HUGH EDWARD MCGEE, JR.
1928-2020
Hugh Edward McGee, Jr. passed away on Wednesday, the 20th of May 2020, in Houston, Texas, surrounded by family and loved ones. Hugh lived a full and complete life in every sense of the phrase. He was a selfmade and resilient man who touched and influenced the lives of countless people over 91 incredible years.
Hugh was born in Mount Vernon, New York on the 20th of December 1928, and was the second of four children of the late Matilda (Z’Boyan) and Hugh Edward McGee. In his early youth he developed a love for the beach while crabbing and riding the surf on “buckboards” with his siblings at nearby Lavallette Beach in New Jersey. Hugh attended A.B. Davis High School in Mount Vernon where he lettered in four sports as a member of the football, basketball and baseball teams, in addition to being a pole vaulter and long jumper on the track and field team.
Upon graduation from high school in 1945, at the age of 17, Hugh enlisted in the Marines and did his basic training at Parris Island, S.C. Following several domestic assignments, he was awarded a Naval ROTC scholarship and attended the University of Rochester. His family relocated to Houston in 1949. He worked a variety of jobs, eventually enrolling in Baylor Law School and graduating in 1953 after just two years. After graduation, he completed his military service and returned to Houston, teaming up with his prior mentor and friend, Joe Allbritton, to form the law firm of Allbritton & McGee. This marked the beginning of a 60 plus year career in Houston as a practicing lawyer, investor and entrepreneur.
One of Hugh’s early assignments was to probate the will of a client named Joseph Kelly. Through that assignment, Hugh met and fell in love with Mr. Kelly’s daughter, Dorothy, who became his beloved wife of 54 years. He used to joke that he had never received so many calls from a client regarding a simple probate matter! Hugh and Dorothy raised five children who in turn produced eighteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren (so far!).
Hugh and Dorothy were a fabulous team whose lives were grounded in their family. Each provided inspiration, leadership and support to their children in their own special, but complementary way. In addition to leading by example, Hugh stressed the importance of hard work, resilience and resourcefulness. And despite managing a busy law practice and a variety of business interests, he took the time to instill his love for sports in his children and to coach his three sons’ football and baseball teams. He coached in the Spring Branch Memorial Sports Association for more than a decade, becoming a beloved coach and mentor to countless young athletes. Long after many of the youth he coached became grown men, they continued to refer to him as “Coach” and often commented about the positive influence he had on their lives.
When the situation called for it, Hugh was also a strict disciplinarian. His children dreaded the phrase “let’s visit about this in my office” as it meant that they would be required to present their defense to Hugh as the “impartial” judge, jury and prosecutor. While the results of these “trials” were predictable, the lessons learned made an impression that lasted a lifetime.
Hugh was the quintessential renaissance man, and the variety, breadth and scope of his skills, attributes, knowledge and interests was extraordinary. A gifted public speaker, he was the consummate host or master of ceremonies, always knowing what to say and when to say it. Over the course of his life, he held a wide variety of jobs, including golf course caddy, Pinkerton detective, traveling salesman and short order cook, to name just a few. As a lawyer, he was a “generalist” in an increasingly specialized legal profession; he was just as comfortable in the courtroom as he was negotiating a business deal. He also had a significant entrepreneurial streak; he made and sold cold cut sandwiches out of his dorm room at the University of Rochester, and later he invested in real estate, mobile home parks, a seismic company, and automobile dealerships, becoming the owner and operator of two Toyota dealerships. Hugh also found time for a variety of charitable and civic causes, including Houston School for the Deaf (Board President), Downtown Exchange Club (President), his local neighborhood association (President), and the Houston
Racquet Club (founder and President).
Hugh was also a master at engaging in witty and clever repartee. He relished a good play on words and no pun or joke would be passed up. He was a jokester at heart, and for him, gentle ribbing and sarcastic comments were really signs of affection. To top it all off, he was a fabulous dancer whose sparkling blue eyes, fun-loving nature and infectious personality often made him the life of the party!
Following Dorothy’s passing in 2010, Hugh’s children made sure he was immersed in the lives of his large and adoring family. Over time, Hugh developed a special and beautiful relationship with Linda Wood. She became his loving companion and they shared a very happy and joyful period together, attending many family events and enjoying each other’s company. Linda was always doting over Hugh and cared for him to the very end.
Hugh will be missed by all but always remembered through the incredible legacy he leaves behind and the meaningful impact he has had on the many lives he has touched.
Hugh is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Dorothy, and by his siblings John McGee and Barbara Brown. Hugh is survived by his brother Donald McGee, his loving companion Linda Wood, and the following family members:
His children and their spouses: Lynne Johnson and her husband Brian; Hugh “Skip” McGee III and his wife Susie; Richard McGee and his wife Kris; James McGee and his wife Renee; and Jennifer Nash and her husband Noble;
His eighteen grandchildren and four great grandchildren: Patrick Johnson (and his wife, Molly and their three children Emma, Will and Thomas), Michael Johnson (and his wife Kendall and their son, Fitz), Kaitlyn Johnson Duffie (and her husband Parker) and Hannah Johnson Barnes (and her husband Ben); Katie McGee Field (and her husband Alex), John Edward McGee and Elizabeth McGee; Hugh Kelly, Eleni, Christina and Charles McGee; Matthew, Nicholas and Timothy McGee; and Kelly Nash Brown (and her husband Parker), and Michelle, Megan and Noble Nash, Jr.; and
Numerous cousins, nephews and nieces.
Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o’clock in the afternoon until seven o’clock in the evening on Tuesday, the 26th of May, at Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.
The family will gather for a private in person funeral service on Wednesday, the 27th of May, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons. Guests are invited to attend the service virtually via a livestream beginning at ten o’clock in the morning. The link to view the service may be found on his online memorial tribute at GeoHLewis.com.
Following the service, the family will gather for a private interment at Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery in Houston.
In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions may be directed to: Spring Branch Memorial Sports Association, 12630 Taylorcrest, Houston, TX 77024; Baylor Law School, Attn: Kristine Bridges, One Bear Place #97026, Waco, TX 76798; or to the charity of one’s choice benefitting military veterans.
Please visit Mr. McGee’s online memorial tribute at GeoHLewis.com where memories and words of comfort and condolence may be shared electronically with his family.