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District Judge Fostel dies

Thu, 06/08/2017 - 3:19 pm
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    Judge John H. Fostel served as the 271st Judicial District Judge for 23 years. He died unexpectedly June 2. Courtesy photo by Joe Duty / Wise County Messenger
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    Judge John Fostel swears in attorney Mason Spiller in November in the Jack County District Courtroom.

Judge John H. Fostel, 69, of the 271st Judicial District died unexpectedly Friday, June 2. He served the civil, family and felony criminal courts of Jack and Wise counties for 23 years.

He was a graduate of Irving High School, Texas Christian University, and received his law degree from Texas Tech University. He came to Wise County after law school to join the firm of W.B. Woodruff in Decatur where he later became a partner.

His memorial service was held Wednesday with a nearly standing-room only crowd at the Decatur Convention Center.

Those who practice law in Jack County remember him fondly.

Attorney David Spiller said Judge Fostel was a fine Christian man, a devoted husband and father, a loving grandfather, a close personal friend of mine, and an impeccable judge, with vast knowledge and understanding of all aspects of the law and the fair and efficient administration of justice.

“He was the most down-to-earth and unpretentious judge I have ever met. Frankly, he was always the smartest person in the room, but never let you know it,” Spiller said.

To read the complete article, see the June 9 edition of the Herald-Gazette.