After Don’s funeral on Thursday, February 1, 2018 at the Second Baptist Church in Houston, a reception was held at the home of Tim and Nancy Johnson. After having presented the NAFUSA flag to Catherine DeGabrielle as part of the memorial service at the church, a photo was taken at the reception.    The participants are left to right: Angel Moreno, U.S. Attorney, Southern District of Texas 2010-2011; Catherine DeGabrielle, widow of Don DeGabrielle, U.S. Attorney, Southern District of Texas 2006-2008; Tim Johnson, U.S. Attorney, Southern District of Texas 2008-2010; Ron Woods, U.S. Attorney, Southern District of Texas 1990-1993; Johnny Sutton, U.S. Attorney, Western District of Texas 2001-2009; Paul Charlton, U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona 2001-2007.

On January 19, 2018, United States Attorney Richard W. Moore (Southern District of Alabama) hosted a flag presentation ceremony in his office in honor of William “Billy”  A. Kimbrough, Jr., who passed away last year. NAFUSA President Hal Hardin presided and presented the flag to Mrs. Kimbrough on NAFUSA’s behalf. It had been flown over Main Justice in Billy’s honor. The ceremony was attended by many federal judges and former U.S. Attorneys, as well as Billy’s family.

In the photo above, Mrs. Kimbrough is joined by (left to right) Hal Hardin, J.Don Foster, Richard Moore and Kenyen Ray Brown.

NAFUSA member Donald J. DeGabrielle died Monday, January 22, 2018, from complications of liver disease. He was 64. Don served in the Southern District of Texas, 2006-2008. He served in the office as an assistant U.S. attorney for 20 years. He also was a FBI agent in New York and New Orleans, and chief of trials in Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office in New Orleans.

He was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana and received his undergraduate degree from McNeese State University and his law degree from Louisiana State University.

He is survived by his wife Catherine, daughter, Crystal, son, Hunter, brother Jeb Barsh, and sister Brandy Wheeler.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, February 1, 2018, at The Sanctuary at Second Baptist Church, 6400 Woodway, Houston. As is our custom, at our request an American flag was flown over Main Justice today in Don’s honor and will be presented to his family as a token of the respect with which he was held by his colleagues.

Click here to read the obituary in the Houston Chronicle

Flag flown over Main Justice on January 25 in honor of Don DeGabrielle

On November 9, 2017,  NAFUSA President Hal Hardin presented  the family of  Ernie Williams with a flag flown over the Department of Justice in his honor.  Ernie died in November, 2016. It is a tradition for NAFUSA to request the flying of an American flag which is presented to the families of former United States Attorneys during bereavement.  The presentation took place in the Williamson County Historic Courthouse with family and friends in attendance.  Williams  was appointed by President Bush and served as US Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee from 1991-1993.

NAFUSA recently learned that William (“Billy”) Adams Kimbrough Jr passed away on  March 31, 2017, after a long illness.  Billy served as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama from 1977 to 1981, in the Carter Administration. He was an early and active member of NAFUSA until failing health kept him away. He was born in Selma, and was a long time resident of Mobile. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Kay, his daughter, Mary Elizabeth, both of Mobile, his son Will (Jessica), and granddaughters Emma and Sadie, all of Nashville, his sister Ann Kimbrough, of Spanish Fort, his brother Judge Hardie B. Kimbrough (Deanna) of Thomasville, nieces, nephews, and cousins. Billy graduated from the University of the South (Sewanee) where he played football. He graduated from the University of Alabama School of Law and then served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney during the Kennedy Administration. After his service as U.S. Attorney, he joined the firm of Turner Onderdonk from which he retired in 2012. Billy loved living in Mobile, practicing law, playing golf, and participating in the political and civic life of the city. He was elected to the Alabama Democratic Executive Committee in 1966, and volunteered in many political campaigns. He especially enjoyed his work with the Greater Gulf State Fair, serving as president in 1967.

