Meredith Earl Roberts' Obituary
Meredith Earl Roberts, Jr. died peacefully with family at his side on January 2, 2014, after a brief battle with cancer. He was 77. After a private graveside ceremony, a memorial service will be at 1:30pm on Tuesday, January 7, 2014, at First Baptist Church in Longview, Texas, with the Rev. David English presiding. Arrangements are under the direction of Rader Funeral Home.
Born October 10, 1936, Earl was the first child of Meredith Earl Roberts, Sr. and Myra Lynn Ray Roberts. He was preceded in death by his parents and in‐laws David and Nola Hull.
Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Elizabeth Hull Roberts; children, Murray Earl Roberts, David Hull Roberts and wife, Amanda Kuhlman Roberts, all of Longview, Texas; grandchildren, Laura Catherine Roberts, Murray Wythe Roberts, Cameron Elizabeth Roberts, Jonas Kuhlman Roberts, and Meredith Ann Roberts; sister, Claire Roberts English and husband, Gayle, of Longview; brother, James Franklin Roberts and wife, Judy of Dallas; brother‐in‐law David C Hull, Jr. and wife, Stormy of Houston.
Earl was born and reared in Longview, graduating from Longview High School in 1954, Baylor University with a B.A. in 1957 and from the University of Texas Law School with a J.D. in 1959. He practiced law in Longview for more than 50 years which began in 1960. His practice focused on business planning and corporate law, commercial litigation, public law and employment law. He represented the City of Longview for a number of years, concentrating on water law, eminent domain and all aspects of advising the City Council and staff on varied municipal law issues. For more than 35 years, Earl served as attorney for the Sabine River Authority of Texas and in that capacity headed the legal efforts of acquisition of land for the Lake Fork Reservoir as well as being involved in all aspects of water planning and development for the Sabine River Authority. In addition, he served as President of the Gregg County Bar Association in 1964. Service to his community was a value that was instilled in him by his parents. Consequently, he served as President of the Longview YMCA Board of Directors, 1967‐68; chairman of the board of the Longview Chamber of Commerce (now the Longview Partnership) in 1989; as a member of the Board and Executive Committee of the Longview Economic Development Foundation; as longtime member of the Board of Trustees of LeTourneau University, 1967‐1981 and 1992‐2007 and until his passing as LETU Board Member Emeritus; as Deacon and Chairman of the Deacons (1988) at First
Baptist Church of Longview; as long time Sunday school teacher in Senior adult Department; and as a member of the Board of Directors for the Hiway 80 Rescue Mission, 2003‐2010.
Earl was elected Mayor of the City of Longview, Texas in 2000 and served until 2003. During that time his focus was the development of water resources in Northeast Texas, reduction of the city’s debt, acquisition of land and development of Lear Park, initiated Longview’s public transportation, and the divisive smoking ban. Both as Mayor and later as a private citizen, Earl advanced successful efforts to delay the deregulation of electric deregulation in Northeast Texas.
As many early morning risers knew, Earl was an avid runner. He could constantly be found running the streets in the early morning with his fellow group of runners affectionately known as "The Pack of Fools". In addition to numerous local races, he also participated in over 40 marathons, including 5 times in the Boston Marathon.
The family would like to thank Dr. Larry Frase of the Texas Oncology Cancer Center and all of the wonderful doctors, nurses, aids and staff at Heartsway Hospice.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Earl Roberts Endowed Scholarship Fund at LeTourneau University or Hiway 80 Rescue Mission.
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