Charles O'Neill Galvin

Charles O'Neill Galvin Charles O. Galvin, 91, died on Thursday, January 27, 2011, of complications resulting from pneumonia. Born in Wilmington, NC on September 29, 1919, his family moved to Dallas in 1921. Charley graduated from Highland Park High School, received his B.S. in Commerce from Southern Methodist University, an MBA and Juris Doctor from Northwestern University, Doctor of the Science of Law from Harvard, and honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from Capital University and SMU. Dr. Galvin served four years in the United States Navy in the Pacific Theatre during World War II and was honorably discharged as a Lieutenant Commander. On June 29, 1946, he married Margaret "Peggy" Edna Gillespie of Brooklyn, NY at St. Patrick's Cathedral in NY. The couple lived in Dallas where they raised five children, Kathy, Pat, Paul, Charlie, and Liz. From 1947 to 1952, Charles practiced law with the Dallas firm of Leachman, Matthews, and Gardere. He was professor of law at SMU from 1952-1983 and Dean of the Law School from 1963-1978. Dr. Galvin was also the Centennial Professor of Law, Vanderbilt University from 1983-1990, and thereafter Centennial Professor Emeritus. He also served as Executive in Residence, Vanderbilt, 1990-1994. Dr. Galvin has taught at the law schools of Michigan, Harvard, Duke, Pepperdine, Kansas, Texas as well as the Business Schools of Northwestern University and SMU. He was a Distinguished Professor of Law, Emeritus, SMU Law School and most recently was of counsel to the Dallas law firm, Haynes and Boone, LLP. Dr. Galvin had been a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, Order of the Coif, and the Phi Delta Theta Social Fraternity. Further honors include: the Intellectual Leadership award from the National Council of Catholic Men; the Equal Justice Award of Legal services of North Texas; the John Rogers award from the Southwestern Legal Foundation; and the Outstanding Tax Lawyer of the Year 2010 Award from the State Bar of Texas. Also, in 2004, Dr. Galvin was one of five lawyers honored by the Texas Bar Foundation for 50 years of practice. Charley and his wife, Peggy, received the McGill Award from the Catholic Foundation of Dallas, an organization he helped established, and the Catholic Charities Award for their service to the church and community. Dr. Galvin has been a member of various professional organizations, including: the State Bar of Texas; Texas Bar Foundation; Texas Supreme Court Historical Society; Dallas Bar Association; Dallas Bar Foundation; American Bar Association; American Bar Foundation; American Law Institute; American Judicature Society, United States Supreme Court Historical Society; American Tax Policy Institute; Southwestern Legal Foundation; Section of Taxation of the American Bar Association; Texas Society of CPA's and the Dallas Chapter of CPA's; and the Philosophical Society of Texas. Dr. Galvin served on the President's Commission on Drug Abuse, the Executive Committee of the Association of American Law Schools, ABA Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar, and the Investment Oversight Group, Law School Admission Services. He chaired the War on Poverty Program for Dallas County and the Magnet School Committee of DISD. Dr. Galvin has testified before the US House Ways and Means Committee and was twice appointed to the Advisory Group of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue and acted as consultant to the United States Treasury Department. He was Co-editor, Texas Will Manual; Tax Editor, Oil & Gas Reporter; author, Estate Planning Manual; author of numerous professional articles and a frequent lecturer on taxation and tax policy. He was formerly on the boards of Lomas & Nettleton Mortgage Investors, North Park National Bank, State Farm Insurance, and was trustee and president of Holy Trinity Seminary. Charles was a member of St. Rita Catholic Church, the Serra Club of Dallas, the Knights of Columbus and was a Knight Grand Commander of the Holy Sepulchre. He was a former president of the Catholic Foundation, and a trustee of Catholic Charities Endowment Trust. Charley was a legal scholar and tax policy expert. But more important was that he was a brilliant, kind, generous gentleman of the highest order with an exceptional sense of humor who will be sorely missed. He was predeceased by his parents, George and Marie Galvin, sister Genevieve and brother, George. Charley is survived by his wife and the love of his life, Peggy. The couple's children are: Kathy Galvin, Albany, CA and daughter, Molly; G. Patrick Galvin, II, and wife Amy, St, Louis, MO and their children Elizabeth, Ford and George; Paul Galvin and wife Diane, Dallas, and their daughters Alicia and Claire; Charles O. Galvin, Jr. of Austin, TX and his children, Kelly, David, and Sam; and Liz Galvin, Austin, TX. Visitation will be Sunday, January 30th, 2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., Sparkman Hillcrest Chapel, 7404 W. Northwest Hwy, Dallas. Funeral Mass will be Monday, January 31st, 10:30 am, St. Rita Catholic Church, 12521 Inwood Rd, Dallas, TX 75244. Aux. Bishop Mark Seitz officiating. Memorials can be made to Catholic Charities of Dallas, 9461 LBJ Freeway #128, Dallas, TX, 75243 or Notre Dame School of Dallas, 2108 Allen St, Dallas, TX 75204 or to the charity of choice.