William M. Mallet

U.S. Magistrate William M. Mallet (Retired), 76, entered into eternal rest on Wednesday, December 26, 2007. He was born in Jackson, Georgia on March 4, 1931 to Joel and Maria Mallet. After graduating with his law degree from the University of Georgia in 1955, he entered the U.S. Air Force as a Navigator. Four years later he returned to his home state to work as a Deputy Attorney General in Atlanta, Ga. In 1962, he took a Law Clerk position for the Honorable Reynaldo G. Garza as his second Law Clerk. By the time he left in 1966 to work under Morris Stewart as an Insurance Claims Attorney for Stewart Title in Houston, Texas; he had established a reputation as hardworking and objective. His reputation for fairness would prove pivotal to his career. In January 1971, he was appointed the first Federal Magistrate to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas. He remained on the Bench as Senior Magistrate until his retirement in March, 1996. Judge Mallet has always been active in his Community, the Rotary Club, the Knights of Columbus, and the Catholic Church. Judge Mallet is survived by his wife of 50 years, Mary Bertha Mallet; a daughter, Valerie Ann (Kenneth) Bruce, his sons, William M. (Isabel) Mallet, Jr., Stephen A. (Gayle) Mallet, Lawrence A. (Kelly) Mallet, and Michael C. Mallet; his grandchildren, Lori Bruce, Christine Bruce, Melissa Bruce, Emily Mallet, Nicole Mallet, Bailey Mallet, and Brienna Mallet. Visitation and a rosary service were held yesterday, Saturday, December 29, 2007 at Darling-Mouser Funeral Home. Visitation will resume at 12 Noon today, Sunday, December 30, 2007. The Mass of Christian Resurrection will be at 3 p.m. today, Sunday, December 30, 2007 at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 1914 Barnard Rd. Burial will follow at Buena Vista Burial Park, 5 McDavitt Blvd., Brownsville, Texas. The American Legion Post 43 Honor Guard under the direction of Commander Raul Leal will provide military honors at the graveside. The Judge's sons, William M. Mallet, Jr., Stephen A. Mallet, Lawrence A. Mallet, and Michael C. Mallet and his nephews, Ted Burns III, Charles Burns, and J. Alex Garcia III are honored to be serving as his pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be his granddaughters, his many nieces and nephews, and all his law clerks, past and present. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in Judge Mallet's name may be made to MD Anderson Cancer Center Esophageal Cancer Research, P.O. Box 4486, Houston, Texas 77210, and-1-800-525-5841. You may offer your condolences to Judge Mallet's family online at www.darlingmouser.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to DARLING-MOUSER FUNERAL HOME Brownsville, TX 78520 (956) 546-7111