TEXAS SUPREME COURT HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Its Annexation to the United States in 1846, whichwas published in 1856. 23 Peter Gray was one ofthe founders of the Houston Bar Association,which was formed on April 23, 1870 by Gray,Walter Botts, George Goldthwaite, and severalother Houston lawyers. Gray was elected the firstpresident of the HBA. 24After its formation, the HBA lobbiedTexas Governor Edmond J. Davis to appoint JudgeJames R. Masterson, a man with a reputation as aconservative Democrat, to the bench. 25 GovernorDavis granted the HBA’s request and appointedMasterson. In the summer of 1870, Galvestonhad a yellow fever outbreak. The citizens ofHouston worried that it would spread to Houstonsoon. The minutes of the district court, whereHBA members met, note that the HBA firstappeared before Judge Masterson on October3, 1870 by filing a motion to adjourn court dueto the epidemic. The motion, signed by WalterBotts, George Goldthwaite, and other lawyers,read as follows:Now comes the undersigned members ofthe Houston Bar and suggests to the Courtthat owing to the appearance of yellowfever at Galveston and the Quarantine atHouston that a number of lawyers haveleft the City. There is great excitementamong the people and we believe it willbe impossible to obtain the attendanceof witnesses in many cases and thereforemove the Court to adjourn until the firstMonday in November.Texas Historical Commission sign stating that Peter W. Graywas elected President of the first Houston Bar Associationin 1870. Photo by David A. Furlow.Judge Masterson granted the motion. The minutes reflect that court did not resume until November 7, 1870. 26In addition to these professional accolades, Gray was well known as a lawyer of conviction andintegrity. One case from early in his career is telling. In 1994, when Harris County District Judge MarkDavidson was researching district court records from the nineteenth century, he came across a lawsuit23Yoakum dedicated the first volume of his History of Texas to Gray and noted that he was indebted to Gray for his papers andsuggestions as well.24The Houston Telegraph reported on April 24, 1870, that Peter Gray was elected the first President of the Houston Bar Association. SeeEric L. Frederickson, A Commitment to Public Service, the History of the Houston Bar Association (Houston: Gulf Pub. Co., 1992),10, n.1 and 14; Kirkland, Captain Baker, 49.25See Frederickson, History of HBA, 12-14.26District Court Minutes (7 th Dist., later renumbered 11 th Dist.), Vol. O (1870-1872), 1-2; 11.29