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The Honorable H. Ron White
Maker interview details
Interview
- March 14, 2017
Profession
- Category:
LawMakers
- Occupation(s):
Judge
Lawyer
Birthplace
- Born: June 10, 1941
- Birth Location: Richmond, Virginia
Favorites
- Favorite Color: Blue
- Favorite Food: Steak, Hamburger, Liver
- Favorite Time of Year: Spring
- Favorite Vacation Spot: Bahamas, St. Martin
Biography
Judge and lawyer H. Ron White was born on February 10, 1941 in Richmond, Virginia to Ernest White and Mattie White. He graduated from Maggie L. Walter High School in 1958. White received his B.S. degree in biology and chemistry from Hampton University in 1962, and his J.D. degree from Howard University in 1971.
After graduation from Hampton University, White joined the U.S. Army in 1962. He was stationed in Kaiserslautern and Mannheim, Germany, and at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. From 1967 until 1968, White served a tour of duty in Vietnam, and was stationed in Quin Yan. By the end of his military service, he had reached the rank of captain. White began his professional career in 1971 at the Atlantic Richfield Oil Company as an environmental and labor attorney. He was promoted to the position of federal regulatory compliance counsel in 1974. Two years later, White joined Irvin & White, P.C., which became White, Mahomes, and Briscoe, P.C. the following year. In 1979, White established the Law Offices of H. Ron White & Associates. He then served as a district court judge in the State of Texas after being appointed to the position in 1983. White returned to his private law practice in 1985, and served as a partner at White & Wiggins.
In addition to his law practice, White has been active in a number of organizations. Specifically, he has been a board member of The General Counsel Forum for the Dallas and Fort Worth Chapter, and the Urban League of Greater Dallas and North Texas. White has also been a member of the Texas Bar College and the National Bar Association, as well as a Life Fellow of Texas Bar Foundation.
White has been recognized and awarded for his contributions to the community. In 2004, White was named as “Trial Lawyer of the Year” by the Dallas Bar. He also received the Dallas Bar Foundation Fellows Award for Outstanding Service to the Bar and Civic Community in 2006. White was named as one of the fifty “Lions of the Texas Bar” by The Texas Lawbook, as well as a Texas Super Lawyer by Martindale-Hubbell in 2005 and from 2010 through 2015.
White and his wife, Rita C. White, have one son, Eric.
H. Ron White was interviewed by The HistoryMakers on March 14, 2017.
Previews from the Digital Archive
Watch the full interview in the Digital Archive
- Slating of H. Ron White's interview
- H. Ron White lists his favorites
- H. Ron White describes his mother's family background
- H. Ron White talks about his mother's upbringing
- H. Ron White describes his father's family background
- H. Ron White talks about his father's education
- H. Ron White describes his father's community involvement
- H. Ron White recalls how his parents met
- H. Ron White describes his parents' personalities and who he takes after
- H. Ron White describes his father's military service
- H. Ron White lists his siblings
- H. Ron White talks about his son's occupation
- H. Ron White remembers enrolling at Westwood School in Richmond, Virginia
- H. Ron White talks about the desegregation of Virginia schools
- H. Ron White describes Westwood School in Richmond, Virginia
- H. Ron White describes his childhood home
- H. Ron White remembers the Westwood community
- H. Ron White recalls the business district of Richmond's Westwood community
- H. Ron White talks about the African American businesses in Richmond, Virginia
- H. Ron White recalls the schools he attended in Richmond, Virginia
- H. Ron White describes his involvement in the school band
- H. Ron White recalls his early interest in science
- H. Ron White remembers influential high school teachers
- H. Ron White recalls his decision to attend Hampton Institute in Hampton, Virginia
- H. Ron White remembers his early work shining shoes
- H. Ron White describes his father's interest in golf
- H. Ron White talks about his paternal family's tailoring experience
- H. Ron White recalls his jobs in high school
- H. Ron White remembers attending the Hampton Institute in Hampton, Virginia
- H. Ron White recalls his early experiences of religion
- H. Ron White talks about his musical interests
- H. Ron White remembers performing in the Hampton Institute Band and Orchestra
- H. Ron White describes his academic interests at the Hampton Institute
- H. Ron White talks about the impact of the film 'Hidden Figures'
- H. Ron White talks about his scientific interests at the Hampton Institute
- H. Ron White remembers his extracurricular activities in college
- H. Ron White recalls joining the U.S. Army
- H. Ron White remembers meeting his wife
- H. Ron White talks about the civil rights activities at the Hampton Institute in Hampton, Virginia
- H. Ron White remembers the assassination of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy
- H. Ron White describes his experiences in Germany
- H. Ron White recalls being deployed to Vietnam
- H. Ron White describes Qui Nhon, Vietnam
- H. Ron White talks about starting a jazz band in Vietnam
- H. Ron White remembers considering his career options after his release from the U.S. Army
- H. Ron White recalls his decision to pursue a career in law
- H. Ron White remembers the assassination of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
- H. Ron White recalls entering Howard University School of Law in Washington, D.C.
- H. Ron White remembers his favorite law school instructors
- H. Ron White describes the most difficult aspects of law school
- H. Ron White remembers being recruited by Atlantic Richfield Company in Dallas, Texas
- H. Ron White describes his experiences at Howard University School of Law in Washington, D.C.
- H. Ron White remembers being interviewed by Atlantic Richfield Company in Dallas, Texas
- H. Ron White recalls his decision to move to Dallas, Texas
- H. Ron White describes the creation of J.L. Turner Legal Association
- H. Ron White remembers his supportive coworkers at Atlantic Richfield Company
- H. Ron White recalls joining the Dallas Bar Association
- H. Ron White remembers his organizational involvement while at Atlantic Richfield Company
- H. Ron White recalls his involvement in the Dallas, Texas community
- H. Ron White talks about the migration of African Americans to southern cities
- H. Ron White remembers guest speakers for the Committee of 100
- H. Ron White recalls the formation of the Committee of 100
- H. Ron White talks about the spread of information in the Dallas African American community
- H. Ron White talks about the gendered division of social organizations, pt. 1
- H. Ron White talks about the gendered division of social organizations, pt. 2
- H. Ron White recalls the changes in African American business markets
- H. Ron White remembers working to educate Dallas' African American business community
- H. Ron White recalls Dallas' challenges with desegregation
- H. Ron White describes the importance of city support for new residents
- H. Ron White remembers African American elected officials in Dallas, Texas
- H. Ron White talks about organizations promoting African American politicians