Peter Torres Jr.

Beloved father, husband, mentor, friend, Peter Torres, Jr., born December 2, 1933, passed from this life on April 27, 2007. A member of the United States Supreme Court the U.S. Court of Appeals (Fifth Circuit), the U.S. District Court, Southern and Western Districts, and the State Bar of Texas, Pete practiced law passionately for 44 years, serving the needs of thousands of consumers and injured parties throughout San Antonio and surrounding areas. Pete proudly, honorably, and courageously served our country as a Marine in the Korean War, graduated cum laude from St. Mary's University with a degree in government, and completed his doctorate of jurisprudence at St. Mary's School of Law while working full-time as a teacher in the Edgewood School District. He boldly served on the San Antonio City Council from 1967 to 1971, during which time he was instrumental in causing the demise of the political machine known as the Good Government League (G.G.L.) of San Antonio. He was the first Chair of the Hispanic Issues Section of the State Bar of Texas, where he served as the San Antonio representative for many years. In addition, he was a founding member of he Mexican-American Bar Association of San Antonio and served that organization in every capacity, including two years as President. He was a member of the San Antonio Bar Association, a Past President of the San Antonio Trial Lawyers Association, a member of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, a member of the National Association of Consumer Advocates, and a past member of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers. He was one of the first San Antonio attorneys to receive a certification in Criminal Law and maintained his certifications in consumer/commercial law and civil trial law up until the time of his death. Pete was honored a few years ago to be inducted into the prestigious American Board of Trial Advocates. Other honors include the Reynaldo G. Garza Lifetime Achievement Award from the Mexican American Bar Association of Texas, and more recently, the St. Mary's Law School Hispanic Law Alumni Association's prestigious Henry B. Gonzalez Award for his vision and inspiration in the legal community. He is preceded in death by his parents, Pedro Torres, Sr. and Lola Whitten Torres, his brother, Bobby Torres, and his Aunt Gayle Chikinis. He is survived by his wife, Shirley A. Ehrlich, his sister, Dolores Juliano, of Tom's River, New Jersey, and her husband, Johnny Juliano, brother, Roger Torres and Roger's wife, Sandy, of Rockville, Maryland, brother, Frank Torres, his four children, Denise Tompkins, Peter Alan Torres, Tina Cheryl Torres, and Paul A. Torres, and his first wife and mother of his four children, Yolanda P. Torres. He is also survived by Jennifer Foglio (Sanchez-Ehrlich), her husband, Michael Foglio, his beloved grandchildren, Tahnee Tompkins, Peter Michael Torres, Savannah Rae Torres, and Gabriella Elizabeth Foglio, and numerous other family and friends. He was loved by many and will be greatly missed by all who knew him and worked with him, especially the many individuals who he mentored over his 44 years in practice. A memorial service will be held at the House of Prayer Lutheran Church, 10226 Ironside on Saturday, May 5, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. followed by a celebration of his life in the House of Prayer Ascension Hall. If desired, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Mexican American Bar Association of San Antonio Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 830953, San Antonio, Texas 78283.