In Memoriam: Wellborn Jack Jr.

Wellborn Jack Jr. passed away April 4, 2023. He was born in Shreveport on July 23, 1936. He attended Barrett Elementary, Broadmoor Jr. High and Byrd High School. He graduated from LSU and LSU Law School where he was named Editor in Chief of the Law Review. He began the practice of law with his father in Shreveport in 1963. Wellborn had a brilliant mind and a passion for the law. He had an unparalleled commitment to his clients. He was included in “The Best Trial Lawyers of America” collection. Of all the cases he tried in his over 50 years as a trial attorney, two of them especially stood out. He was the first in the country to obtain, in a violent case, a not guilty by reason of insanity verdict based upon PTSD from the Vietnam War. He also defended a member of Earth First in an environmental conspiracy case in AZ. Wellborn was a life-long environmentalist. He was instrumental in creating the Caney Creek Wilderness Area, the first designated wilderness area in AR. He obtained a temporary restraining order to stop the dam ultimately built on the Cossatot River. He was a co-founder of the Kisatchie Chapter of the Ozark Society. He was named Conservationist of the Year. He was awarded the Ozark Society Neil Compton Award in 2002. Wellborn served in the National Guard Reserves. He enjoyed bird watching, hiking, canoeing, sailing, snow skiing, motorcycle riding, running, triathlons, piloting gliders and small planes and spending time with friends of Bill Wilson. He studied the intricate details of every activity in which he engaged and put everything he had plus some into it. He never lost his thirst for and love of knowledge. Everyone who ever met Wellborn knew that they had met someone very special.