Raymond Britton

1924 - 2017

Professor RAYMOND L. BRITTON
1924-2017
Professor Raymond L. Britton, 92, passed away on May 19, 2017. He has joined his loving wife, May W. Britton, and his eldest son, Paul W. Britton in eternity. He will be greatly missed by his two surviving sons Raymond L. Britton, Jr. and Samuel P. Britton.
Raymond was born in Charleroi, PA, a steel-mining town on the Monongahela River, and came into this world as the son of Louise and Perry L. Britton. Louise owned a local grocery store and property interests, and Perry was the owner of a local construction company that built a number of the town's buildings at the time.
Raymond grew up with loving parents, but faced an early tragedy in his life when his father, Perry, passed away in a construction accident, and Raymond still remembers the last time he saw his father leave the house to go to work at age 3. Raymond also faced other trials in his childhood as two years later our country entered into the great depression, and Raymond faced the world without a father raised only by his mother and helped her to run the grocery store.
He was called to service and honorably served in our military (army) during WW II, and became a Lieutenant, and was in Japan during the occupation forces witnessing the Japanese surrender to Douglas MacArthur in Tokyo Bay.
Upon returning to the U.S. he graduated from Penn State University with an A.B. (Liberal Arts) in 1948, and subsequently received his law degree from Southern Methodist University in 1951 graduating 1st in his class. He was also an Order of the Coif and editor at the Southwestern Law Journal at SMU. He began practicing law with the Butler and Binion Law Firm (Corporate, Securities and Litigation Sections) from 1952-1958. After leaving the law firm, he began a career teaching at the University of Houston Law Center (fka Bates College of Law) as a law professor and continued teaching up till the present for 58 years. During his early tenure he attended Harvard Law School under a Ford Foundation Fellowship and received an LLM in 1961.
He also became active in labor arbitration early in his career becoming a nationally recognized arbitrator and a proud member of the National Academy of Arbitrators. In addition he served as a Director of the Board of Houston Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas from 1978 to 1983. His publications include: The Arbitration Guide, Blue-Sky Sweat Shops, and various publications in areas of Securities, Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution.
In his spare time, he enjoyed sailing and spending time with his family and friends. He also lived a salubrious lifestyle which contributed to his longevity.
A memorial service and celebration of his life will be conducted at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, the 10th of June at First Presbyterian Church, 5300 Main Street, Houston with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, a donation to a church or charity of your choice in his name would be appreciated.