JEFFREY LEE DORRELL
1955-2021
Jeffrey Lee Dorrell was born on March 25, 1955 in Beaumont Texas, the first of four children of Earl and Jean Dorrell. Jeff graduated from Vidor High school as the Salutatorian in 1973. During high school Jeff served as a Congressional Page to U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson, which spurred a lifelong affinity for politics and law.
In 1977, Jeff graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with honors with a B.A. Business Management. Jeff worked in the petrochemical business for many years before beginning his life-long dream to be an attorney. He graduated from the University of Houston Law Center in 1994 and would practice law for the rest of his life.
The highlight of his law career was taking a case all the way up to the US Supreme Court. In Jeff ’s own words, “Lawyers dream of having a case in front of the Supreme Court. In 2015, the Court agreed to hear my case, Husky International Electronics vs. Ritz, which I had managed to lose three times in lower courts. On May 16, 2016, 7 of the 8 Justices of the US Supreme Court agreed with me that fraudulently transferring assets to avoid paying creditors is wrong. Fortunately, I can be a bit stubborn.”
Jeff was a confident, driven, personable, competitive, funloving individual his entire life with a deep affection for all animals, especially his dogs. Jeff was very active in the LGBTQ and PRIDE communities where he formed lifelong friendships with so many wonderful, caring people.
Jeff is survived by his Mother, Jean Dorrell, brothers Perry (Sue) and James (Pam), sister Jean Ann (Dan), nieces Jessica Morgan (Josh) and Ashley Hargrove (Grayson), nephew Chris Dorrell (Maggie), life partner Michael Centeno, their puppy Flacco, several Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, and numerous loving friends.
A Celebration of Jeff ’s Life is being planned in Houston for later this Fall. Details will be shared as they become available. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to any charity Jeff supported, including the Houston Food Bank or K-9 Angels Rescue.