The Collin County Observer™

The Collin County Observer has learned that Bill Boyd, managing partner of Boyd•Veigel and probably the most well known attorney in Collin County history, died this morning of an apparent heart attack.

Friends of Boyd told the Observer that he was exercising on a treadmill at a local fitness center when he collapsed.

Bill Boyd was born in McKinney on August 8, 1938. He received his B.A. in 1960 (economics major, with honors) and L.L.B. in 1963 from Southern Methodist University. Bill was a member of Phi Delta Phi. He was on the SMU Moot Court Team which won the State Bar Competition and competed in the National Moot Court Competition. He served on the Board of Editors of the Southwestern Law Journal. He was admitted to the State Bar in 1963.

Bill Boyd, a life-long Democrat, was elected District Attorney of Collin County his first year out of law school and served a four-year term. He was elected to the Board of Directors of the National District Attorney's Association from Texas and served as a director until the end of his term as District Attorney.

Bill's father was Speaker Sam Rayburn's campaign manager as well as supporter and friend of Lyndon Johnson throughout his career. Bill was a life long friend of Lady Bird Johnson and many other well known state and national politicians.

Boyd joined his father, Roland Boyd in private law practice in 1969 and, immediately after leaving the District Attorney's Office, he was employed to represent Charles Watson, the member of the Manson family who was charged with the Sharon Tate murders. He represented Charles in his extradition fight from Texas to California and took the case to the Supreme Court of the United States.

Watson was only the first of many high profile clients Bill Boyd represented in his 40 year career.

He successfully represented a former Lieutenant Governor in a civil suit in federal court in New York. He successfully represented a former Attorney General and his family in a civil suit in Dallas concerning a business transaction. He has represented a number of public officials in federal and state criminal investigations including the Chief of Police of Dallas, Mack Vines, who was indicted and acquitted for perjury.

Recently, Boyd represented former Judge Verla Sue Holland in her attempt to avoid giving a deposition about her affair with former DA Tom O'Connell.

I had several opportunities to talk with Mr. Boyd during my campaign and later for research for the Observer. It was impossible to meet him and not be impressed with his intellectual dexterity and his breadth of knowledge of politics, politicians and the law.

I will post details of any services as soon as they become available.

Bill

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Update August 30:

From the Dallas Morning News - Mr. Boyd is survived by his wife, Barbara White Boyd; his sons, William Bradley Boyd and Blake Edward Boyd; his sister, Betty Skelton; and three grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Betty Boyd.

Funeral services are scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church of McKinney, 1615 W. Louisiana St.