Honorable Larry Gist
Honorable Lawrence “Larry” James Gist passed away peacefully on October 19, 2019 in Beaumont, Texas at the age of 78, surrounded by his family.
He was born to Genevieve Montz and George Mally Gist in Port Arthur, Texas on June 7, 1941. He attended Bishop Byrne High School in Port Arthur and later graduated from the University of Notre Dame and the University of Texas at Austin Law School. Following law school, he served as Assistant Criminal District Attorney of Jefferson County and Assistant State’s Attorney before the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. In 1974, he became the youngest State District Judge to be elected in Texas at the age of 34. He spent the remainder of his career as a Criminal District Judge, serving in the last twenty years as full time Senior Criminal District Judge in the Jefferson County Drug Impact Court.
Judge Gist was certified in both Criminal and Appellate Law and served in many leadership roles over the course of his career including Chairman of the Judicial Advisory Council of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice as well as of the Community Corrections Committee following his appointment by Governor Rick Perry as a Member of the Texas Board of Criminal Justice. He was also an Adjunct Professor of Criminal Law for over twenty years at South Texas College of Law in Houston, and served as the Director of the International Comparative Criminal Law Course for over twenty-seven years. Through this program he organized and lead groups of attorneys and judges around the world yearly to study their judicial systems.
He was wholly dedicated to serving the community and received many honors and awards for his achievements. In 1994, the first State jail in Texas, the Larry Gist State Jail, was named in his honor. In 2014 he received the State Bar of Texas Judicial Lifetime Achievement Award, being the only trial court judge to receive this highest honor.
Judge Gist served as a mentor and role model in both the classroom and in the practice of law and will be remembered and missed by many. His greatest legacy is found in those in the community who turned their lives around after being given a second chance.
He loved his practice but also equally valued his time with family and friends. He was a master storyteller, creature of habit and avid fan of Notre Dame football. Whether it be over a quick trip to England, a Wednesday night at the Laine’s, a Friday night dinner at Damian’s in Houston, or a Sunday lunch in Beaumont with his family, he never failed to entertain with his playbook of colorful jokes and stories.
He is preceded in death by his parents and nephew Brian Sorensen.
He is survived by his sons, Lawrence “Lance” James Gist and Ryan Temple Gist; daughter, Malorie Gist Leman and husband Thomas; and grandchildren, Caitlin and Jamie Gist and Carolina, Mally and Lila Leman. He is also survived by his sister, Jackie Jarzambek and husband Don, and his niece and nephews, Shawn Sullivan, Maura Sorensen and Morgan Sullivan and their spouses.
Memorial contributions for Judge Gist may be made to Some Other Place, 590 Center Street, Beaumont, Texas 77701.
A gathering of Judge Gist’s family and friends will begin at 5:00 p.m., followed by a Christian Vigil at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, October 23, 2019, at Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, October 24, 2019, at St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica, 700 Jefferson Street, Beaumont. Please join Judge Gist’s family for a reception immediately following the service in the Basilica Center. A family committal will be held at Magnolia Cemetery, Beaumont.
Video
Mass of Christian Burial
Mass of Christian Burial
- 700 jefferson beaumont tx 77701
- 10/24/2019
- 11:00 am
Christian Vigil
Christian Vigil
- 2000 mcfaddin avenue beaumont tx 77701
- 10/23/2019
- 9:40 am
Broussard's Mortuary - McFaddin Avenue
Broussard's Mortuary - McFaddin Avenue
- 2000 mcfaddin street beaumont tx 77701
- 10/23/2019
- 5:00 pm
Broussard's Mortuary - McFaddin Avenue
Broussard's Mortuary - McFaddin Avenue
- 2000 mcfaddin avenue beaumont tx 77701
Comments
Rita L Maxwell
My deepest sympathies to the family.
Akeemchopane
Pray you the family
Tom Maness
Goodbye old friend. Rest In Peace Judge
Tom McDonald
Enjoyed serving on several judicial and probation organizations with Larry as well as comparative judicial trips abroad. He was a dedicated jurist and committed to fairness and justice. Godspeed my friend.
Pam Beach and Bud Childers
We'll miss you so much, Larry. All the fabulous trips we went on and our dinners at Damiens. The world is less interesting without you.
David Barlow
Jefferson County has lost a true giant. The wisdom, wit, character and class of Judge Gist will be greatly missed by all who came to know and love him. His impact and contributions to Jefferson County and the Texas legal community. will be known for years. We miss you greatly, Judge.
ron holmes
I met Judge Gist as a correctional officer. The judge was a real hoot to be around and was much admired and very liked.. Condolences to his family.
