James Russell Leahy (Jim, Jimmy) was born in Raton, New Mexico on the 26th of October 1945, to Harold Creston Leahy, Jr. and Mary Elizabeth Corey Leahy and died on Sunday, the 23rd of June 2024, at MD Anderson Cancer Center, surrounded by his family.

One of the players I coached in high school at Alvin,Texas was Hunter Barrow. Hunter is an attorney in Houston, and one of the law firms that he worked with as a young attorney had Jim Leahy. Hunter had high regard for Jim and mentioned that Jim was a mentor for him and he had the utmost respect for Jim and was thankful for his leadership.

Sincerely,

Stan Mauldin

The son of an Air Force colonel, Jim grew up all over the United States. He spent memorable time in Maine and Arkansas before his family eventually settled in Austin, Texas, where he graduated from Lanier High School. Jim was an outstanding high school athlete, attracting the attention of Darrell K Royal, the head football coach at the University of Texas, who walked onto the field after one of Jim’s high school games and offered him a football scholarship. Jim attended UT, where he lettered in football, was a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity and the Silver Spurs, and graduated with a marketing degree. In December of his senior year, Jim met his future wife, Helen Hosey, on a blind date. They married on the 6th of September 1969.

Lisa Davis

Friend

July 5, 2024

This one hurts. I met Jim when I started working at RAC in 1980. He was a great attorney and wonderful to work with. Even when RAC closed its door, Jeff and I saw him occasionally thru the years and we always considered him a good friend. He was very supportive when my sweet Jeff got ill. I know Helen and his family will be ok as they have so many people praying for them in this time of sadness. But he is up in Heaven, out of pain and whole again. May God bless his sweet spirit. Lisa Davis

After graduating from the University of Texas, Jim joined the United States Marine Corps, entering a program in which he attended law school while participating in summer training. After graduating from the University of Texas School of Law in 1971, Jim began his service as a United States Marine in Quantico, Virginia, followed by Naval Justice School in Newport, Rhode Island, and then Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, California, where he and Helen celebrated the birth of their first child, Mike. After his final assignment in Okinawa and the completion of his commitment, he and Helen moved to Houston, where their daughter, Corey, was born. Jim was a dedicated Marine who served as a prosecutor and a military judge and attained the rank of captain.

Tommy Harper

Friend

July 2, 2024

Jimmy Leahy & I first met in Austin in Junior High as opponents on the basketball court! We continued to follow each other’s athletic exploits through High School at different schools! We both subsequently ended up getting football scholarships at UT & were teammates on the UT Freshman Football team as well as Varsity Letterman! We enjoyed our time together living in the Moore Hill Hall the Athletic Dormitory! Although went our separate ways after college to pursue our business careers & raise families we reconnected in Houston over 30 years ago! Moreover, we enjoyed catching up at our Annual Alumna Football Letterman’s Christmas Party at The Hoffbrau Steakhouse! Jimmy & I had lots of mutual long time friends and we talked regularly by phone! Jimmy was a truly outstanding individual who I am proud to call my Friend! His colorful stories were so fun to listen to and we always had upbeat conversations with lots of laughs! I will deeply miss him & so glad we talked regularly over the past years as he endured his battle against cancer so positively! RIP Jimmy, You are the Best for sure, Tommy Harper

Jim’s practice of law spanned five decades and defined his life. He began his civilian career at Reynolds, Allen & Cook. He later joined Baker, Brown, Sharman & Parker, which became Brown, Parker & Leahy. He enjoyed many happy years at this firm through its transition to the Houston office of Thompson Knight. He continued his career at Locke Lord and ultimately Greenberg Traurig, where he served as the chair of energy litigation. Jim loved being a lawyer, taking great pride in representing his clients as well as being a mentor to younger lawyers, many of whom still recount his colorful stories and aphorisms. Among his many professional accomplishments, Jim was proud to be a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and was honored to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Texas Lawyer.

Scott Bishop

Friend

July 1, 2024

Helen, Jill and I cannot express our sympathies to you and your family. Our memories of you two in school and the Marines will always be cherished. I truly miss him. Semper Fi. Scott and Jill Bishop

Throughout his life, Jim was motivated by his strong sense of duty and responsibility to his wife, his children and their families, and to his profession, leaving little time for hobbies. Despite this, he was good at everything he tried—fishing, hunting, bowling, cards, trivia…. In his later years, he enjoyed being a grandfather to his seven grandchildren, often showing up in his Corvette to take them to get hot dogs at James Coney Island on Saturday afternoons. Jim and Helen loved joining their grandchildren on special “birthday vacations” and celebrated many happy occasions with them at the Forest Club.

Guy Choate

Friend

July 4, 2024

Jim was such a great guy. Terrific lawyer. Better human being. He took things head on and didn't back down from anything. He was a terrific person and I am so sad to read this. May his memory be eternal!

Though his bout with bile duct cancer was arduous, he remained determined to the end. Jim was a loving and devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He was a loyal friend and maintained relationships with people he had met throughout his life. We are grateful for the extra time we got to spend with him, and we will miss him dearly.

John David Holmes

Friend

July 3, 2024

Rest In Peace, Jimmy! You were a great friend since Pearce Junior High in Austin and throughout our lives after the eighth grade, throughout UT, throughout your law practice, and throughout your entire life until the day you died. You were the best!! God's peace my friend and you will be missed always. David Holmes

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude memorial contributions in Jim’s honor be directed to the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center at https://gifts.mdanderson.org/ or Chapelwood United Methodist Church, 11140 Greenbay St, Houston, TX 77024.

 Shira Yoshor

Colleague

July 1, 2024

Jim was one of the first to welcome me to Greenberg Traurig over nine years ago. He was a great raconteur and always had an entertaining anecdote ready to share. He had amazing "Texasims" that made him a first-rate Texas lawyer and fun to listen to. He was ready to act as a sounding board for legal issues any time, no matter how big or small an issue it was. He loved teaching lawyers how to practice law. He was great at spotting and hiring new talent. Jim is already missed dearly. Wishing the entire Leahy family my heartfelt condolences.

HORNS 🤘 UP FOR A GREAT LONGHORN!