Egbert Lee Pitts (1889 - 1959)

Born 25 Jun 1889 in Honey Grove, Fannin County, Texas

Ancestors

Husband of Anice N. Ramsey — married about 1911 (to 29 Dec 1917) in Texas, United States

Husband of Lilla Belle (Llewellyn) Pitts — married 2 Feb 1919 in Palo Pinto, Texas, United States

Died 16 Sep 1959 at age 70 in San Jose, Santa Clara, California, United States

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Biography

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/53721481/egbert-lee-pitts: Judge E. L. Pitts taught school in Palo Pinto County for six years after attending college at Commerce and the University of Texas. After teaching school, he was elected Palo Pinto County Superintendent of Schools, serving eight years. He was elected Palo Pinto County Judge and was serving in that position when the first paved roads were built in Palo Pinto County. He moved to Lubbock at the end of his last term as county Judge in 1929. In Lubbock County, he served six years at Lubbock County Judge and six years as District Judge, after which he was elected Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Civil Appeals at Amarillo. District Judge, 99th Judicial District Chief Justice of the Seventh Court of Civil Appeals

Sources

• Pitts Family Bible

Judge Pitts was not fond of his first name and in the immediate family insisted on being called "Uncle Abe." Following is a newspaper (unknown) clipping of E. L. Pitts' death: Death Takes Judge Pitts The chief justice of the 7th Court of Civil Appeals in Amarillo, E. L. Pitts, died Wednesday night [September 16, 1959] in O'Connors Hospital at San Jose, California. He was 70. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Monday [September 21, 1959] in the First Christian Church with Dr. Newton Robinson, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Gordon, Texas. Arrangements here are under direction of Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home. Judge Pitts had suffered a slight stroke on August 8 and was admitted to the hospital on August 15. He and Mrs. Pitts had gone to California to visit relatives there, including their two daughters. His death shocked the judiciary of Texas and caused Governor Price Daniel to say in Austin, "Judge E. L. Pitts was an outstanding jurist and we shall miss his service to our state. Mrs. Daniel and I extend our deepest sympathy to his family." Governor Daniel is expected to follow his usual practice in considering qualified men for the post left vacant by Judge Pitts' death before announcing an appointment to fill the vacancy. Judge and Mrs. Pitts resided at the Talmadge Place, 1401 Van Buren. They had lived in Amarillo since January 1, 1943 when he became chief justice of the court. Prior to that they had lived in Lubbock since January 1, 1929. Before being elected to the appellate bench Judge Pitts had served as district judge of the 99th Judicial District in Lubbock County. He had also served as county judge of Lubbock County and of Palo Pinto County. He was born in Fannin County on June 25, 1889. After graduation from East Texas State Normal at Commerce, now East Texas State College, he finished law school at the University of Texas. He was admitted to the bar in 1926. Judge Pitts was a member of the State Bar of Texas and an honorary member of the Amarillo and Lubbock Bar Association. He was a life-time member of the Lions Club, past district governor of District 2-T and past master of the Masonic Lodge and member of the YMCA. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Mrs. A. C. Stevens Jr. of Cupertino, California, and Mrs. C. P. Newman of Danville, California; three sisters, Mrs. Lena Williams of South Bend, Texas, Mrs. Emma Roye of Gordon and Mrs. S. O. Sullivan of Graham; five grandchildren and two great grandchildren.