Funeral services for Gordon F. Thrall, age 86, of Jacksonville are scheduled for Wednesday, 2:00 p.m., July 7, 2010 at First Baptist Church, Jacksonville with Rev. Vernon Lee officiating. The family will receive visitors Tuesday evening, July 6, from 6 until 8 p.m. at Autry Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Jarratt Cemetery.
Mr. Thrall passed away Saturday, July 3, 2010 in Tyler, TX.
He was born July 28, 1923 in Jamestown, New York to Clyde Lowell Thrall and Beulah Mae Fish Thrall.
Mr. Thrall received his AB in History and Political Science from Alfred University in 1949 and his JD from Baylor University in 1953. He was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 1953. He worked for the US Supreme Court in 1957; the US Court of Appeals (DC circ.) in 1958; the US Court of Military Appeals in 1958; the US District Court (ea. Dist.) of Texas in 1976; and the US Court of Appeals (5th cir.). 1986. He was a law clerk for the US District Court (ea. Dist.) of Texas from 1953 to 1954; assistant prosecutor for the Dallas County District Attorney, 1954-55; Assoc. firm Phinney and Hallman, Dallas, 1955-56; Assistant for the Texas Attorney General in 1957; Adviser, examiner ICC, Washington, 1957-59; Assistant for the General Counsel of the Texas State Bar in Austin from 1959 to 1961; county attorney for Reagan County, Big Lake, Texas, 1961-1972; Partner in the Norman, Thrall, Angle, Guy & Day LLP, Jacksonville, Texas from 1972 to 2002; Vice President of Heflin and Thrall Language Publications, Inc. 2002-; Member of the Executive Committee of the Texas Baptist General Convention, 1965-70 and the Administrative Board from 1991 to 1995. He served as a deacon at Central Baptist Church for many years; was Chairman of the Permian Basin District Concho Valley County Boy Scouts of America, Big Lake, 1965-66; Jacksonville United Fund Drive, 1987, President in 1989; worked with the Cherokee County Health Facilities Development Corp., 1982-; was Vice President of the Board of Directors for Travis Towers Retirement Facility in Jacksonville from 1980 to 2003; Co-trustee of the Summers A. Norman Foundation, 1988-2002 (invested millions in projects for Cherokee County); Member of the Nan Travis Memorial Hospital Foundation Board, 1994-; President of the Board of Visitors of Jacksonville College, 1998-2003. He was a member of the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce (President in 1979); Big Lake Chamber of Commerce (President in 1963, 1967); Texas Bar Foundation for the Texas State Bar (Vice Chairman in 1964); Big Lake Lions (President in 1969), Kiwanis (President in 1978, Lt. Governor of Division 34 in 1982), Cherokee Country Club (Dir. 1981-83).
He was also a talented pianist and artist. For a number of years, he played the piano for The Yesteryears.
During World War II he taught English to Spanish-speaking soldiers in Puerto Rico.
Gordon and his wife, Betty, were instrumental in establishing two Hispanic missions in Jacksonville and New Summerfield, Texas. He served as pianist at Primera Iglesia Bautista in Jacksonville and Primera Iglesia Bautista del Pueblo in New Summerfield.
He also facilitated the affiliation of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention with Jacksonville College.
He was preceded in death by wife, Betty Thrall in 2005. They met and married in July of 1964, while they were both doing the Lord’s work. In 1966 they were blessed with their only child, Jenifer. In 1972 they moved to Jacksonville and became active in Central Baptist Church.
He is survived by his daughter, Jenifer Heflin and husband, David; granddaughter, Elizabeth Jane Heflin and several nieces and nephews.
