Judge Fred C. Sexton, Jr.
December 7, 1938 — July 9, 2017
Judge Fred C. Sexton, Jr.
SHREVEPORT, LA - Judge Fred C. Sexton, Jr. passed away on July 9, 2017 following a brief illness. Visitation will be at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 1815 Marshall Street, Shreveport, LA, Thursday, July 13, 2017, from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. A memorial service will be Friday, July 14, 2017 at 4:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home Chapel, with Bro. Trey Roberson officiating.
Judge Fred Curtis Sexton, Jr. was born December 7, 1938, in Shreveport, Louisiana, the only child of Eunice Mae McClenaghan Sexton and Fred "Doc" Sexton. He was a graduate of C.E. Byrd High School in 1956, serving as President of the Student Council as well as President of the Southern Association of Student Councils. He was a Senior Favorite, Captain in the JROTC, an outstanding debater, and very active and successful in forensic tournaments. While at Byrd, he was elected as a member of Boys State in Baton Rouge. He loved Byrd and was inducted into the Byrd Hall of Fame in 2011. After high school, he went on to attend Tulane University where he was a member of the Sigma Alfa Epsilon Fraternity and later became president. He received a B.A. Degree in Economics in 1961 and later obtained his Juris Doctor Degree from Tulane School of Law.
Following his graduation from law school, Fred entered the U.S. Army. He served as a 1st Lt. where he was instrumental in his unit's preparation for possible deployment during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Upon completion of his active duty service in the Army, he returned to Shreveport and became a member of the Army Reserves, obtaining the rank of Captain.
He entered into the private practice of law in 1964 and became a partner in the firm of Hendrick, Fant, Sexton & Bain. Following private practice, he was appointed as an Assistant District Attorney for Caddo Parish and served in that capacity from 1968 to 1974, specializing in drug prosecutions. While an Assistant District Attorney, he was elected to serve on the Board of the Louisiana District Attorneys Association. He was active in local and state-wide drug abuse programs, including CODAC (Community Organization for Drug Abuse Concerns) where he was co-founder and president. He also served on the Governor's Task Force on Drug Enforcement. Throughout his legal career, he was a lecturer in criminal law and procedure in local and state-wide legal seminars.
Judge Sexton was elected as District Judge for the First Judicial District Court in Caddo Parish in 1974 and was re-elected without opposition through 1981. In January 1982, he was elected as Judge of the Louisiana Second Circuit Court of Appeal and served until his retirement in 1996. During that time, he also served by appointment on the Louisiana Supreme Court on several occasions. He also continued to serve by appointment as judge in many district courts and courts of appeal throughout the state.
In addition to being active in the Louisiana and Shreveport Bar Associations, the Louisiana Retired Judges Association, and other organizations, Judge Sexton was appointed by the Louisiana Speaker of the House to the Louisiana Indigent Defense Task Force and was appointed by the Louisiana Supreme Court to serve on the Louisiana Judicial Campaign Oversight Committee and the Louisiana Supreme Court Committee on Judicial Ethics.
Considered by many a role model for judges, Judge Sexton was one of the finest trial judges in the state by virtue of his intelligence, honesty, integrity, court room decorum, impartiality, preparedness, and decisiveness. He exhibited high standards and showed respect for litigants, attorneys and the public in his courtroom. He was an articulate expert in the law and applied it accurately, but in a common sense way. He dispensed justice evenly to all who came before his court. He never lost sight of his role as a protector of individual rights, but he also considered the effects of his decisions on the rights and expectations of society as a whole so that law and order could be maintained.
Judge Sexton was a great judge, boss, mentor, friend, and human being who offered brilliant and insightful comments and possessed an outstanding sense of humor. He was a people person who could talk to anyone about any subject. As a friend to many people from all walks of life, he developed many lasting relationships. He was one of a kind.
Although he was a very hard-working judge, fun was still a high priority. His fun-loving spirit was contagious to those around him. He was a gifted storyteller, delivering chronicles chock-full of his humor and wit. He was an avid tennis player in his younger days and a good golfer later on. But he was probably happiest when with his animals, or in the Taos Mountains, or wearing cowboy boots and jeans, and country dancing. Maybe the Toby Keith song "I Should Have Been a Cowboy" would fit him, but his favorite song was "For The Good Times."
Judge Sexton was an avid fan of the LSU Tigers, being the biggest Tulane Grad LSU Fan ever born. He was a dedicated supporter and a past Chairman of Shreveport's Independence Bowl.
Judge Sexton was predeceased in death by his parents, Doc and Mae Sexton; his aunts, Gertrude Rogge and her husband, Edwin; Jane Rogge, and her husband Don; cousins, Jane Ann Jones and Gale Rogge Heath. He is survived by cousins, Jay Bryan Jones, III, and Kristi Cavett Jones, and their father, Jay B. Jones, and special friend Mary Roberson.
Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Judge Charles Lindsay, Justice Jeff Victory, Judge Eugene Bryson, Allen Adler, Jim Campbell, Mike Colbert, Hani Dehan, Mickey Fertitta, Tobin Grigsby, John Guerin, C. P. Herrington, Doyle LeCroy, Robert McMillan, Larry Phillips, Daniel Pierce, Gordon Rountree, Tommy Smith, and Charles Strickland.
The family wishes to thank Dr. Russell Tynes and Dr. Stephen Kilpatrick. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place. Memphis, TN 38105.
He will be missed by so many people from various and diverse circles. To know Judge Sexton was to know a true Renaissance man - a man of law, sports, music, intelligence and life. To those who knew him and to those who only knew of him, maybe pause just for a moment or simply raise a glass "For The Good Times".
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