As is our tradition, at the request of NAFUSA, on November 28, the Department of Justice flew an American flag over Main Justice in Billy’s honor and NAFUSA will present it in a commemorative box to his family as a token of the regard with which he was held by his colleagues.

November 28, 2017, in honor of Billy Kimbrough

Ed McDonough

Edward Bailey McDonough, Jr. passed away peacefully with his wife, Dianne, and family friends by his side on May 5, 2017 at the University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston after a battle with heart disease. Ed was one of the founding members of NAFUSA and a past president. He was born in Galveston, in a family with a long history in Galveston commerce, notably McDonough Iron Works. Ed attended Notre Dame earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics. He then returned to Texas and graduated from the University of Texas School of Law.

After a year of private practice in Houston, Texas, Ed joined the Harris County District Attorney’s office. In 1969 he became an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, and a year later became Chief of the Criminal Division. In 1974 President Gerald D. Ford appointed Ed as United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas. His distinguished career included serving as lead prosecutor in the USA v. George Parr case involving voter fraud in South Texas, a chapter in Texas politics which gave rise to many books about the Duke of Duval, as the defendant was known. Ed also served as lead prosecutor in the case involving the bombing of the Pacifica Radio Station in Houston, Texas. In 1968 Congress authorized federal authorities to obtain court orders to intercept communications of individuals suspected of violating federal criminal laws. In the early 1970s, Ed tried in Federal Court in Victoria the first criminal case in the Southern District of Texas resulting from a court-authorized wiretap. After leaving public office, he pursued the private practice of law defending white-collar crime accused.

Ed McDonough’s work in law earned many honors and awards, including letters of commendation from the Attorney General of the United States, the Internal Revenue Service, and a Special Achievement Award from the Attorney General of the United States. He became Board Certified in Criminal Law and was also active in professional organizations for lawyers, including serving as a Director of the State Bar of Texas, a Fellow of the Houston and Texas Bar Foundations, the National Association of Former U.S. Attorneys (President, 1986-1987), Federal Bar Association, Southern District of Texas Chapter (President, 1976), the National Health Lawyers Association, the College of the State Bar of Texas (Director, 1995) and the American Health Lawyers Association. Ed lectured extensively, including to the National Home Health Care Association Annual Law Symposium, the American Bar Association Institute on White Collar Crime, the Texas Association for Home Care, the National Association of Former United States Attorneys, the Wednesday Tax Forum of Houston, and the Texas Health Defense Network. In 2014 the State Bar of Texas recognized Ed as a Fifty Year Lawyer.

Following the tradition of the McDonough clan’s association with the sea, Ed had a lifelong love affair with sailing. He was an accomplished sailor and was one of the first sailboat owners to be accepted by Lakewood Yacht Club where he moored “Caviar”, his prized 47’ sailboat.

Social activities rounded life and included lifelong associations with the Galveston Artillery Club, the Galveston Country Club, and the Alley Theater as a season ticket holder for 45 years. Ed and his wife, Dianne, never missed a Mardi Gras party and were active in Galveston through the Knights of Momus since its revival as a Galveston Mardi Gras Krewe in 1985. As a Charter Member of the Krewe of the Knights of Momus, he served as President, Ball Captain, Ball Chairman, and reigned over Galveston Mardi Gras as King Frivolous LXXXIV in 1999.

A deeply spiritual man and devout Catholic, Ed was a member of Saint Mary Basilica and served on the Advisory Board for Holy Cross Chapel, Houston, Texas. He served several decades on the Development Board for the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston and was an Advisory Board member of the Grand 1894 Opera House in Galveston.

Ed is survived by his wife Dianne of 41 years. Following a private burial, friends are cordially invited to a Rosary at 10:30 in the morning of Friday, May 12, 2017, at Saint Mary Basilica, 2011 Church in Galveston, Texas. A funeral Mass will immediately follow the Rosary. NAFUSA member Ron Woods will be among the honorary pallbearers. In lieu of customary remembrances, contributions in Ed’s memory may be made to the Salvation Army, Saint Mary Basilica (Galveston), and the Alley Theatre.

