It is with a heavy heart that our Texas Voices members say goodbye to our dear friend and mentor Bill Habern. Bill passed away on Wednesday, August 9th after undergoing a needed heart surgery. We all expected that he would pull through the surgery and be back home within a week or two. Unfortunately, that was not the case.
Bill was the master of all things related to prison, parole, and civil rights issues. This man had a heart for the underdog and was always willing to help others fight the good fight. He was a blessing to the Texas Voices organization and we will miss him dearly.
Our condolences to his family, friends, and all who loved him.
| On August 9, 2023, at the age of 84, Bill Habern passed away as a result of complications following open heart surgery he underwent in late June. Bill was an active member of TCDLA since 1973, during which time he served as a Co-Chair of the TCDLA Correction & Parole Committee for twenty years – right up until his passing. He also served as Executive Director of the TCDLP from 1979-1981. Bill was well known for his distinguished beard, bolo ties, most tasteful collection of hats, and myriad legal anecdotes. He also played a mean saxophone! Most of all, however, Bill was known for his steadfast dedication to the rights of inmates and parolees. There was never a fight he backed down from; never a challenge he sidestepped. There was never an attorney he was not willing to counsel whenever they would call for his advice on parole and prison matters, as so many did. The number of attorneys who counted on Bill not just as a counselor but as a friend are countless. Bill’s interest in representing the incarcerated began in the 1970s when he was hired as one of the first attorneys in the inmate public defender program. That began a long and distinguished legal career. Some of his more prominent cases included: the Eroy Brown murder case (now the subject of a book) where he was part of the defense team that earned acquittals in three trials where Inmate Eroy Brown was charged with the murder of a prison warden and a prison major; the “dog bait cases” where he filed a civil rights suit against the Texas prison for using inmates as bait to train prison chase dogs (later featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show); and, assisting Dick DeGuerin in successfully representing Robert Durst before the Texas Parole Board. Bill never sought out awards or recognition, but his actions earned him many, including, the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association Lifetime Achievement Award, induction into the TCDLA Hall of Fame, and the Matthew J. Plummer Sr. Justice Award for demonstrating “commitment to securing equality for all.” Bill Habern will be greatly missed by his family, friends, the legal community, and those inmates and parolees who may not have had the pleasure of meeting him, but who will continue to benefit from the improvements he has brought about in their lives. Bill was a friend to all, advisor to many, and a defender of prisoners’ rights to the end. Those who have had the privilege of knowing Bill Habern have been much the better for it, TCDLA certainly has. We will miss you, Bill. Bill is survived by his wife Connie; his brother Glenn Habern and Glenn’s wife Harriette; his children, Kim and her husband Bill Anderson, Stepson Gabe Silva and his wife Kat, adopted daughter Jennifer and her husband Bennie Harris; four grandchildren Megan, Ashely, Brian, and Makenna; and two great-grandchildren, Joshua and Sophia. He is also survived by cousins, nieces, and numerous friends and associates who will miss him greatly. A Celebration of Life will follow at a later date. …..In Lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Texasvoices.org, the American Diabetes Society, and the American Heart Association. Donate to Texas Voices – CLICK HERE Donate to the American Diabetes Association – CLICK HERE Donate to the American Heart Association – CLICK HERE |