Ronald "Ronny" Krist

1937 - 2025

Ronald "Ronny" Krist
04/09/1937 - 04/21/2025
Legendary Texas attorney Ronald "Ronny" Krist passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 21, 2025, at his home in Kemah, Texas. Ronny was born on April 9, 1937, to Vera Sue and Harry Krist in Tyler, Texas. He met the love of his life, Carole Grubb, at the University of Texas in Austin, and was the first college graduate in his family. Shortly after earning his business degree and while studying law, he and Carole tied the knot. Carole's beauty and grace were a perfect match for the brash young Longhorn. Carole worked to support the newly married couple, and he graduated from the University of Texas Law School in 1962.
With childhood West Texas roots in both San Angelo and Midland, Ronny's impressive legal career truly took off when he moved with Carole and their three young children to Clear Lake City. It was there, in an office tucked away in a 7-Eleven parking lot, that a chance encounter with Betty Grissom, the widow of Apollo astronaut Gus Grissom, transformed their lives. Ronny courageously filed a lawsuit on Betty's behalf against the negligent contractor responsible for Gus's tragic death, just in time to meet the time limitations on filing a case. His victory in the case was just the beginning; he later successfully represented some family members of the astronauts lost in the Challenger disaster, taking on the manufacturer of the defective parts of the faulty rocket.
Ronny fought each case for his clients with unwavering dedication and passion. His work was reminiscent of Teddy Roosevelt's famous words, his favorite quote:

It is not the critic who counts…The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood … who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

Ronny's fiery spirit earned him the title "giant killer," and his landmark case, Turner v. General Motors forever changed Texas law by establishing strict liability in crashworthiness cases involving design defects. His relentless advocacy for Robert Turner, who was paralyzed in a low-speed car accident, not only simplified legal processes, but significantly bolstered consumer protection against automotive design defects. Beyond the Lone Star State, Ronny garnered recognition as one of America's top lawyers, with accolades too numerous to mention; Forbes recognized him as one of the seven most successful lawyers in America, he received multiple awards from the University of Texas, including the outstanding Alumnus award from UT Law School in 2006, and was named the President of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers in 1999. He was also an active member of the International Society of Barristers, the American College of Trial Lawyers, the American Board of Trial Advocates, the Inner Circle of Advocates, and the Best Lawyers in America.
While he devoted himself to his law practice, Ronny also supported his community and served in leadership roles within his beloved state of Texas. In 1993, close friend and former Texas Governor Ann Richards appointed him as Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety. He was later named one of only six honorary captains of the Texas Rangers in the organization's 175-year history. A staunch supporter of education and mental health, he funded endowed scholarships at the University of Texas Law School, Pepperdine Law School, and South Texas College of Law. In honor of his commitment to mental health, the Krist Samaritan Center for Counseling in Houston was established by Ronny and Carole; since its inception in 1986, the center has blossomed into a respected counseling and training program, with over 200 graduates serving worldwide.
In his downtime, Ronny enjoyed wonderful times golfing, attending Longhorn football games, and traveling with his wife Carole, whom he remained devoted to until the end of her life in 2024. He also enjoyed unwinding with friends-or engaging with would-be adversaries-at Carlos Villagomez's Beer Garden, a beloved Clear Lake institution. Ronny's favorite moments were spent cherishing time with his family and his faithful dog Poncho. He leaves behind a legacy of love as "Paw paw" to his children and grandchildren, who were his greatest joy. A true optimist, Ronny expressed gratitude for every day of his life, declaring, "I never had a headache, a backache, or a knee ache – I'm the luckiest man alive." Those who knew Ronny closely would agree that he was not only lucky, but beloved and respected by all.
His children survive him: Kevin Krist, Scott Krist, and Karyn Scott, and grandchildren: Austin Krist, Connor Krist, Garret Krist, Makenna Krist, Savanna Scott, and Dylan Scott.
A Memorial Ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 31, 2025 at 2 o'clock at St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal Church, 18300 Upper Bay Road, Nassau Bay, Texas 77058. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Krist Samaritan Center.