As is our custom, NAFUSA arranged for an American flag to be flown over Main Justice on Monday, May 15, in honor of Ed, and Ron Woods presented it to Diane at the Galveston Artillery Club following the funeral as a token on the esteem in which Ed was held by his former colleagues.

NJ.com True Jersey reported on April 4, 2017, that Frederick B. Lacey, former U.S.

Frederick Lacey

Attorney for the District of New Jersey, died at 96 at home in Naples, Florida. Lacey was appointed by President Nixon in 1969 and only served one year before Nixon appointed him to the federal bench, where he served for 14 years.

NJcom True Jersey reports that

Lacey,…, quickly rose to prominence in his short tenure as the state’s top federal law enforcement official. With [NAFUSA member] Herbert J. Stern, who would succeed him as U.S. Attorney and also become a federal judge, Lacey and his office successfully prosecuted Newark Mayor Hugh J. Addonizio–who was linked at trial to mob boss Ruggerio “Richie the Boot” Boiardo–and the Hudson County Democratic powerbroker John V. Kenny.

“He was one of the state’s most prominent attorneys and he put his entire reputation on the line,” remembered Stern, recounting the extensive corruption in New Jersey and the speed at which Lacey went after it in a succession of high-profile trials.

“In a twinkling of an eye, the state changed,” Stern said.

James P. Connelly, who served as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington from 1993-2000, passed away on February 14, 2017. He was born in Spokane, Washington. Jim’s family emigrated from Tuam, Ireland in 1860. His father became both a U.S. Attorney and State Supreme Court Judge. Jim attended college at Notre Dame, and Gonzaga University and graduated from Gonzaga Law School. After working as a prosecutor for Spokane County he joined the firm of Cashatt, Williams, Connelly and Rekofke. He later joined his lifelong friends Robert McNicols, Leo Driscoll and Mike Cronin to form the law firm of Winston Cashatt. Throughout his career he was known as a fierce and brilliant trial lawyer, a passion he shared with many attorneys throughout his career. He retired from private practice and taught for a short time at Gonzaga Law School before following in his father’s footsteps and was appointed U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.

Jim was known for his colorful language, his love of books, his enjoyment of a good gathering with friends and a stiff glass of good scotch. Most important to Jim were his eight children.  Jim and his wife Marianne, enjoyed many wonderful years with his large family, taking trips to the Oregon coast, skiing at Schweitzer, sailing on Lake Pend Orielle, and spending winters at the beach in Coronado, California. Jim is survived by his wife Marianne; his eight children and their spouses, Patrick (Laurie), Michael (Sue), Anne (Gordon Connelly-Chew), Lisa (Kubi Ibrahim), Mary (Jim Doherty), Matt (Kristi), Cara (Ahmad Mohammadian) and Kathleen (Tom Arnold); 21 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and his cousin Kathy Connelly.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, February 18 at St. Aloysius Church at 10:00am, followed immediately by a reception at Cataldo Hall. As is our custom, NAFUSA arranged for an American flag to be flown over Main Justice on February 15 in Jim’s honor, and it will be presented to his family as a token of the regard with which he was held by his colleagues. In lieu of flowers, donations in Jim’s name can be made to Volunteers of America, Crosswalk Shelter.

Michael A. Johns passed away on January 13, 2017, in Phoenix. Mike served as the United States Attorney for the District of Arizona from 1997-1998, and spent his entire professional career in the United States Attorney’s Office. He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Susan; and their children, Kevin, Emily Jagodzinski and Ryan; and two grandchildren, Aiden and Allie Jagodzinski. A funeral mass will be held Friday, January 27, 2017, at 11 am at St Paul’s Catholic Church in Phoenix with a Celebration of Life service at noon in the church hall. As is our custom, an American flag was flown over Main Justice at NAFUSA’s request and will be present to Mike’s family by his friend, NAFUSA member Jose de Jesus Rivera.