Fulbright Mourns Passing of Partner, Ron Bliss

Business Wire, Feb 10, 2005

HOUSTON -- Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. is saddened to announce the passing of our good friend and partner, Ronald G. Bliss. He died Feb. 8 at the age of 61 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Bliss was a decorated Vietnam War fighter pilot who flew 35 missions before being shot down Sept. 4, 1966. He was captured and spent 6 1/2 years in the infamous "Hanoi Hilton" prisoner-of-war camp. Bliss was one of 20 U.S. POWs whose story of torture and long imprisonment was told in the 2000 documentary, Return with Honor.

Among his many medals awarded for military service were two Silver Stars for Valor, a Distinguished Flying Cross, two Purple Hearts and the POW Medal. He was later inducted into the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame and was a director of the Veterans' Museum in Texas, as well as a member of the 4th Allied POW Wing.

"Ron's courage, integrity and good humor inspired all of us," said Steven B. Pfeiffer, chair of Fulbright & Jaworski's Executive Committee. "It was an honor and a joy to work with him these past 28 1/2 years, and we will all miss him greatly."

After his release in March 1973, Bliss served as a flight instructor at Holloman Air force Base in New Mexico, then earned a law degree at Baylor University in 1976. He joined Fulbright & Jaworski the same year and became a partner in the firm in 1984. Bliss headed the firm's Intellectual Property and Technology Department for 15 years. His legal practice included litigating, licensing, and strategic counseling to clients regarding patents, trademarks, trade secrets, unfair competition, and copyrights.

Bliss has been selected for The Best Lawyers in America and Who's Who in America and was ranked among the top attorneys in Intellectual Property in Texas according to Chambers & Partners, USA. He was named a "Texas Super Lawyer" in Intellectual Property Litigation Law in the November 2003 and November 2004 issues of Texas Monthly.

Ron Bliss was born in Buckeye, Ariz., and grew up in Cheyenne, Wyo. He received a B.S. in Engineering Sciences in 1964 from the United States Air Force Academy and graduated from pilot training in 1965 and advanced fighter training in 1966.

Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.

Founded in 1919, Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. is a leading full-service international law firm, with approximately 900 attorneys in 11 offices in Houston, New York, Washington, D.C., Austin, Dallas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, San Antonio, Hong Kong, London and Munich. Fulbright provides a full range of legal services to both domestic and foreign clients worldwide. For more information, visit www.fulbright.com.