Fitzhugh Lee Duggan, Jr.
1931-2019
Fitzhugh Lee Duggan, Jr., 87, went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on June 16, 2019. He was born on August 14, 1931 in Houston, Texas, to Fitzhugh Lee Duggan and wife Kathleen.
He graduated from Lamar High School in 1948, from Rice University in 1952 and from the University of Texas Law School in 1955. He served as a Counter Intelligence Corps Special Agent in the U.S. Army from 1955-1957. After serving in the military, he began his legal career in private practice, and as an Assistant District Attorney for Harris County. He was elected to three terms in the Texas House of Representatives (58th, 59th and 60th Legislatures), representing Harris County from 1962-1967. He sponsored the bill for pre-need funeral services, which still benefits many people today. He also authored the bill which created a career ladder for nurses, establishing more stringent credentials for the nursing profession. He was appointed by then-governor Preston Smith to serve as Judge of the Harris County Court at Law No. One and served in that capacity until 1969, when he was appointed to the 182nd Judicial District Court in Houston, where he served from 1969-1981. He was then appointed to the First Court of Appeals, where he authored over 400 appellate civil opinions from 1981-1994. He was honored by the Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists as "Appellate Judge of the Year" for 1990-1991. As a member of Kiwanis for over 50 years, he served as Kiwanis President from 1976-1977. As a longtime member of Chapelwood United Methodist Church, he taught Adult Sunday School for over 35 years. He was on the Board of Directors for The Shoulder (Drug Abuse & Rehabilitation Program) and on the Board of Trustees for the Tanglewood Homes Association from 1984-1986. He also served from 1970-1980 as Chairman of the Legislative Committee for the Judicial Section of the State Bar of Texas.
He is survived by his wife Annette, and his daughter Lynn Huet and husband Robert, and his son Fitzhugh Lee Duggan III (Doug) and wife Wendy; grandchildren Phil Huet, Lauren Huet Moos, Andrew Huet, Daniel Duggan, Rachel Duggan & Bethany Duggan.
A memorial service is scheduled for Friday, June 28 at 11:00AM at Chapelwood United Methodist Church, 11140 Greenbay Street, Sanctuary, Houston, TX 77024.
In lieu of usual remembrances, contributions may be made to the charity of your choice.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Houston Chronicle from Jun. 21 to Jun. 23, 2019.

Memories and Condolences
for Fitzhugh Duggan

14 Entries

Roger Townsend

July 1, 2019

A wonderful man, who handled his life and office honestly, fairly, and completely ethically. It was always a delight to appear in front of him. He was unfailingly courteous. And in later years, I always enjoyed running into him at parties and bar events. Just delightful. I will miss him.

Angela Rodriguez

June 28, 2019

Our sincere condolences.

Judge Armando V. Rodriguez J.P. 6-2 (Ret.)
and
Judge Angela D. Rodriguez J.P. 6-2

Mark Davidson

June 28, 2019

A great judge, and a better friend. I will miss him. Condolences to the family.

June 27, 2019

I am saddened to read of Judge Duggan's passing. He was a great Judge and a real gentleman! I would always smile when I would appear in court and he was the visiting judge. I knew he was going to treat me and most importantly, my client, with dignity and respect. My clients' cases always came out well with Judge Duggan.

Rest in peace, Your Honor. I will pray for you and your family.

-- Leah M. Borg

Jennifer Slessinger

June 26, 2019

I am so sorry for your loss. My favorite memory of Judge Duggan was when I was in New York at the airport. He saw me and came over and gave me a big Texas hug and hello. He was there visiting West Point with his son. My friends were kind of upset that a stranger would approach me like that, remember this was New York, but then my husband told them who he was and they all laughed that even 2000 miles from home I knew someone. It was my honor to have worked for the Judge. I am sure he is in the big courtroom in the sky calling the cases to trial. Rest in Peace.

June 24, 2019

My sincere condolences to the family. I am sorry for your tremendous loss. Jude 1: 20, 21

June 24, 2019

Annette & family,

We are saddened at the loss of Lee, and will miss him, especially at our family gatherings. He always had a smile, cheerful disposition and a warm welcome. I enjoyed his stories, even if I did hear them more than once! Of course, my favorite memory will always be the wedding he performed for Lauren and Matt. What a remarkable man, he served the State of Texas with integrity, and you have every reason to be proud. We will be praying for comfort and grace during this time. much love to you, Pam & Keith

June 23, 2019

He was an important part of our family and he will be deeply missed.

Todd Blomerth

June 22, 2019

I had the privilege of serving as a prosecutor in Judge Duggan's court in 1980. He also attended my wedding. I learned much from him that has served me well. I have tried to emulate his courtesy and demeanor during my tenure as a jurist. Judge Duggan was a fine and honorable gentleman. There aren't enough like him in this hurting world.
Prayers for his family.

Terry Jennings

June 21, 2019

I had the great privilege of serving on my very first panel on the First Court of Appeals with Justices Duggan and Cohen. They held and maintained very high standards that I always tried to meet in my 18 years on the bench.

Lee provided great insight into every issue in every case, especially in a case styled Jack v. State authored by Murry. We abated the case to allow the defendant the opportunity to file a new-trial motion because the trial court had not appointed him appellate counsel until after the new-trial deadline had run (then a common practice among some trial judges). As a former trial judge, Lee was deeply offended that defendants were being deprived of their constitutional right to counsel at a critcal stage in the proceeedings, and his joining of Murry's opinion gave it tremedous weight. Lee was not afraid of using his position as a judge to right serious wrongs.

Lee was a good and decent man, and a great judge. He loved the law and the work of judging. And he loved people and visiting with them. Like my father, he never met a stranger. As a new judge, I could not have asked for a better panel to begin my career. To this day, it was the best panel I ever served on. It is hard to imagine the judiciary in Texas without Lee Duggan actively working in it. I will miss our long conversations, his stories of Texas politics, and his wise counsel.

Rest in peace, Justice F. Lee Duggan, Jr.

Your Friend, Justice Terry Jennings, First Court of Appeals (Ret.)

June 21, 2019

I am so very sorry for your loss, please accept my sincere condolences. May the God of all comfort give you his peace at this very difficult time. Php 4:6,7

Tom Zakes

June 21, 2019

I appeared in front of him many times when he sat as a visiting judge after he retired from the court of appeals. He always had a cheery disposition and would ask "what's the good word?"
He will be missed.

June 20, 2019

May God bring everlasting comfort to your hearts and give you the strength to endure this difficult time. Isa 66.13

Madison

June 20, 2019

My sincere condolences to you and your family in this time of distress.

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