Our 100 Year History

Focused on Public Finance since 1919

The Next Generation of Bond Lawyers

The third generation of Texas municipal bond lawyers included many attorneys who were personally trained by Hobby McCall, Paul Horton, and Millard Parkhurst.  Such lawyers include the late E. Ray Hutchison, Peter Tart, Robert “Buddy” Lewis, Richard Porter, Chuck Kobdish, Jeff Leuschel, Thomas Spurgeon, Ted Brizzolara, and others.  This generation also included, for the first […]

The Brothers McCall

The Brothers McCall

Hobby Halbert McCall was born in Dallas, Texas on May 16, 1919, roughly two weeks after the firm first opened its doors on May 1, 1919. His step-brother, Paul Bradfield Horton, was born in Dallas on October 19, 1920.  The pair grew up on Beverly Drive in Dallas and attended Highland Park High School, where […]

Tackling the Water Crisis

Tackling the Water Crisis

Working in the Legislature after law school gave John D. McCall exceptional insight into the legislative process, which would help him greatly throughout his career.  In 1913, the first year John D. served as Assistant Secretary to the Senate, the Legislature created the Board of Water Engineers to regulate appropriations of water.  During December of […]

Texas State Capitol, 1936

Defaults, Bankruptcies and Depression

From approximately October 1929 until 1939, our country experienced the worst economic downturn in its history.  It is rumored that during the Great Depression, our lawyers were busier than they ever had been. As thousands of political subdivisions throughout Texas and the United States began to default on their bonds and file for bankruptcy under […]

The Roaring Twenties: The Birth of the Cotton Bowl and the Permanent University Fund

The Economic Boom in the 1920s was marked by rapid industrial growth and advances in technology, such as the modern assembly line, mass distribution of electricity, and radio. After an initial recession following World War I in 1919, a period of prosperity ensued.  Between 1921 and 1924, the nation’s gross national product jumped 40% from […]

The Birth of Texas Public Finance

John Dean McCall was born in Willis, Texas on January 4, 1892.  He was raised in Willis and graduated from Willis High School in 1907.  He graduated from Howard Payne University in 1909 and earned his bachelor’s degree from Baylor University in 1911. John D. earned his legal degree from The University of Texas School […]

McCall Family History

Although many knew Hobby McCall and Paul Horton personally and can tell you many great tales, very little is known about their father, and our law firm’s founder, John D. McCall.  Below is information that has been compiled from firm records, federal and state census records, Texas marriage and death records, bar and university directories, […]