Trueman Edgar O'Quinn

Portrait of Trueman Edgar O'Quinn Headstone Photograph


Honorable Trueman Edgar
O'Quinn
Born in Leesville, La. May 7, 1905
Died in Austin Jan 4, 1990

Back of headstone

O'Quinn

To the world:
Distinguished Judge
O. Henry Authority,
Politician, Writer, Military Officer,
Historian and Naturalist
To his family:
Beloved Husband and Father
Full Name: Trueman Edgar O'Quinn
Location: Section:Patriots' Hill, Section 1 (A)
Row:R  Number:19
Reason for Eligibility: Member, Texas House of Representatives; Court of Civil Appeals 
Birth Date: May 7, 1905 
Died: January 4, 1990 
Buried:  
 

O'QUINN, TRUEMAN EDGAR (1905 ~ 1990). Trueman Edgar O'Quinn was born in Vernon Parrish, Louisiana, May 7, 1905. He was one of three children of Dallas Patrick and Florence Isabelle O'Conner O'Quinn. The O'Quinns moved in 1917 to East Texas. An Eagle Scout, Trueman attended Beaumont High School before enrolling in The University of Texas in 1922.

By the time he received his bachelor of laws in 1932, he had supported himself as a writer of nationally syndicated news stories, taught fencing, served as editor of the Daily Texan (the University of Texas newspaper), and won election to the Texas Legislature where he served 1930-31.

Following his graduation from law school, Trueman was in private practice in Austin until his appointment as assistant city attorney in 1936 and as city attorney in 1938, a position he held until 1950 except for four years in the army during World War II.

During the war, O'Quinn was Staff Judge Advocate of the 101st Airborne Division and supervised court-martial trials in Normandy after the invasion. He also fought in four major battles, served with the army of occupation in Germany, and supervised the out processing of 90,000 German prisoners in Austria.

Returning to Austin in 1946, O'Quinn resumed service as city attorney until 1950 when he returned to private practice. During this time he also served as Travis County Democratic Chairman for fourteen years and worked for two years as legal counsel for The University of Texas at Austin.

In 1967 Governor John Connally appointed him to the Court of Civil Appeals at Austin to serve the unexpired term of Judge Phillips who was elected chief justice in 1967. Justice O'Quinn served on the court for thirteen years before his retirement in January 1980. He died January 4, 1990.

Active in civic and legal affairs, Justice O'Quinn amassed a collection of O. Henry first editions, magazines, photographs, manuscripts and furniture associated with the famous author, all of which he gave in 1983 to the Austin History Center.

He was co-author with Dr. Jenny Lind Porter of Time to Write: How William Sidney Porter became O. Henry.

Justice O'Quinn married Hazel Hedick of Austin on November 26, 1929. They are survived by their two sons, Kerry and Trueman, Jr.

Taken with permission from "The Court of Appeals at Austin 1892-1992" by Debrah O. Powers, State House Press, Austin, Texas, 1992.

Notes:

#8832) Served on the court from 1967-1980.
Entered by Administrator on 2/1/1998 12:11:28 PM

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