"Judge" Harold M. LaFont

Harold M. LaFont, known as “Judge” LaFont to many, practiced law in Plainview from 1930 until his death in 2003 at the age of 96. He was recognized by the Texas Bar Journal as having the longest continuous practice in the state. He received many honors from the Texas State Bar, including being named a Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation.

Harold M. LaFont was born in 1907 in Conran, Missouri, the son of a county judge. He graduated from the University of Missouri and received his law degree from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. He founded and until his death was associated with the Plainview law firm now called LaFont, Tunnell, Formby, LaFont, and Hamilton.

LaFont served as a state representative in the Texas Legislature from 1949 to 1953 and was district judge from 1957 to 1964. He was Hale County district attorney for eight years.

While serving in the state legislature, he authored many bills for the preservation of underground water, was instrumental in the creation of the High Plains Experiment Station at Halfway, and also served on a special legislative council to study the tax structure, state and local highway construction, the uniform commercial code, and the Gilmer-Aiken school finance law.

LaFont taught a Sunday school class for 50 years at First United Methodist Church. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club for more than 60 years and a Thirty-Second Degree Mason. He served as an attorney for Central Plains Hospital and the Plainview Cemetery Association.

He and his wife, the former Jane Powell, were married for 65 years. They had two children and 12 grandchildren.