Virgil Bryan Medlock Jr's Obituary
Virgil Bryan Medlock, Jr. (“Bryan”) passed away on December 11, 2020 at the age of 83.
Born October 19, 1937 in Ada, Oklahoma, Bryan was educated in grades 1-4 by his mother, Alpha, and in grades 5-8 by his father, Virgil, in a one room schoolhouse in Lawrence, Oklahoma, a rural community near Ada, Oklahoma.
While living in Lawrence, Bryan attended junior high school and high school 8 miles away in Ada. He graduated Valedictorian of Ada High School in 1955 and attended Oklahoma University where he majored in Chemical Engineering, graduating third in his class in 1959. He was inducted into honorary scholastic fraternities Phi Eta Sigma and Tau Beta Pi and became a member of Beta Theta Pi, a social fraternity for which he served as Scholastic Chairman.
After obtaining his B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Bryan attended Oklahoma University Law School. During the three years of law school, he taught mathematics as an assistant instructor in the University’s Mathematics Department. He also served as the Managing Editor of the Oklahoma Law Review. Bryan entered the practice of Patent Law in Houston, Texas in 1962. That same year he passed the Oklahoma, Texas and U.S. Patent and Trademark Office bar exams.
Bryan moved to Dallas in 1966 to join the law firm of Richards, Harris and Hubbard which eventually became Richards, Medlock & Andrews. In 1996, the firm merged with Sidley Austin to create the only office at the firm to be devoted solely to Patent Litigation. Bryan specialized in Patent Litigation until his retirement from Banner Witcoff at the age of 80 years old. He is credited with being a pioneer in the trial of patent cases to juries. During his 55 year career, he received several honors including:
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One of D Magazine’s “Best Lawyers in Dallas”
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Texas Monthly Magazine’s ‘Texas Super Lawyer” (top 5% of profession) and “Top 100 Lawyers in Dallas/Fort Worth
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The International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers, published by Law Business Research Limited of London, England
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Chambers USA America’s Leading Business Lawyers, “Best of Best,” and Who’s Who Legal (Patent 2007), published by Law Business Research Limited of London, England
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One of “Top 15 Business Defenders” in Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, Dallas Business Journal, 2007
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Best Lawyers 2010 Dallas Intellectual Property Lawyer of the Year
Bryan has belonged to many professional organizations, including:
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American Bar Association serving as its Patent Litigation Committee Chair for 4 years;
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Texas Bar Association serving as Chairman of the Patent Law Section (the youngest ever to have been elected to that position); and
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American Patent Law Association
He was a Fellow of the Texas Bar Association and of the American College of Trial Lawyers.
He also chaired the Southwestern Legal Foundation’s annual Institute on Patent Law for 27 years.
He enjoyed hunting, including 4 hunting trips to Africa 2 of which were with his son Virgil. He also enjoyed flying and was a private, single and multi-engine instrument rated pilot who owned several airplanes over the years from single-engine “tail draggers” to a twin –engine turbo prop capable of transporting his children and grandchildren on vacation trips. Flying was also a passion he shared with his son.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Nancy, who was the love of his life, his daughter and son-in-law Michele and Dennis Cassidy, Jr. and their children, Kevin and Clay of Highland Park, son and daughter- in- law, Dr. Virgil Bryan Medlock, III and wife Kelly and their children, Peyton and Emery of Highland Park, his brother, Dr. Richard Medlock and his wife Jean of Tulsa, and his cousin Marilyn Foster of Tulsa. In addition, Bryan leaves behind several loving nieces and nephews.
The full and wonderful life of Bryan will be celebrated with a private family gathering.
The family requests that instead of memorials or floral tributes, everyone who knew Bryan remember him as the funny, intelligent and caring person that he was and how much he meant to everyone.
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