Theodore Thomas Hollen III

1942 - 2025

Theodore Thomas Hollen III, took his final ride into the sunset on Monday, October 13, 2025, surrounded by his loving children, Lin Anne, Cuatro, Jason, and family.
Ted was born in El Paso, Texas, on July 19,1942, to Dr. Theodore Thomas Hollen Jr. and Emma Katurah "Cheta" Weatherford Hollen. The oldest of 4 children, Ted and his siblings spent the majority of their childhood in Pecos, Texas. Ted participated in youth rodeos while attending Pecos High School. After graduation in 1960, Ted attended Sul Ross University and rode bareback for the Sul Ross Rodeo team. Ted graduated from Sul Ross in 1966 with a Bachelor of Science. Ted then took the LSAT and was accepted into Harvard Law School, but chose to stay in Texas and attend the University of Texas School of Law, after receiving the highest score on the LSAT at the time of his admittance. Always a true Texas cowboy, Ted rodeoed his way through college and law school, and in 1969, he received his Bachelor of Laws, and his Doctor of Jurisprudence in 2003.
In 1969, Ted married Judy Couser in Austin, Texas, and shortly after, they moved to El Paso where he began his legal career with Pearson & Pearson Law Firm. Ted also worked on the John Tower United States Senate campaign, moving back to Austin to continue campaigning at Tower Headquarters. After Tower won the election, Ted continued advocating for Senator Tower. Concurrently, Ted launched his independent law practice in Austin, Ted Hollen Attorney at Law.
Ted and Judy raised their 3 children, Lin Anne, Cuatro, and Jason in Austin, Texas. Ted spent the majority of his time not only practicing law, but driving his young family, back and forth to the ranch outside of Fort Davis. The family enjoyed many fun times there with family and friends and loved the wide-open spaces of far west Texas.
As his children entered grade school, Ted's priorities shifted, and he spent countless hours coaching their little league softball, baseball, and pop Warner football teams. There were many practices where Ted showed up still dressed for work, in a coat in tie. That was who Ted was. He never missed an opportunity to support his children in their endeavors.
As his children grew older, his pastimes were often spent on the golf course and indulging in his passion of horse racing. The family spent many summers in Ruidoso, New Mexico, where Ted would go from the golf course directly to the horse track, always there to make first post time, at Ruidoso Downs.
Ted was fondly called "Tito" by his 7 grandchildren, which he doted on and bragged about to anyone who would listen. He adored each of them equally, and could not have been any prouder of their many accomplishments.
In May of 2025, Ted retired his law practice and made his way back to his roots, on far west Texas soil, spending time with life long friends and family. He loved to dance the night away with Hester Anne White, as he did just a few nights before his passing.
Ted will be remembered as one of Austin's legal and business icons. He never met a stranger, and he had a killer golf swing that will be talked about for years to come. He will be remembered first and foremost as a remarkable son, brother, husband, dad, father-in-law, uncle, grandfather, and loyal friend. Ted was also considered a "second dad" to many of his children's friends and he treated them as his own. Above all, Ted will be remembered as one of the last real Texas ranch-roping-riding cowboys, a patriarch to his entire family and "one of the good ones."
Ted was proceeded in death by parents Cheta and Tom Hollen, nephew Damon William Black, sister Nancy Hollen Black, and brother William Skipper Hollen.
He is survived by his sister Patricia Hollen Moreland, and husband Glen Moreland, of Fort Davis, Texas; daughter Lin Anne (Eric) Hollen McFarland and their children, Casen Thomas McFarland, Emma Catherine McFarland, and Libby Nicole McFarland, all of Houston; son Cuatro (Julie Bennett) Hollen, and their children, Hailey Rose Hollen, Jaxon Bennett, Ashton Bennett, Aisley Bennett, and Jett Bennett, all of Austin; son Jason (Spring Hall) Hollen, their children, Damon Cole Hollen, Madeline Joy Hollen, and Carson Jadon Hollen, all of Liberty Hill; and many nieces, nephews, and close friends.
P.S. Ted/Dad never wanted any of the "facts" to get in the way of a good story!
Ted's children will hold a come and go Celebration of Life event on Saturday, November 29, 2025, from 1:00-5:00 p.m. at the Lady Bird Municipal Golf Course; Tatsch House in Fredericksburg, Texas. Everyone is invited to attend and share the memories and tall tales that made Ted so special and unique. In addition, a Memorial Service will be held in Marfa, Texas, at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 15, 2025, at the First Presbyterian Church, 110 East Columbia Street.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a charitable gift to one of these organizations that Ted loved:
American Quarter Horse Association.
P.O. Box 32111 Amarillo, Texas 79120.
Bloys Camp Meeting Association.
6200 FM 307 Midland, Texas 79706.