinn was not married and had no children, reducing the likelihood of a probate dispute. His longtime girlfriend, Darla Lexington, oversaw the corporation in charge of the collection and usually accompanied him on his trips to car auctions around the country.

….after his 60th birthday, it resumed at a classic car auction in Katy and continued until the prominent Houston litigator died in a car accident last week, when he had invited an overseas expert and a film crew to witness the rebirth of one of the great novelties of his vast collection: the oldest existing working automobile.

Starting on that day in 2003 when he purchased 14 cars at his first auction, O’Quinn became a towering figure in the world of automotive collecting. He amassed a collection that numbers more than 800 vehicles, from the overtly silly Batmobile to a Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow once owned by a maharaja. …from the world’s best assortment of Duesenbergs — including the most expensive one ever sold — to iconic American muscle cars to the rarest Ferraris to a Lincoln ordered by Queen Elizabeth II. Certainly a main attraction of the museum would be a Rolls-Royce purchased by Houstonian Howard Hughes for his new bride from a local Packard dealership. …… O’Quinn surpassed them all, and he boasted a vision beyond the mere acquisition of cars for personal whim or pleasure. He planned to build a museum to display them that he claimed would be the greatest in the world. He had already hired people to compile archival research on cars and to take oral histories from important automotive figures. … He had even scouted potential sites. He was intrigued by one tract near downtown and one closer to the Museum District. He predicted the museum would be completed by 2010, and he acknowledged he was far from finished buying more cars. …What car lovers wandering through such a museum might someday see are samples of a mind-boggling inventory assembled in a stunningly short amount of time…

…O’Quinn was a force previously unwitnessed in the classic car world. He bought and bought and never stopped…

The irony of the way O’Quinn died — a car wreck on a wet street near downtown — was lost on no one aware of the passion that had come to consume him, and surprised no one who had ever ridden with him as he drove at breakneck speeds around town.

Gerald Treece besides being the sole executor of John O’Quinn’s Estate is rumored to be one of three “succession administrators” of the John O’Quinn Law Firm to be sure it continues as a tribute to his friend’s memory in the legal world and also maintains the power of a force to be dealt with in litigation. The succession plan was announced as being in place early Friday Morning, October 29, 2009 on the O’Quinn Law Firm’s web site.

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The service and official obituary for Johnny Lee Cutliff has not yet been announced however when it is we will give it the same space as we have to Mr. O’Quinn, it seems that he was the type of man that would have wanted Mr. Cutliff remembered as well.

For all of you who are emailing us wanting to know if Mr. Cutliff will get the same type of coverage by Rose Speaks.com as John O’Quinn has and our answer is YES.

We have asked for a formal obituary for Mr. Cutliff and will have that up once we receive it. We have been now been able to confirm that Duncan Funeral Home Chapel will be the providing the arrangements for Johnny Lee Cutliff. Viewing will be on Viewing Friday, November 6, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm Funeral Service will be Saturday, November 7, 11:00 at the funeral home chapel as soon as we get Mr. Cutliff’s official obitiuary from his family or the O’Quinn law firm it will appear here with Mr. Cutliff’s pictures members of the O’Quinn Law Firm will be able to attend both services this week.

Tags: Al Levin, Alvin Zimmerman, automotive The John O'Quinn history museum in Houston, Baylor College of Medicine, Christian A. Steed Esq., Don Clark, Don Clark ex-FBI, Dr. Ed Young, Dr. O.H. Frazier's Surgical Research, Dr. Willerson's Research, Gerald Treece, Jack Raines, John M. O'Quinn Foundation, John Maurice O'Quinn, John O'Quinn, John O'Quinn Law Library, John O'Quinn's renowned car collection, John O'Quinn's Wimberley Texas Ranch, Johnny Lee Cutliff, Michelle Coopwood, Ms. Darla Lexington, Neil McCabe, O'Quinn River Ranch - Wimberley Texas, Regent for the University of Houston, Ruth O'Quinn, Sanctuary of Second Baptist Church, Second Baptist Church Houston Texas, South Texas College of Law Advocacy Center, St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, The 12-Step Fellowship, The Children's Assessment Center, The End Hunger Network, The O'Quinn Law Firm, The Texas Heart Institute, The Women's Center, trustee of the UH Law School Foundation, University of Houston, University of Houston John O'Quinn Memorial Fund, University of Houston Law School

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