Joe Beck Hairston
Joe Beck Hairston, of Rice's Crossing, Texas, passed away August 30, 2020, in Austin, Texas, at the age of 82. His loving family and friends are mourning him during this challenging time of loss for most of us.
Joe lived a rich and varied life. He was born September 30, 1937, in Taylor, Texas and prepared at Taylor High School. Always a believer in the value of education, he obtained five degrees, beginning, in 1960, with an A.B. cum laude, majoring in history, from Harvard College where he was a member of Winthrop House. Subsequently, Joe received an M.A. in English (1966) and a J.D. (1975) from the University of Texas, a Ph.D. in American Studies from the University of Minnesota (1971) and an M.A. in Southern Studies from the University of Mississippi (1995). He was also an avid traveler, having visited more than 100 countries on 6 continents—even celebrated his 75th birthday at the top of the Eiffel Tower with family and friends.
Joe served as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy from 1961 to 1964. He was first assigned to the cruiser “USS Boston” out of Boston and then the destroyer “USS Allen M. Sumner” out of Jacksonville. Joe was proud of his naval service and he valued the service of others, in whatever capacity.
While working as a staff attorney at the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB), Joe was a principal author of the TASB Policy Reference Manual, a legally based management manual for Texas public school districts. He was also a charter member of the TASB Council of School Attorneys.
Joe practiced school law over five decades, most notably with the firm he co-founded in Austin, now known as Walsh Gallegos. He represented school districts across the state, including Taylor Independent School District, which honored him for his service upon one of his several retirements from the practice of law.
At various times, Joe taught school law in the education departments of Baylor University in Waco and the University of Texas at Austin. He was an engaging storyteller in his classes, as with friends, and in his speeches. He was funny.
He loved his family best and getting on the road to somewhere new. But he loved coming home to his "cabin in the woods" to plan the next travels.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Beth Hairston, and his uncle, James Hairston. He is survived by his son Charles Hairston and wife Amy; his beloved granddaughters Jordan Hairston and Ashley Hairston; his partner, Mary Willis; his cousins, Lucy Hairston and Coles Hairston; and numerous family and friends.
A memorial service was held on September 26, 2020.
In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made online at http://www.nationalhairstonclan.org/scholarship to the John W. Hairston, Jr. Scholarship Program of the National Hairston Clan, Inc.