In memoriam: Bob Flowers

Robert C. “Bob” Flowers, longtime executive director of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, died Aug. 26 in Austin at the age of 85. Seana Willing, the judicial conduct commission’s current executive director, says Flowers served in that position for 18 years, retiring in 1999. Before Flowers joined the commission’s staff, he had an opportunity to argue a landmark case before the U.S. Supreme Court. In 1972, while an assistant attorney general for Texas, Flowers argued on the state’s behalf when the Supreme Court heard Roe v. Wade for a second time. Flowers did not prevail in that case. The high court struck down the Texas abortion statutes, finding that a woman has a constitutional right to choose to terminate a pregnancy. Visitation for Flowers will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 30 at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 North Lamar, Austin. Graveside services are scheduled for 10 a.m. Aug. 31 in the Texas State Cemetery, 909 Navasota St., Austin. A memorial service for Flowers is scheduled for 11:30 a.m.  Aug. 31 in the First United Methodist Church, 1201 Lavaca St., Austin.
-- Mary Alice Robbins