Joe H. Tonahill (1914–2001) was an American lawyer.[1][2]

Joe H. Tonahill
Born
Joe Halbert Tonahill Sr.

1914
Died2001
Houston, Texas
Alma materUniversity of Texas
George Washington University
OccupationLawyer
Spouse
Violett Smith
(m. 1941)

Biography

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Tonahill was born in Hughes Springs, Texas. He was a graduate of the University of Texas and George Washington University.[3] He married Violett Smith, daughter of Howard W. Smith in 1941.[3] Howard W. Smith, a congressman, was his father-in-law.[4]

During his career, he worked on Jack Ruby and Melvin Belli's cases.[5][6] He was the co-founder of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and the Texas Trial Lawyers Association.[3] He was also a wrestler.[4]

Posthumously, he was inducted to the Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame in 2018.[5] Joe Tonahill Award is named after him.[7]

References

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  1. ^ Archives, L. A. Times (November 9, 2001). "J. Tonahill, 88; Lawyer Helped Represent Jack Ruby". Los Angeles Times.
  2. ^ "obituaries". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-04-27.
  3. ^ a b c STEWART, RICHARD (November 7, 2001). "Deaths: Tonahill, 'gifted' East Texas lawyer". Chron.
  4. ^ a b "Joe H. Tonahill". Spartacus Educational.
  5. ^ a b "Joe Tonahill | Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame".
  6. ^ "RUBY DISCLAIMS KNOWING OSWALD; Tells of Trip to Cuba—Drops Request for Bond". January 22, 1964 – via NYTimes.com.
  7. ^ https://www.justice.org/membership/awards

Further reading

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  • Temple-Raston, Dina (2003). A Death in Texas: A Story of Race, Murder and a Small Town's Struggle for Redemption