Seagal V. Wheatley passed away Tuesday, September 25, 2012 of pancreatic cancer, he was 77. Wheatley served as the United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas (1969-1971) and was a long time member of NAFUSA.

His 53 year legal career was spent specializing in complex business litigation and he was well recognized as one of the most effective trial attorneys in Texas.

Wheatley graduated from the University Of Texas School Of Law and began his first law practice with a law firm specializing in trial work. He was mentored by John H. Wood who later became a Federal District Judge, but whom Wheatley always gave credit to as his teacher.

In 1969, when at the age of 34, he was nominated by President Nixon and confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as the United States Attorney, he was one of the youngest U.S. Attorneys in the country. In 1970 Wheatley was selected the “Outstanding Young Man of San Antonio” by the Rotary Club.

In 1971, Wheatley became a partner in a newly formed firm with Jesse Oppenheimer, Stanley Rosenberg and Herb Kelleher where he led the litigation section for 25 years and represented many local and national corporations as well as the personal attorney for many prominent businessmen such as the former owner of the New Orleans Saints, the owner of the Houston Astros, owners of the Detroit Tigers, a former King Ranch heir and two former Mayors of San Antonio. Wheatley continued to practice until he was invited to join the law firm of Jackson Walker, LLP where he practiced complex business litigation until his death.

Wheatley is survived by his two daughters, Jill Wheatley of San Antonio and Julie Gosh of Austin. NAFUSA has arranged for an American flag to be flown over the U.S. Deaprtment of Justice in Wheatley’s honor and to be presented to his family as a lasting memorial from his former collegues.