|
 Bill
Linden, 80, passed away on the 14th of November 2012. He was
born April 4, 1932 in Denison, Texas to Eunice & Albert
Linden. Bill graduated summa cum laude with a BS in Chemical
Engineering from The
University of Texas in
1954 and was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity, the
Engineering Honor Society, Tau Beta Pi and the Navy ROTC. Bill's
early career path began in Japan as a US
Navy Lieutenant
on the USS Peacock Falcon Class coastal minesweeper. He then
worked as a petroleum engineer for seven years in Tyler, Texas
before finding his niche in law.
He attended law school at The
University of Texas and graduated with distinction in the top 2%
of his class, including Law Review status in January of 1969. He
joined Vinson & Elkins LLP in Houston as an Oil & Gas Tax
Attorney and broke the firm record for partnership, making
partner in 4 years, 8 months, and 18 days. Bill had a prominent
career at Vinson & Elkins, and the highlight was winning a US
Supreme Court case in 1984. Career honors include being selected
by his peers to be included in "The Best Lawyers in America",
chosen to be Associate Editor of the Texas Law Review 1968-1969,
elected member of the Chancellors of The University of Texas
School of Law in 1969, and certified by the Supreme Court of
Texas in 1969 and The Supreme Court of the United States of
America in 1982. He taught at the University of Houston Law
Center, as well as several courses on the Historical Jesus at
Rice University. Tax law paid the bills, but his true love was
theology.
Bill took early retirement from Vinson & Elkins
to study abroad at Oxford University in England, breaking
another record as the oldest person admitted for a Postgraduate
Diploma in Theology. Bill graduated from Oxford in July of 2001.
He authored and published
"The Historical Jesus for Beginners",
which is the scholarly quest for understanding the human Jesus
in the first century Middle East culture. Bill served 14 years
as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the
Foundation for
Contemporary Theology
in Houston, was an Associate Member of the
Westar Institute in California, and was a requested speaker at
the Jesus Seminar, The Woman's Institute of Houston, The Rice
University Susanne M Glasscock School of Continuing Studies, and
many Houston area churches. Bill was also mentored personally in
Christian community building by the late Scott Peck, author of
many books, including "The Road Less Traveled". He was an active
member in three Episcopal perishes in Houston: St.
Christopher's, The Church of the Redeemer and St. Martin's
Episcopal Church.
Bill Linden's career accomplishments are
secondary to the people he helped: his clients whom he served,
the Vinson & Elkins attorneys he mentored, the church
parishioners who he taught about knowing the Historical Jesus,
and his family whom he loved. A life well spent - Bill will be
remembered for his brilliant mind, the lives he influenced for
Christ and his generous heart. Today he is embraced in the love
of God and enjoys the company of saints and apostles he has only
known before through scripture.
Bill is survived by his wife, Martha Ann; four
children: Leanne Linden, Laura Hand and her husband David, Eric
Linden and his wife Ann, and Linda Ozenne and her husband
Donnie; seven grand children: Elise Norcini and her husband
Mark, Emily Bowden and her husband Matt, Robert Hand and his
wife Mary Elizabeth, Melissa Hand, Natalie Owens and her husband
Seth, Makenna Ozenne, and Austin Ozenne; four step grand
children: Mae Morris and
her husband Chris, Tate Marshburn, Ruth Marshburn, and Matt
Marshburn; one great grandson, Charles Mosse Bowden and two step
great grandsons: Grant Morris and Will Morris.
Memorial Services are at St. Martin's Episcopal
Church with reception following on Friday, November 16 at 2 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family request donations
made in honor of Bill Linden to one of the following charities:
1. Literacy Advance: http://www.literacyadvance.org/give
2. The Foundation of Contemporary Theology: http://contemporarytheology.org/contribute
3. The Community of Celebration: http://www.communityofcelebration.com
Published in Houston Chronicle on
November 16, 2012 |
