Obituary of Fred Weeks (1977)
(C. Avis Catalog entry #395)
Fred Weeks dies in Tyler
W. Fred Weeks, 89, prominent attorney and oilman who left Wichita Falls in 1931 with only $30, then built another fortune in Tyler, Texas, died in Tyler today after a short illness.
Weeks came to Wichita Falls in 1909 and shortly thereafter married the former Katie Lou Avis. She died in 1969.
Weeks and his brother, Harry, gave 266 acres to Wichita Falls which is now known as Weeks Park. He founded the law firm of Weeks, Morrow, Frances and Hankerson here which occupied the entire 11th floor of the Staley Building during the Burkburnett oil boom.
In 1925 Weeks began construction on the $500,000 Weeks Mansion, which today houses the Market Place on Kell Boulevard. The 14,000 square foot manor was a show place for North Texas, with its 20-inch thick walls, 13 fireplacesāmost of them Italian marbleānine bathrooms and individual window balconies.
During the depression, Weeks lost his fortune and was forced to give up his law offices and home. He and his wife moved into a tiny, second-story office over a small restaurant. He practiced law in the front and the couple slept on a day bed in the back.
He sold the half million dollar mansion for about $70,000.
He and his wife moved to Tyler in 1931 with $30 between them. "Oh yes, and I had my law degree and ~no attorney is broke as long as he can hang.up~his shingle," Weeks said in a speech-here in 1963.
Weeks worked for 12 years in Tyler before buying another home, but paid Ā£or it~in cash.
He established the law firm of Weeks and Hankerson in Tyler, continuing his 68-year career in law and eventually acquired the nickname of "Judge" although he never served as a judge.
Weeks was born on Sept. 13,1888 in Arlington, Tex. and earned a degree in law from the University of Texas School of Law. He went to Yale University for additional work.
He belonged to the First Presbyterian Church in Tyler and the American, Texas and Smith County Bar Associations.
Services will be at 12 30 p.m. Friday' at Lloyd James Funeral Home in Tyler, with the Rev. L. P. McCord officiating. Entombment will be at 3 p.m. in Hillcrest Mausoleum in Dallas. Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Katherine Weeks Bridewell of Tyler; three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Curtis Weeks, Douglas Conner, Ralph Dunkelberg, Bill Wise, }Boren Hildebrand, Kelly Walker, Charles Potter, Robert Bracken, James Lewis and Tommy Waggoner.