Jim Stott
Shared many an evening listening to Judge Gist and the late Judge Carroll Wilborn spin stories about everything from gumbo recipes to the perils of state government. He is a legend in the community corrections (probation) community. His support and contributions both to our profession, and me personally, will never be forgotten.
Don Jarzambek
Going to miss the laughs my friend and you have been a great brother to my bride. RIP
Kaye Broussard Haynes
We were so sorry to hear about Larry's passing. I went to school with him. He was always such a nice person. I know he will be missed. Prayers for the family and his many friends .
Nan Hampton-Edmundson
A great man and person of high honor. He will be greatly missed.
Victoria Zizmont
Wednesday evenings at Shirley’s.
Candy Mathis Hollis
Oh, what a loos to the community. RIP, Judge Gist!
Mark S Browning
I had the pleasure of serving with and getting to know Judge Gist through the Boy Scouts Troop 177. My condolences to the family.
Billy and Mary Rhea
We are heartbroken over Judge Gist’s passing. We shared many laughs, meals in our home, and will truly cherish our travel memories with “our Judge.” We will forever miss his embellished stories and unique jokes as well. The county, the state, and the international legal community lost a true giant! Rest In Peace Larry. Please know that your memory and impact will live on....
Angela Harvey
Judge Gist was an honorable man. A fair man. In 2000, a dark time in my life, he presided over my case. He could've given me years in prison amongst other sentences. He didn't. He gave me the opportunity to turn my life around on my own. It worked. I'm grateful for that every day. My sincerest heartfelt sympathies are with his family & friends. My live and gratitude for having shared him with the world. He was my Santa Claus in a black robe.
laurel shrontz
I will miss you so much. Thank you for sharing a different view of the world with me. That world will be smaller with out you. God's peace to your family.
brenda petkovsek-bean
He was such a great man and judge. my deepest sympathies to the family .God Bless
johnny l smith
I had the honor of being Judge Gist's' bailiff for ten great years. I am a much better person for knowing him. He made me feel more like a friend than an employee. He will be greatly missed by so very many people.
Tricia Penick
Larry was so special to our family...thank you for sharing him. Our hearts and prayers are with the family.
Kim Lomax Graves
I grew up on 19th Street where I met Larry before he was a judge. Lance and I were childhood friends and I loved the time I spent at their home. Such a stellar man. An honor to know him. My prayers for Larry;s family and friends. I’ll never forget his kindness to me.
Dan Northcutt
Judge Gist was one of the best professors and one of the wisest men I have encountered in my legal studies and career. His views on justice had a great impact on everyone who came into contact with him. We were blessed to have known him.
Robert Courville DDS
It was my honor to know and treat the judge for years. Our visits were always a treat, He was such an honorable and kind man. My prayers are with his family for their loss .He will be missed.
Pamela Parkerson
Judge Gist was truly a very caring man.. He saved my life 10 years ago and for that I am forever grateful. Rip
Becky & Rodney Ames
We truly enjoyed our friendship with Judge Gist. A great “chef” that always cooked up a great meal that meant an enjoyable evening of fun stories that had a lesson of value. A man of character, wit and wisdom! Will miss the driveway conversations. Our condolences to the family. Becky & Rodney Ames
TImothy M. Clark
To the family of Judge Gist I send my deepest sympathies. Judge Gist was my Criminal Trial Advocacy professor not to long ago. He is someone who I deeply admired. I had the privilege of having him swear me in as an attorney in his Court. On that day the Court was busy, the bailiff had my wife and me take a seat in the Courtroom while Judge Gist conducted the business of the Court. After a while the Court room was clear and he stepped down from the bench to great us. It was a wonderful day for me and a memory I shall cherish forever. My wife had met him once before during my class when she served as a mock juror. My wife's comments on both occasions was she was so impressed with his heartfelt kindness and willingness to help others. His knowledge, kindness, and caring for others will be missed by so many.
Ximena Vengoechea
My dearest Judge, I will be forever grateful for the gift of your wisdom, your loving friendship and your laughter. From Scotland, yours aye, forever.
Paula Bothe
What a joy it was to know him! He was brilliant, vibrant, positive, and great company. No one could tell a story like he could. When Malorie was a youngster appearing in plays at the Little Theatre in Fair Park, Larry would come to rehearsals and sit in the back of the auditorium with me. We shared a lot of lovely evenings that way. As infrequently as we saw one another in the past few years, he always greeted and talked with me as if we were just continuing a conversation that had only been briefly interrupted. His memory is a blessing.