Thomas Walter Umphrey

The heart and soul of Provost & Umphrey Law Firm remains Walter Umphrey. Born in Port Arthur, Texas, Walter received a football scholarship to Southern Methodist University then completed undergraduate studies at Baylor University. In 1965, Walter received a Juris Doctorate degree from Baylor Law School and then joined the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office as a prosecuting attorney and ultimately Chief Felony Prosecutor. Walter's dedication to the law in conjunction with the rights of individuals was inspired while being reared in the home of a justice of the peace. Walter is board certified in the areas of Personal Injury Trial Law and Labor & Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Southern District of Texas, and the United States Supreme Court. Legal affiliations include the Port Arthur Bar Association, Jefferson County Bar Association, Texas Trial Lawyers Association, The American Association for Justice, American Bar Association, and State Bar of Texas. He is a Fellow of the International Society of Barristers. He was selected for inclusion in Texas Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters Business, 2003-2008, an honor only 5 percent of the lawyers in the state are selected for annually. Beyond the practice of law, Walter has provided unwavering support to important civic and community causes. He serves as Director of the National Wildlife Association, Director of the LadyBird Johnson Wildflower Center, Director of both Texas Regional Bancshares, Inc., and Texas State Bank. Just recently, the newest cancer institute in Southeast Texas was named the Walter Umphrey Cancer Center.

He is former vice chairman of the Texas State Parks and Wildlife Commission (1991-1997). His life has been one of great success and selfless giving. Walter's numerous contributions to important causes range from lighting a ballpark for physically challenged kids, to donating land for a state park on Pleasure Island. Walter helped build the new Sheila and Walter Umphrey Law Center on the banks of the Brazos River at Baylor University which is hailed as a state of the art educational facility. In June 2000, Walter was recognized as one of the top Texas lawyers of the 20th century in the Texas Lawyer publication "Legal Legends: A Century of Texas Law and Lawyering."

The Jefferson County Bar Association recognized Walter's contributions to the legal community. He was presented with the Blackstone Award in May 2010. The Blackstone Award, named for Sir William Blackstone (English jurist and author-Commentaries on the Law of England), is the most prestigious award or recognition that a Bar Association can bestow upon one of its members. The Blackstone Award is based upon the lawyer's legal ability, integrity and courage.

For its special anniversary issue, June 28, 2010, Texas Lawyer also named Mr. Umphrey as one of the twenty-five greatest Texas lawyers of the past quarter-century. Texas Lawyer names lawyers that have made outstanding contributions within the twenty-five years the newspaper has been published.